#started eye in the sky at 3 am this morning and then showed up to work at 8. i am crazy but i am free

[sctumsempra]

resumed working on trying to 100% alan rickman’s filmography as any mentally ill girl in her 20s does and as of yesterday i have officially hit 33% 😭

[sweetflanfiction]

Asymetrical Symphony - Part 9

Universe: Arcane (LOL)

Pairing: Viktor x reader

Summary: You had been on the rooftop with Jayce and the Herald and somehow you were sent to a place where things can be different with your help

Disclaimers and Warnings: If you want me to tag you on the chapters let me know! Also leave a comment with your thoughts :D Not finished, not proofread. English isn't my 1st language. All I know about LOL is from google and all I know about Arcane is taken from the show, so inacuracies will be plenty. I have a sort of idea on how to I'm gonna go with magic and runes, so bear with me. The reader will be written as GN (going by they/them) to get everyone involved, but if you see any discrepancies let me know.

Part 1 • Part 2 • Part 3 • Part 4 • Part 5 • Part 6 • Part 7 • Part 8

• ··········· • ············ •

You walked to the Academy's reception, grabbed a visitor’s badge, and made your way to the lab. The choice between waiting outside or unlocking the door and snooping around was easy to make.

It was silent in the school, still too early for the actual classes to begin. Only the birds and the staff could be heard from where you stood in front of a window, Piltover’s skyline starting to shine with the rising sun. Hate it or love it. Topside sure was beautiful in the morning.

You heard the door handle rattle and quickly moved somewhere you could watch whoever it was entering the lab. It was all fun and magic until you were arrested for trespassing... Again.

Viktor walked in, his eyes narrowing because of the light difference between the lab and the corridor. He was trying to balance a dusty old brown messenger bag on one shoulder, a stack of books and papers in the other, holding the cane, and opening the door. You spotted a square of what looked like a piece of bread embedded with jam in his mouth. Sweet tooth and with an actual appetite. What a difference a dimension makes…

You also noticed from your not-so-hidden hiding place that, although his breathing was labored, the endless cacophony of coughing he would be having after walking through the Academy with that amount of weight, in another universe, was absent.

It was endearing the way he slowly took off the bag first, making sure the strap didn’t dislodge his breakfast, smirking as he accomplished his little mission. Once the bag was secure on the coat hanger, he grabbed his walking aid and slowly made his way to the table, dropping the books carefully on it, toast still between his lips. 

Inspecting his work, he finally took a bite of the toast and nodded, walking back to the door to close it.

“Hello.” You said brightly. “Blue balls of Hextech!!!” He jumped, grabbing both his chest and the edge of a table for support, his cane falling to the ground with a clank. “It’s funny because it’s true.” You made your way towards him and grabbed the cane from the floor, giving it back to him with a smile.

He grabbed it hesitantly, looking around the room puzzled, back at the door, and then at you.

“How did you get in here? I locked the door when I left.” His brows frowned slightly, and his eyes unfocused, trying to find something in his mind. You could see his gears turning. 

“I opened up a teleportation portal in my room and just reappeared here…” His eyes widened, a mix of fear and enthusiasm. You snorted. “The door was unlocked.” “Oh…” The disappointment was palpable.

It was the truth, actually. You were going to unlock it through magical means, but when you touched the handle, the door just slid open. You had poked your head in and saw no one, so you made your way inside. 

“I am certain that I locked it yesterday when I left.” “Sky maybe?” You shrugged. “No, no. Sky only works in the afternoons.”

Both your eyes locked onto each other. But you had a feeling his reasons were different than yours. Sky was alive. The hex-core hadn’t consumed her. You shifted your gaze to his leg, his cane, and his two very pale hands. Very pale and human hands. Was the corruption non-existent or just hidden?

“How do you know about Sky?” He asked, revealing the reason he had looked up to you. “I crossed paths with her at some point.” You half lied, having crossed paths with his assistance, just not in this dimension. “Maybe Jayce was here.” You leaned your hip against the table and shrugged.

Viktor walked around the lab, inspecting the tables and the tools. Making sure nothing was out of order. He walked to another large door that you knew was the storage and pulled at the handles. Locked. 

That’s where the hex cores were kept.

You knew that the room you were standing in was just a workroom; everything here was, in a very roundabout way of putting it, junk. Expensive and very valuable junk, but not what the lab’s main bread and butter was. That was locked in another room that, if it was anything similar to your side, was a mess of failed projects, almost finished projects, and the case with hex cores inside.

“Yes…maybe…” He walked back towards the table and stood in front of you, on the opposite side. “Please don't enter the lab when no one is around.”

His tone dropped, showing his seriousness, and you nodded. Even if it hurt, given your previous experience, it made sense. You were a stranger to him, and although you both seemed to get along well enough, you were still an unknown to him. You were sure that if you asked, he would probably show you the room, but that didn’t mean he’d allow you to be there unsupervised.

“Sorry.” 

‘I’m still getting used to not knowing you,’ you wanted to add but didn’t.

“No harm done. I’ll warn Jayce not to leave the door unlocked… again…

Viktor hooked the handle of his cane on the table and sat down with difficulty, a grimace on his face as he shifted his weight to the hand on the table and then almost plopped down on a stool.

“Your back?” You asked, sitting down in front of him at the table, and nodded. “Sometimes it gets worse, but… such is life… all pains and aches.” He gave you a crooked smile and bit his toast. “Should we start?” “Do you want me to show you the runes? The magic? What?”

He grabbed his brand-new notebook from the pile of books on the table and opened it. It was already filled a couple of pages in, his neat handwriting contrasting with the ivory pages. When he looked up at you, you could feel the enthusiasm coming in waves from his amber eyes—the eagerness to find something new.

“I thought we could start with a couple of questions…” He grabbed a discarded pen that was on the table and looked at you. “That way I can compare notes in the future, and we will get to know each other better.”

It was one thing knowing and acknowledging this; it was another thing when he spoke it out loud. But despite the little tear in your heart, you nodded.

“When did you find out you could do it?” He asked, eyes shifting to the page. “When I arrived at Piltover.” ‘The second time around that is…’ you added in your head. “When was that?” “A few weeks ago.” “Mm…Could you be more specific?” He looked up. “The night of the rocket attack.” “Ah…” He looked down. "How do you do it? The magic that is.” “Hmm, I write the rune. I set a purpose for it and push it forward.” “Fascinating.” He wrote it down.

You opened your mouth to say something, and he looked up immediately, probably hearing the small intake of air in the otherwise silent room.

“Yes?” “Hum…” You looked at your hands on the table. “I know that face." He placed the pen down and raised an eyebrow. "What face?" "I do feel the need to remind you..." He tapped the notebook with his finger. "You did agree to be truthful.” “They are becoming easier to use." You sighed, "Which I understand is normal because of usage, but now it doesn’t need a specific prompt; it just…knows…”

Viktor frowns, crossing his arms on the table and leaning into them.

“Example…” he asked, and you got up from your stool.

Without much thought, you walked to his bag, grabbed the keys to the lab that he kept in a little side pocket, and locked the lab. You looked at him and turned the handle, showing him the door was in fact locked. He narrowed his eyes for a moment but nodded. You moved back to the table, grabbed a white paper, and drew the rune.

“This is the unlocking rune…don’t judge the naming…I’ve been making them as I go.” “No judgment here…According to Jayce, I am, and I quote, ‘excruciatingly bad at naming anything', to the point he is scared of any child I might have in the future.”

That was adorable. Another difference between your Viktor and this one… the naming was usually left to Viktor, seeing as the only good name Jayce had ever come up with was ‘Hextech,’ and after that… everything had to have a Hex before it. Hexgate, hex-core, hex-hammer. At some point, the Atlas Gauntlets were to be named HexGauntlets. Branding he had said, eliciting an eye roll from Viktor and you and a threat to recall any funding from the Rainemours.

“I’ve seen it do two things: unlocking things and showing me other runes.”

You drew another rune. This was the most familiar.

“This one is the move rune.” You looked at him to see if he was in fact judging you, but he was gazing at the runes.

“Ah! We’ve seen this one in the hex core.” He said excitedly.

“That would make sense. It’s the starting point of a breeze or gust of air that moves things away from it.” You took a deep breath. It felt good to talk about this. “In the beginning, both had very...broad...results. This…” You pointed to the unlock rune. “Would open anything locked in my vicinity, and this... it would just work in a straight cone-like formation perpendicular to me.”

You opened and stretched your arms to make a small V shape with them in front of you, showing Viktor what you meant. He noted something in his notebook and rolled his pen to push you to continue.

“Now…” You touched the rune with your gloved hand, the paper’s corner shook, and in a second, the front door clicked. Viktor’s head snapped to it and then back to you. “And…”

You touched the other rune, and one of the pages of his notebook flipped over. His head snapped again from the door to the papers.

“They’re reading my mind or something. I don’t know…” a beat. “So?”

No response. “Viktor?” You called him softly.

He was staring, unblinking, at both used runes in front of him, his long fingers touching the papers.

“Vik?” You went to pull a strand of hair out of his forehead, a normal gesture between you and him, but before your hand could reach him, he looked up at you, and you stopped the movement.

If anyone asked you what wonder looked like, you’d describe Viktor’s expression right now. His eyes were bright, almost made of liquid gold, high cheekbones painted a soft, healthy pink, and his mouth curved crookedly upwards. His index finger taps on the papers.

“That was magic. Actual magic.” He told you, his voice cracking with excitement. “Hmm, yeah…” “No hextech needed.” His eyes shifted and his brows twitched, and now the gears were turning. “Magic…one person…with no hextech…” “Alright...You need to breathe, buddy...” you noticed when you saw his chest rising and falling erratically. His damaged lungs won’t enjoy this exercise. “It’s not the first time you saw magic.”

“It is the first time I see it from beginning to end... With hextech, you need to calculate fluctuation, get the frequency just right, and have a million tiny pieces work together… but this… this is… I’m dizzy.” “You’re hyperventilating…” You place a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Do you have your medicine with you?” “No…My inhaler is at home. It’s alright…” And took several deep breaths, placing a hand on his lower back. The movement of deep breathing clearly took a toll on his back.

Your Viktor at this point would have probably fainted, but this Viktor seemed overwhelmed, breathing with a little wheezing, but his eyes were bright and his expression painless. Ecstatic even. 

“Alright.” You slid your hand to his forearm and squeezed.

“Alright…” he wheezed, calmer, grabbing his notebook. “I don’t think my body can handle any more excitement right now.”

Smiling, you nodded at him and sat down, scrunching the paper with the runes in your hand.

“Oh... and... they are not reading your mind. They are, simply put, you.” He grinned, like someone with a secret he was about to share, and you raised your eyebrows. “According to some, the runes are just another language in Runeterra. That means that you are basically learning to speak.”

“I thought they were external to me…like the world was making the magic go through me…or something. Like a prism. Light comes in and a rainbow comes out.”

He shook his head, rolled his chair towards the stack of books he had brought, and rolled back towards you, quickly searching the texts for something. A little ah escaped when he found the text.

“Magic comes from an individual's ability to speak the runes, and once spoken, they become intrinsically assimilated by the rune speaker.” He looked up from the book.

“Like playing an instrument.” You grinned. “Once you know which note to hit, you naturally know that every time you hit it, it’ll have the same result.” Viktor nodded enthusiastically. 

“Yes! The more you play a note, the easier it becomes to strike the chord, and…the easier it is to put it in a melody…”

The morning was spent with him asking you questions and you simply answering without much trouble. It was nice to know that Viktor from this side was just as curious and perceptive as your own. It was obvious he knew about runes; he used them for hextech, but he was still flipping at the thought of having you there with the ability to… conjure them…

Nearing midday, someone opened the door, and both of you jumped as Jayce walked in. You stopped the sketch of the rune you couldn’t make work, and Viktor, who was fully leaning into the table and putting his weight on his elbows, snapped his head to the door.

“Jayce!” He squeaked, startled. “Viktor?” The Tallis man stood, hand on the door handle, looking at both of you. “Jayce.” You managed to say it with a more neutral tone.

He said your name with the same tone he used for Viktor. He closed the door, and Viktor took the second he had his back turned to snatch the rune sheet and shove it in the middle of the pages of his notebook.

“I wasn’t aware you would be stopping by today.” Viktor limped towards his friend, and you stood straight, hands behind your back, trying to hide the very obvious, very unnatural, and very illegal glowing blue hand.

“I wasn’t, but…ugh…we—we need to talk.” He turned to Viktor and then you. He had a very grave and urgent expression. “They found... would you mind? This is Hextech business.”

He turned to you, and you shook your head, clearing your thoughts and restarting your brain. 

“Yes! Of course. Sorry.” You turned to Viktor, whose eyes had narrowed slightly. “I…I’ll tell Mother the commission is coming along just fine.”

“Yes, please do.” You blinked and looked back at you, nodding.

“It was great to see you, Jay-Councillor Tallis.” You started to make your way to the door when Viktor called out your name, and you turned. “Don’t forget this.” He slid his notebook towards you. “I’m sure your mother's notes will be safer with you.” “Ugh… Yes… Goodbye…”

You hurried back out, nodding back at Jayce. The grave look on his face was enough to get your brain thinking about what was so important he couldn't let you know. But then again, much like Viktor, he didn't know you.

• ············ • ············ •

@marshy-moo @victormydarling @blueesmiski @th3stup1dcat @22carolina08 @httpstes @that-one-shitty-blog @disa-pointment @sseleniaa @moons-lighttrail @aysluxe @fae-doodle @kitewa @local-mr-frog @bakusquadobsessed @cherry-cola-100 @optimistic-but-very-realistic @seeksrsnn @thecordelialetters @notsaelty @lansy-4 @ayupfrogg @sammypotato @wnbrw @lucycarlisleswife @noxturnalmoth

[nonsensenook]

Chapter 3.5 | Moment of Respite

Synopsis: In which Bajie kindly gives you some time alone with the Destined One. An optional and indulgent chapter in this unapologetic take on you, the reader, accompanying the Destined One on his journey. 

Word Count: 3,129

Warnings: 18+/Explicit Content/Smut/N.S.F.W, Female Reader

Author’s Note: Though I say unapologetic, I am very much nervously sweating. I will soon find a nice rock to hide under. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoy!

Read on AO3: Link

Ch. 1 - Ch. 2 - Ch. 3 - Ch. 4

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The snow covered landscape turned to dense forest once again. With Bajie now completing the trio of a group, any sort of affection you showed came sparingly. Whatever you could show comfortably in Bajie’s presence was quick and subtle. It didn’t take long for you to begin struggling with the confines of this restriction. As time went on you would do what you could to distract yourself, but more than once Bajie had caught you staring at the Young Sage. This made the Pig Guai pelt you with seeds while counting how many it took until you were broken from the spell. He had also begun to stack things on you, laughing when his pile would tumble once you were out of your daze. On his less patient days he’d purposely scare you back to reality by shouting loudly near your ear. Even while you were standing he’d find something to hop onto to do this. 

The Destined One wasn’t doing any better. He didn’t seem to fully understand why you were quicker to separate from him in the mornings before Bajie woke up. Sometimes he’d pull you close or try resting his head in your lap, however these moments were quick to end when you moved away after seeing Bajie approach. You saw how this annoyed the Destined One by the way his tail lashed back and forth behind him. Your little explanations didn’t stop that tail of his either. He had recently started to walk away from Bajie mid-conversation to see whatever unimportant task you were up to. This earned him plenty of choice words from Bajie. More often now you would see Bajie knock the Destined One on the head with the back of his rake when he caught his gaze wandering off. Needless to say, Bajie’s temper seemed to be getting shorter these days. 

Tonight, the Destined One had found a suitable cave to set up camp. The half-moon in the sky shined brightly as your group settled down for the night. It was an evening full of unfinished chores. You were doing what you could, having picked up sewing to mend various articles of clothing while the Destined One worked on crafting a new staff. You sat near the fire and worked by its light. Across from you, Bajie stood up and dusted himself off.

“A lovely night like this is meant to be enjoyed with alcohol,” he announced, brushing past you to pick up the spare bottles of brew. “I’m going to finish these off by the waterfall we passed earlier. Do not expect me until morning and do not expect I’ll be sober,” he said with a chuckle. You weren’t really paying attention. The thread wasn’t going through the needle and the dancing firelight wasn’t helping. 

“I said,” Bajie emphasized loudly right next to your ear, making you jump and drop the needle, “I am going and to not expect me till morning.” 

You moved garments aside trying to find the needle with eyes squinting in the firelight. “Yes, yes, we heard you the first time, Bajie. Did you want company?” 

“Not from either of you! I’ve had enough of the two of you to last me several lifetimes.” Bajie began walking down the path through the trees. “If a lovely lady passes by here, send her my way!” he called back. You heard him singing loudly as he walked away, his voice slowly receding until it disappeared in the regular hum of nature around you. 

Thankfully, you found your needle again and managed to successfully thread it. You worked quietly on patching up your clothes. The night was cool, the air was filled with the soft croaking of frogs and crickets in their tunes. The fire next to you crackled softly as you worked. A breeze rustled the trees surrounding your little camp. You paused for a moment to listen to the leaves flutter on their branches. Bajie was right, it was a lovely night. You glanced up and saw the Destined One taking apart an old staff to make anew. His gaze was concentrated, you watched for a moment as he extracted the needed materials. You returned to your own work feeling content. 

Being alone with the Destined One had you reminisce on the beginning of the journey. Unlike this comfortable silence, the silences then were awkward and prolonged. Small accidental touches had you apologizing or him stepping back. Though you pride yourself in reading what he means to convey at a glance now, you remembered those perplexing games of charades you used to play with him. Then there was the bathing spring incident. You inwardly cringed. Even with everything you’ve done with him till now, that moment still pulls you back to those same feelings of panic and embarrassment. You shook your head, forcing the memory back to the corners of your mind. Then you felt your body stiffen as you finally realized: You were alone with the Destined One.

You felt a sudden sharp pain on your finger making you inhale through your teeth. You had accidentally poked yourself with the needle. The air around you moved, a pair of strong hands gently held yours open. The Destined One examined your finger closely. It was only a small dot on your index where the skin was barely broken. You looked at his face, his expression was full of focused concern. 

“I’m okay,” you said quietly, not even looking at your hands. He brushed his finger onto yours. Satisfied that you weren’t bleeding, he made to move away. You held onto his sleeve. 

“I-” You began to speak, then felt your mouth dry up. Embarrassment shot through you, quickening your heart and tying your tongue. How depraved were you that you’d jump at this opportunity the moment Bajie stepped away? Pretty depraved, you thought. 

“Could-” you stuttered, trying and failing once again to fully transfer incomplete thoughts from your mind to your mouth. You couldn’t find a way to say you wanted to touch him without sounding perverse. The Destined One looked closely at you. He reached his hand up to brush strands of your hair aside, fishing out a stray leaf. His hand traced along your face, lingering on your cheek. You leaned into his touch, placing your hand over his. You then turned your face to brush your lips against his palm. Usually, this action alone was enough to have him lead the rest of the way, but he made no motion. He simply looked at you with a shadow of amusement on his features. He slowly moved his hand to your chin where he tilted your head upwards to look him in the eyes. This damn monkey. 

As if reading your thoughts, you saw the corner of his lips twitch. You glared at him. He gave an innocent tilt of his head. You could so easily read what he was saying as if he’d whispered it into your ear. All you needed to do was ask.

“Could you please-” you started again, your breath hitching as he brushed his knuckles against the heat of your cheeks. You stared into his eyes. That same look of kindness, that same boundless patience, and something else. Something ravenous, waiting just beneath the surface. You just barely managed to whisper out the next words, “Touch me…” 

The Destined One looked more than pleased as he leaned forward. His lips touched yours in a gentle kiss. His warmth always seemed to envelope you. How long has it been since he’d touched you like this? How long have you wanted this? How long have you needed this? Long enough to know that this wasn’t even nearly enough. Your hands came up to his robe, pulling him closer to deepen the kiss. You sealed your fate in this one bold move. This you knew: The Destined One wasn’t one to abandon something once started. Soon enough, he showed you just how famished he’d been. 

You felt his tongue greedily taste you as his hands traced your frame. You welcomed him to consume you, wrapping your arms around his neck as he sucked on your tongue. You moaned against his mouth as his hands trailed down to grope you in all the right places. He proceeded to lift you up as he trailed kisses and bites from your neck to your chest. He carried you easily into the cave where he held you against its walls. You stood there, your head thrown slightly back as he slowly descended down. His sharp nails snagged and tore at your clothes, still being careful not to push too hard into your soft flesh. 

You felt his hot breath on your chest. His tongue traced the area around your nipples, tasting you. You heard your cries echo in the cave when he began sucking on one while groping and flicking the other. The hand you held against your mouth did little to mask the sounds he pulled from you. He played with you until you were quivering in his hands. Satisfied, he continued trailing his tongue downward. He continued tearing at your clothes to make way for himself. By the time he was kneeling, your clothes were but scraps barely hanging onto your body. 

He slowed down, listening to your small whimpers as he slowly moved his hands up your legs. His nails softly scraped at your skin sending shivers down your spine. Slowly, painfully slowly, he made his way up to your thighs. He stopped just before he reached your entrance. Closing his eyes, he began planting slow, gentle kisses on your inner thighs. Then he opened his mouth and took a bite, making you cry out in surprise. You saw his tail flick behind him. He loved that sound you just made. He cruelly continued to do this, getting so close but never touching you where you wanted most. He took another bite which he licked once he let go. While holding your legs apart, he looked up at you. This Gods damn monkey. Mischievous doesn’t even begin to describe him anymore. 

This was his revenge for all the times you’d pulled away from him before. Knowing he was depriving you on purpose made you stubbornly bite your lip. Yet simply seeing him stare up at you while he traced your inner thigh with his teeth already cracked something in you. Just as you knew what he was doing, he knew what you were thinking. Frustration coursed through your veins as the Destined One watched you in playful amusement. It was unfortunate, you were up against someone who’d never lost a battle. You saw him use his knuckles to hover ever so close to your folds. You watched as he pulled away, then spread out his fingers to show your fluids sticking and dripping down them. You outwardly cursed at him this time. The Destined One wasn't listening, he’d started licking his fingers. You felt your pride and shame crumbling down as you watched him. The last embers of your stubbornness were snuffed out by his tongue.

Your lips quivered as you breathed out your next words. “Please,” you begged, “Please…” Again, you saw that same pleased look on his face. He'd gotten just what he wanted. You threw your head back as his tongue tasted your entrance. You felt his breath pant against you as his hot tongue slid into your pussy. From everything he’d done, there was so much of you for him to hungrily lap up. Your hands went to the fur on his head, gripping them to steady and ground yourself from the stimulation. He pushed his tongue in further, making your grip tighten on him. You felt him slowly traced back to your clit, flicking his tongue against it. You flinched and buckled each time he did this. His tight grip on your thighs held you still as he greedily devoured you. You couldn’t hold yourself up anymore, your shaking legs began to give out from under you. In response, the Destined One placed one leg over his shoulder. 

“Wait-” you cried out more in shock than command. He placed the other leg over too until your whole weight was fully supported by him. This new angle had him reaching deeper into you. With his hands on your waist and forearms resting on your thighs, he began sucking on your clit. You gasped then moaned uncontrollably loudly, pulling hard at his fur. Your twitching legs tried to come together but were held firmly in place by his immeasurable strength as he thoroughly ate you out. Your cries echoed back at you in the cave. You felt something build up, tightening inside of you. You cried out a string of curses as you came hard, your body twitching and convulsing against the cave wall. 

The Destined One slid his tongue against your pussy, lapping you up slowly as he helped you ride out your orgasm. When you settled down, he gently moved your legs from his shoulders. You leaned against the cave wall for support. Out of breath, you watched him wipe his mouth as he took off his robe to lay on the ground. In the dim light of the cave, you drank in the sight of his body. Your eyes stared at his muscles, his lean figure covered in fur, and the veins trailing from his arms to his hands. The Destined One helped you over to his robe where you laid down on your back. 

He hovered over you, admiring the absolute mess he’d made of you. He then went to your neck and started sucking on your skin, one hand reaching to pull down his pants. He tossed them aside. As you twitched below him you felt the tip of his cock brush against your folds, spreading your wetness all over himself. You felt yourself pulsing in anticipation. Your hands went to his chest. You felt hard muscle beneath soft fur as you slid your hands down. You hear his breath catch when you brush along his lower abdomen. Your hands then went to his back where you slowly scraped and pulled at him. He shivered at your touch. As he continued to mark your skin, you felt him start to enter you slowly. You felt his tail wrap around your leg. One of his hands held yours, pinning you down to the ground. His other hand shot up to grip the cave wall. As eased into your soaked pussy, you heard the sound of something cracking above you. 

You let out a low moan as he went deeper, stretching you out, until you had taken him fully. You felt yourself tighten around him as he let out a sigh. Again, you heard that same cracking noise above you, like stones scraping together. He began moving slowly, cautious of you adapting to his size. Your breath was coming up short again. When he quickened his pace, you could not stop the sounds that erupted from you. The Destined One’s breathing was heavy and labored in your ear. You heard more cracking from above as he let out a low, husky moan. You clawed at his back, making him snarl. He let go of the cave wall, scraping his nails down your back as he gripped your hips, digging deeply into your skin. You cried out, arching into him, your chest meeting his as his thrusts came harder. You could only whimper and moan as he pulled you in by your hips to meet each of his thrusts. Growling in your ear, he pulled back, then slammed into you hard. You choked out another cry which became mewling whimpers as he fucked you harder. You were begging for him, but the sounds were indiscernible to your ears. The cave walls had you deafened by your own voice drenched in ecstasy and the sounds of his body slamming into yours. 

You felt yourself tighten up, that same peaking feeling getting closer. Moaning fully into his ear you came again, twitching hard as your pussy tightened around his cock. His thrusts quickened, becoming frantic, desperate. You felt him bite down hard into your shoulder as he came in you. Both his teeth and nails dug deep enough to draw blood, but the pain felt delicious as he twitched and filled you. 

For a moment he stayed still, breathing heavily, then he let go of your shoulder and pulled out of you. His hand unlatched itself from your hip, he moved his arm up to support his weight. The other hand was still firmly holding your own. Both of you were still out of breath as he closed his eyes to rest his head against yours. You reached up to hold his face, giving him a tender kiss. He returned the kiss as you wrapped your arm around his neck. He pulled you up slowly, delicately. You closed your eyes as he carried you out of the cave.

~

In the morning, Bajie returned the way he’d left: singing. True to his word he held many empty jars of drink and walked like a sailor towards where you and the Destined One were having breakfast. Before he’d made it to you two, however, Bajie face-planted into the ground. You heard the distinct sound of him snoring as a jar rolled towards you. The Destined One stood up to carry Bajie over to the light bedding you’d prepared for him. 

The Young Sage then returned to you and pulled you into his lap. The Destined One wrapped his arms around you, tail pleasantly thumping the ground. You leaned into him, feeling your sore body ache. Your clothes just barely hid the bruises and bites he’d left all over your neck and chest. The bite on your shoulder along with the scratches down your back and hips still stung. He’d done well to help tend and clean you up last night. He was initially a bit worried at the wounds you sustained, but you reassured him that he hadn’t hurt you in any way you didn’t want him to. He seemed quite happy to trace over the various marks he’d left on your body afterwards. 

You were glad to take a day off from traveling today. The Destined One still had a staff to remake and you had more clothing to repair. Yes, both were quite reasonable explanations to validate this moment of respite. That and how your legs were fully out of commission. You kept your eyes away from the mound of rock and stone behind the two of you. You hoped that by the time you were on the road again Bajie would be too hungover to ask what happened to the cave. 

[knoxic]

How to be a High Lady? part 2

Eris Vanserra x Mate!Reader

Summary: Reader's first meeting as a HL, Rhysand makes some comments and reader chews him out, then smut🤭

wc: 2k

warnings: Feysand slander, cursing and a shit ton of dialogue

a/n: the way there's so little of Eris here...sorry😔 but I'll make up for it if I make a part 3, with just the two of them, maybe their domestic lives and doing High Lord & Lady things in Autumn, idk maybe smut?

part 1

How they met

Their morning was slow, starting with lazy cuddles in bed followed by an easy breakfast. Her daily meditation helped gather her thoughts and feelings about the meeting ahead, when she focused on it, she could see flashes of messy handwriting and a dark room.

Dressing for the meeting took longer than she'd expected, Eris being the last one to finish so he could match her dress, it had turned into a habit now for him to combine his vest with her dresses or corsets.

After getting through her first meeting, their arrival this time was easier, not caring if people were staring at her or whispering behind her back, she knew today would be tough and her mind was set straight. They were the last ones to arrive, which was weird, she'd made sure they weren't late. The meeting started smoothly, but it didn't remain that way.

"I'm just saying, it'd be better if we cooperated..." Feyre chimed in when no one agreed with Rhysand's words. After hearing those contradictory words she couldn't not intervene.

"No offense, Feyre, but I don't think you're the best person to say that." She said, hoping that it wouldn't cause Rhysand to come for her neck yet. Feyre was stunned for a moment, clearly taken aback.

"And why is that?"

"We can't cooperate if the other part is deceitful."

"Are you calling my High Lady a liar?" Cassian roughly uttered.

"No." Her voice was steady, not showing any traces of fear, because this time she was, in fact, fearless. "I'm saying, how can we know if you're trustworthy when most of your court doesn't even trust you? How can we trust that you won't ruin our courts, like you've done before."

"Again you go speaking of my court." Rhysand growled. "You've been High Lady for a day and think you know everything. Tell me, you seem so sure of what goes beyond my wards... have you been in my court before?" Every word he spoke carried an generous amount of venom.

"No, and I have no desire to do so."

"Then how the fuck do you know so much? Are you a fucking witch or what?" His eyebrows danced showing how pissed he was, apparently not knowing everything seemed to have that effect on him.

The possibilities of what could happen depending on what she responded were running through her head, her first response would be to deny but if she did and they figured it out, which they probably would eventually, she'd be a treacherous witch and that was...

"Yes. I am a witch." The silence in the room was deafening, her ears were ringing, "And so far, my powers have only showed me objects in need of help, faes, humans... courts. I do what I can to help them–"

"I've lived in Night Court for centuries, I helped them, I made things better, I ruled them, you have no right to suddenly decide the way I rule my court is not enough, you don't know." Rhysand growled.

"But I do," her words were firm, matching his tone, "They're not my people and its not my court, but they need someone to care for them, most people in Hewn City have never seen the sky above their heads because they're trapped under a fucking mountain. Have it ever occurred to you that there may be innocent people living there? Children, like your son–"

"Watch it–" Azriel spat. She changed courses.

"Have it occurred to you that maybe they despise you because you never showed them empathy? Instead of trying to gain their approval by providing you could be a good High Lord, you locked them up." She never faltered, every word was spoken loud and clear.

Night's High Lord was fuming, if yesterday she thought his eyes promised death, now they were death. Sharp pain ran across the thick walls she built around her mind, as if claws had just taken a hold of her brain, causing her eyebrows to furrowed as a sharp gasp left her mouth. Thankfully, she spent years working on her mind and everything beyond, and with a strong spell to protect her body, it wouldn't be so easy for him to get through her mind.

"Rhysand!" Eris hissed, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder. She needed to act before Eris attacked him, it wouldn't be pretty.

"If you wanted to see it for yourself, you could've just asked." She teased, but it was true, she would've showed him if he wanted her to. She opened her walls and launched him every memories she had of his people, every small shot her gift had shown her of them.

Rhysand's mouth twitched, his frown deepening. She wasn't sure if it was from being unable to break his way through her mind or because the image she told him about was true. Feyre's expression soured and she could imagine that they were having a mind conversation right at that moment, maybe he showed her the images too.

"That's not true" She said. Was that not enough?

"But it is."

"Certainly you've been wrong before." Rhysand uttered, his voice close to a growl.

"No. If it's shown to me, it's true." If they still didn't believe, she might as well tell them how it works, "If I see something, it's because it has happened or will happen soon, I'm able to differentiate them and when I can prevent them from happening, I do. What I showed you has already happened– has been happening for centuries."

"Have you seen things from other courts?" Tarquin's voice was hesitant, "Summer?" He eyes the other High Lords, all of them silently agreeing with his question.

"Well, yes. I saw Spring's downfall but it was too late, and–" Eris' hot hand on her arm made her look at him, searching for any traces that could show he wanted to maintain secrecy, she found none. "Autumn's genocide."

"That's why you took over..." Tamlin whispered, looking at Eris who gave a simple, almost imperceptible, nod in response.

"How long have you been seeing our court in your..."

"Memories. They're memories, from other people, from now and from the future. A couple years, at first I tried to gather information about what happened there but... it was well hidden."

"Oh–"

"Why'd you never say anything? If you were oh so worried about them." Mor sarcastically spoke. For someone who knows what is like living there, she's embarrassingly hypocritical.

"Would it have changed anything? By the time I stopped looking for them, Feyre was already here. Things changed–"

"And she became High Lady, did you not think you could have talked to her, if you're so sure I wouldn't have done anything." She should be cautious, but then, she had been playing with fire for over a century now. She was almost vibrating with the need to speak what she really thought, but her neck was at risk.

"What, little witchy lost her words? Or did your gift make an appearance?" Rhysand smirked at her. Fuck it.

"Feyre was barely fae at the time and being honest... she doesn't even have that much credibility does she?" His smirk fell, the room filled with dense darkness, hands tried to grasp at her but were pushed back by the wards she'd silently set around herself and Eris, knowing they'd come for him too. It was ancient magic, not that easy to break.

"Rhysand! Stop!" A chorus of commands for him to control himself. Eris' and Helion's power lit up the spacious room, the latter using his powers to hold and push Rhysand back, extremely bright light making the room clear again, after all, he was in his home court. In the midst of darkness, Eris had pulled her to her feet to stand behind him, their hands wrapped around the other's waist.

"If you can't control yourselves I suggest you leave, go fight somewhere else!" Helion shouted.

"Helion, I think this is a matter for our meeting, if she knows things, we should hear." Kallias spoke calmly, not trying to set any of us off, he glanced in Rhysand's direction, who was being held back by Feyre with a hand on his arm. Helion seemed to ponder Kallias words, eyeing her and Rhysand and their mates.

"Fine, behave, or I'll ban all of you."

"You can't possibly think I'll just stand and whatch her talking about my mate like that!" Rhysand spat incredulous, Feyre tapped his arm to gather his attention.

"Let's listen to what she has to say." Feyre said, looking back at her friends, trying to hold them back, Mor leaned back against Feyre's chair, where she'd been since they arrived, she'd gladly stand back and watch as Cassian and Azriel ripped Eris to pieces.

"Bullshit, obviously." Their General uttered, still staring her down until Eris blocked his view of her.

"Alright, continue..." Rhysand spoke, staring her up and down before sitting back in his chair, Cassian watched him before stepping back, Azriel still glared at her as he did the same. Clearly Rhysand had just told them to back off. "Go on. What were you saying about my High Lady?" She calmly pulled back from Eris, gently grasping his hand and pulling him so they could sit back down too, taking a deep breath before signing their 'enemies' certificate.

"Your own 'Inner Circle' doesn't respect her commands, how would she change the way a whole city runs?" Rhysand banged a hand against the arm of his chair while Feyre's mouth fell open, his growl echoing through the room before he lunged forward.

"Out, now!" Helion stood up and pointed to the door, "Now, Rhysand."

Rhysand was practically foaming when he left, snatching a hand around Feyre's waist before winnowing out, the other three following quickly after giving her nasty looks, if she didn't know them, she'd think they were cursing her. The tense atmosphere in the room was rough to bear.

"Are you alright?" A soft voice asked her. Viviane.

"Yes."

"That was really brave, badass." She smiled.

"Brave indeed, I can't tell if you're lucky or just that powerful. I don't know how you're still alive..." Thesan laughed incredulous.

"She wouldn't defy him if she didn't know she could take it." Eris smirked, squeezing her hand in reassurance. While she was bragging about her, she noticed Helion with his fingers massaging his temples.

"We can leave if you want, I'm sorry if we made you uncomfortable," talking a look around the room she noticed all of them looking at her, "any of you."

"I think Rhys needed someone to throw the shit he does to his face, none of us were really able to do it, you did, and it was nice to watch." Tamlin said, amusement written all over his face.

"I agree, the Inner Circle has done and said things we don't agree, but any time we tried to mention it they'd just turn the situation over, would pretend it didn't happen that way or that it wasn't so bad. Rhysand and Feyre both need to see that they're not as good and right as they think they are, someone to humble them could be of use." Tarquin smiled lightly and gave her a wink.

"Do they really not respect her? I had seen signs of it but... they seem so close that I just brushed it off." Helion waved a hand while speaking.

"Is not that they don't respect her, I think they just don't take her seriously. I mean, compared to them she is still a child, she grew up too soon but she's still immature. I don't know why Rhysand made her a High Lady but it doesn't change the fact that, he gave her the title, she didn't know anything about being a High Lady and barely knew anything about our world. Maybe she'd make a good one if she knew what to do, but she just sits and lets her judgment be set by what Rhysand says." She seemed to have a talent to make people go quiet. After a moment of silence, everyone pondering what they just heard, Day's High Lord spoke.

"You're definitely something."

[sexlapis]

# a snowy morning .·

𝗓𝖹𝗓 🦌 ⎯⎯ &. ♥︎

❤︎ toji x gn!reader

sfw, fluff, christmas season, petnames (‘kid’, ‘sweetie’), playing in the snow, old man toji, he’s a tiny bit mean but … <3

wc: 1.9k

a/n: just wanted some toji winter fluff…<3 merry christmas everyone ᒄ₍⁽ˆ⁰ˆ⁾₎ᒃ♪♬

masterlists

*

toji awakens with a startle at your shout, shooting up and out of bed, swiping his handgun from his bedside drawer and stumbling to where you stand, looking out of the bedroom window.

life away from the city was all toji wanted, along with peace and quiet, which is why you and toji live just on the outskirts of the woods, where your only neighbours are the wild animals that roam the surrounding forest.

and toji likes it that way; no annoying neighbours, no noisy cars, no air pollution and clear, vibrant skies where you can actually see the fucking stars when you look up.

but with you around…peace and quiet are nothing but foreign concepts.

“toji, look!” you exclaim. “it’s snowing! it’s- toji put that away.” you frown at him, referring to his gun.

“what’s with all that yelling?” he grunts, lowering his weapon and instead unsafely using it to scratch his back.

“it’s snowing! it must’ve started when we slept!”

toji huffs, his heart slowing down a little in relief. “alright, let’s jus’-”

“it’s so deep too. and it looks so soft. i’m going outside!”

after your sporadic ramble, you’re flinging out of your pyjamas and into thicker, warmer clothes.

“it’s six in the morning.” toji deadpans, blinking away the sleep in his eyes and ruffled by you shocking him awake. “we can go outside later.”

you were always so spontaneous with your plans, he could hardly keep up with them.

“no! it could be melted by then,” you claim, throwing a large, cream-coloured sweater over your head, “put your clothes on, you're coming with me.”

“now why am i involved?” he asks, rhetorically of course, since he’s already heading to his wardrobe and picking out a black fleece along with a long sleeved shirt.

he should really stand his ground more, show you who’s in charge and who makes the rules around here. after all, it is his house.

but when you look at him so expectantly, hoping for him to agree, he knew that he would only comply with your wishes.

and you know that too.

“someone needs to help me build the snowman!”

*

minutes later, you’re skipping in the sparse forest behind the house, travelling through crunchy snow to the best of your abilities, leaving uneven footprints in your path as toji trails behind you, chiding you to slow down.

frosty, crisp air bites at your exposed face, sure to ache when you get back inside to the warmth. the wintry sky is painted in a pale periwinkle, cloudless and plain lest for the faded crescent moon that follows you on your merry way.

you leave the forest and you are welcomed to the wide, vast and picturesque landscape of the field you and toji commonly frequent. said field is completely blanketed in a white sheet of pure snow, going on for miles and miles, glittering in the morning glow.

“kid, what’d i say.” toji huffs, coming to stand beside you with a hand supporting his back, a little out of breath. “what a view, huh?”

“mhm!” you agree and then you’re plopping right down into the snow, repeatedly spread and closing your arms and legs, more strenuous than you expected, “come make a snow angel, toji! next to me. not too close though or you’ll mess mine up.”

toji sighs, mostly fond, breath leaving his nose and he clambers onto the snowy ground with his knees cracking, something you then proceed to make fun of him for and he flicks snow at you.

“toji, that got in my mouth!” you sputter and spit, glaring at a flailing toji who attempts to make a snow angel. his long, big limbs make the movement look heavy and odd, causing you to snort in his face.

“what’re you laughin’ at?” he grunts, his expression determined like he’s in a competition to make the greatest snow angel of all time. snow splatters all around him from his brash actions.

he looks so cute like this, you think. rosy cheeks, the sweet dimple on his left cheek that appears when he grins, the wrinkles around his eyes crinkled even more as he smiles and entertains you.

“okay, that’s enough!” you stand, brushing the snow away from your body, “get up. i wanna see what they look like.”

toji sticks his hand out, “‘right, help me up.”

“oh toji..” you mutter in faux annoyance before you clasp both of your gloved hands around his one, groaning with the struggle of lifting him up.

“i’m not that heavy, sweetie,” huffs toji, clapping his covered hands, causing snow to powder all around him, “okay, what’d you think?”

you both observe at the snow angels created by your bodies. they are…simply a mess and bundle of piled up mess, shapeless silhouettes dented into the snow, the size difference between them almost comical.

“…yeah it’s looks great ♡,” you smile, looking to toji who nods in agreement, clearly pleased with himself.

*

“okay! toji you make the body and i’ll do the head!” you call out to him from a distance after playing and prancing around in the know. you’ve already begun rolling out a small ball of firm snow along the ground.

meanwhile, toji’s snowball is already up to his knee. he shuffles and rolls his huge globe of snow around the field, leaving swirls and spirals in the sheet of snow behind him.

“how is yours so big already?!” you screech, glancing down at your pitiful snow ball, “we just started!”

“‘cos while i was getting down to business you were doin’ backflips in the fuckin’ snow.”

“hey!” beyond your better judgement, you launch the ball of snow right at toji, striking him square in the chest.

a quiet “ufff” leaves toji’s mouth and he peers at his once black winter coat that is now splattered in snow. then, he slowly raises his head back to you, a malicious glint in his eyes.

“ohhh, you really shouldn’t ‘a done that, kid…”

toji’s lifts what is supposed to be the body of the snowman and stalks towards you in swift strides. you scream, already on your feet and dashing away downhill, squealing and cackling as toji runs after you with the giant snowball in his arms, a sight that would be absurd to onlookers if there were any.

your foot slides off the floor and up into the air, landing on your back onto the pillow of snow, leaving you completely at toji’s mercy.

it took a mere four or five steps for him to keep up with you. quite sad on your part, really.

toji’s looms over you, a wicked grin on his lips as he holds the large snowball in his hands, “i hate to have ’ta do this but…”

“toji, please! have mercy-”

but your words fall on deaf ears. toji’s raises the vast ball of snow, creating a shadow over your vision, and your eyes are bulging, your stomach dropping slightly as he promptly drops the snow onto your awaiting body.

you gasp. luckily, your winter coat protected you from the bite of the snow, the clothing now caked with snow.

toji pats his hand for good measure right over your body, sprinkling snow on your face.

“how’s that, huh?” he smirks before noticing how you’re covering your face with the back of your hands, your shoulders shaking slightly.

shit.

“shit,” he crouched down and going to comfort you, thinking he took this game a little too far, “kid, you okay? ‘m sorry-”

a snowball is smashed into the side of his face.

“ha!” your giggles fill the bitter air and you shove him into the snow, jumping up and scurrying off, “got youuuuuuu!”

“oh, you fucking-” toji springs to his feet, shaking the snow his face, the area now red and flushed, “yeah, you better run!”

you and toji chase each other through the snow, launching snowballs at each other, noses rosy and cheeks aching from smiles and laughter, breaths heaving and hearts running as you both reveal in this newfound peace and joy.

playful, free and happy.

toji tackles you, cupping the back of your head as you fall to the ground softly.

he hovers over you. the hat that previously covered his head is long gone, most likely buried within the surrounding snow. his raven locks point in all directions and droplets of snow seasoned in his hair. tender, rounded eyes decorated with fluttering, thick lashes study you adoringly and you feel like hiding your face as your heart bursts in your chest.

you bite your lip and say, “i think i won.”

“yeah, sure you did.” toji rolls his eyes, shaking his head and kissing your nose, “c’mon, let’s go. it’s just gonna get colder, anyway.”

“i wanted to go ice skating on the lake, though…”

toji rises to his knees, lifting you up with him. he sweeps the snow from your hair and scans your body, his actions instinctual at this point, “yeah, yeah, we’ll go tomorrow, promise.”

you seem satisfied with his answer, allowing him to stand you up.

“i want a piggyback ride, please” you beam at him, and…toji is a weak man. only for you.

seconds later, he is letting you mount him like a horse and he begins the journey back to the cosy home you both created for yourselves.

toji’s large, strong stature makes you feel safe, protected. it always has. and with the smoothness of his steps, you find drifting off into a momentary rest against his broad shoulders.

*

the next time you come to, you’re on the couch of your living room, the fireplace crackling and illuminating the dim room. a fluffy, lengthy blanket protects you from the slight chill in the air which is also permeated with the scent of chocolate. you blink, licking your lips and yawning. you are by yourself, you note as you stretch and sit up on your knees.

shortly after that thought, toji walks in, holding two mugs of what you presume to be hot coco.

“hey, sweetie,” he coos, wishing to keep the quiet atmosphere, “got ya some hot coco,” he hands you the cup, placing his own on the coffee table and taking a seat right next to you, “‘fell asleep on the way back. musta been tired from waking up at ass ‘o clock, huh?”

you pout, gulping some of the chocolatey beverage which has your mouth hot and warming up your insides. you stick your tongue out at him, feeling too drowsy to even refute his snipe.

toji huffs, grinning softly. he licks his thumb and wipes the corner of your mouth to get rid of a chocolate stain.

“ugh, toji.” you grunt, “gross.”

“c’mon i've done worse than that.”

you grumble, sipping on your hot drink and ignoring his short chuckles.

he shifts closer to you, wrapping an arm around your shoulder, “c’mere.”

toji is so big and so warm and so soft and just so tender. you’re dropping your mug next to toji’s and snuggling up right beside him, also wrapping your arms around his waist, your cheek pressed up against his firm chest. it’s the perfect fit and you’ve never felt so content.

“hmm..think i’m gonna fall asleep again…”

“that's alright, baby.” toji hums, kissing the top of your head and smoothing your hair down. he loved the feeling of you in his arms, it made him feel like the protector that he is at his core, something he’d forgotten so much about - the true nature of himself.

“go to sleep,” and you are already passed out, fast asleep on toji’s firm body. he nuzzles against the top of your head and closes his eyes, breathing you in and holding you close.

he can stay here, with you in his arms, far away from the rest of the world, forever.

*

a/n: have a very merry christmas everyone! please make sure to rest and stay healthy ^_^🎄💚❤️

[handdrawnverathin]

Hi. So, uh... it's been a while. And after all this time, I think it's time to be honest with myself and admit that this animatic is probably never going to be finished. I started it when I'd only watched a couple POVs of Third Life and it really shows in the designs. Some of them aren't bad - I still like how I drew Tango - but enough of them have details wrong or just weird vibes that continuing to draw them is kinda dissatisfying. That being said, I put a lot of work into it and didn't want to let it just die without saying anything, so here's a collection of GIFs from the few scenes I managed to get edited.

For the record, I am still on the Hermitcraft/Life Series brainrot train and I have some drawings that I've been working on that I genuinely like. So hopefully those will be done soon! Just as soon as I finish that one project that I started eight years ago. But it's getting there! I swear!

Also: for anyone interested, I've included the original frame-by-frame plan below the cut

SONG: Willow Tree March, The Paper Kites

Intro

Feet swinging over sandstone cliff face (0:00 - 0:05)

Lower half of Grian’s face visible, whistling (0:05 - 0:12)

The cool bit

Fade to front face view of Grian, looking up slightly (0:12 - 0:16)

Real quick zoom out to all players standing in a row looking dramatic (0:16 - 0:28)

Title card fades in as overlay (0:20 - 0:28)

Player introductions

(0:28 - 0:30)

(0:30 - 0:32)

(0:32 - 0:34)

(0:34 - 0:36)

Peaceful times

Grian walking through a forest, early morning. First frame is a footstep, then a side view of him looking around (0:36 - 0:44)

Flower Husbands meeting, afternoon. First frame is Scott peaking into the hole from outside, then Jimmy looking up at him sheepishly (0:44 - 0:52)

Renchanting looking up at the sky, sunset. First frame is a hand raised to block the sun, then a rear-view shot of them from the waist up (0:52 - 1:00)

Phantom shelter, night. First frame is a wide view of the group either hiding or fending off phantoms, then a close up of a few of them laughing with each other(1:00 - 1:08)

FIRST DEATH

Wide shot of Scar burning the tree (1:08 - 1:12)

Close-up of Grian’s face as he looks to the side. Creeper visible in the reflection of his eyes. (1:12 - 1:16)

Scar doing some smooth talking. A wisp of smoke fades in behind him.(1:16 - 1:20)

Close up of Scar’s face turning around, eyes widening (1:20 - 1:22)

Yellow heart (1:22 - 1:26)

The promise

Wide shot of Monopoly Mountain, cut to close-up of Grian swearing loyalty with a hand over his heart (1:26 - 1:34)

Close-up of Grian’s face, mostly the eyes, looking a little unhappy with the whole situation (1:34 - 1:42)

Tensions rising

Skizz looks at an enderman: over-the-shoulder shot of him looking back, then a close up on his eyes widening (1:42 - 1:50)

Cleo threatening Pizza - animated? Initial/final poses plus two in-betweens (1:50 - 1:58)

Tango’s lava game: first a close up of his smiling face, then a wide shot with his arms outstretched in front of the challenge (1:58 - 2:06)

Scar threatening Ren for the enchanter: first an over-the-shoulder shot of Scar, then one of Ren (2:06 - 2:14)

Uh-oh

Wide shot of ceremony (2:14 - 2:18)

Ren, kneeling, waist down and cloak on (2:18 - 2:22)

Low-angle shot of Martyn looking very uncomfortable. Winces a bit, axe raised and…  (2:22 - 2:28)

Swings down. We get a flash of Ren's face, grinning, before fading out. The red eyes linger just a bit longer. (2:28 - 2:32)

O_o

Flower wall burns down (2:32 - 2:40)

Rear view wide shot in silhouette

Front view, sad and also a little horrified

Desert battle (2:40 - 2:48)

Profile view of Grian with a slightly manic smile on his face as explosions go off. The camera is pretty close to him, so we can’t actually see the explosions, but add in some effects and it’ll get the point across

Siege of Dogwarts (2:48 - 2:56)

Aerial attack using slowfall arrows

Ground combat feat. Joel and dogs

 Bdubs kills Impulse, Scar kills Bdubs (2:56 - 3:04)

Interlude

Scar (right) kneeling in the water before Grian (left). We can see Scar from about chest down and only the lower half of Grian’s legs (3:04 - 3:12)

Low-angle shot of Grian looking down at Scar holding a sword. We can see Scar’s head and maybe a bit of his back depending on camera angles. (3:12 - 3:20)

Fade to the Tree in a dark void, glowing as if by firelight. Very slow pan out. Fade to a wider view before the light is extinguished, leaving us in darkness.  (3:20 - 3:28)

Ghosties (dark gray background, white outlines)

Jimmy/Cleo/Skizz (3:28 - 3:32)

Joel/Scott/Etho (3:32 - 3:36)

Tango/Ren/Martyn (3:36 - 3:40)

Impulse/BigB/Bdubs (3:40 - 3:44)

They want blood (survivors haunted by ghosts)

Grian, with chestplate and sword, looking very much like he’d rather be anywhere else(3:44 - 3:48)

Scar, also not having a good time, sword and shield but no chestplate (3:48 - 3:52)

Facing each other, no weapons or armor. Scar of left, Grian on right (3:52 - 3:56)

Close up side view of Grian’s face: scared, then steeling himself (eyes closed) then shouting as he runs in (3:58 - 4:02)

The girls are fighting! ;A;

(4:02 - 4:10)

(4:10 - 4:18)

(4:18 - 4:26)

We have a winner

Full body behind shot of Grian standing at the edge of the cliff before falling (4:26 - 4:36)

[back2bluesidex]

Where Do Broken Hearts Go - Chapter 2 (18+)

Pairing: Model, ex-boyfriend!Jungkook X Child psychologist, Fem!Reader X Lawyer, Single Dad!Hoseok. 

Summary: Jungkook stripped your emotions naked, left you bare in the chilly wind of despair and self-doubt with an unending heartache. You tried your hardest to move on from him, to live for yourself but failed miserably. Each night you had to come back to your empty home where memories and broken dreams were scattered all around the floor, until one day a little angel and her unbelievably beautiful father came into your life. Finally, when you find yourself healing, maybe falling too, Jungkook had to show up! Again!

Theme: Angst, pining, heartbreak, break-up, SMUT (MDNI) (not in this chapter)

Warnings: Mentions of school bullying, Hoseok is so attractive (this chapter is basically me simping over Hoseok), Reader is insecure.

Word count: 4.4k

Taglist requests are closed.

Minors and karens are not allowed in this blog

A/N: The chapter starts with JK's pov and changes into the reader's but it's nothing too tough to understand. I hope you guys like it. Please hit me up on askbox and let me know how is it.

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Chapters:- 

Prologue/Masterpost || Chapter 1 || Chapter 2 || Chapter 3 || Chapter 4 || Chapter 5 || Chapter 6 || Chapter 7 - Finale

His eyes drift towards the window. 

What time should it be now? 10 am? 11 am? He doesn’t know. Not that he is in a rush for anything. There is absolutely no haste to disappear before prying cameras sneak into his private space. 

He should be at peace, a weird tranquility that is supposed to be easy. But deep down Jungkook is very much unsettled. 

As he eyes the wide blue sky out of Jiwon’s bedroom window, his mind reels back to you. The last day he saw you, the way you were standing with a ring in your hands, the way he broke your heart and the way you marched out of his life with merely a goodbye. You didn’t ask him why he fell out of love with you, nor were you curious enough about what made him fall in love with another woman. 

“What does she have that I don’t? Why can’t I be enough for you? How can you be so cruel?” These are the words Jungkook expected to hear from you when he dropped the bomb. But instead he heard you wishing him a good life and walking away from him without a single complaint. 

Were you always ready for the blow? Were you preparing yourself to let him go? He can’t tell. But no matter how much he tries he can’t stop wondering what you are upto now. How have you been spending your nights or how are you coping up with the pain he has provided you with?

Jiwon scoots her body closer to Jungkook’s. Her nose brushes on his forearm. Jungkook freezes. Is he really thinking of you lying awake in his new girlfriend’s bed after breaking up with you for the same woman?

He is being unfair to both of you and Jiwon. 

His eyes close on their own accord. 

When he opens those again, Jiwon is already smiling up at him. 

“Good Morning, handsome.” she says sweetly. 

“It’s almost noon, I believe.” Jungkook chuckles, turning on his side, facing Jiwon fully. 

“Really? Then we better leave the bed now. You can wash up while I make coffee for you.” Jiwon kisses on his cheek as she sits up. 

“No. It’s fine. I have to leave.” Jungkook sits up too. 

“Why? You don’t have any schedule today. Do you?” Jiwon pouts. 

“Not really. Actually.. my house is a mess and I wanted to clean up before I get busy.” Jungkook reasons. 

“We can eliminate these problems, you know?” Jiwon holds his hand, looking a little shy and sheepish. 

“Umm? I didn’t get you?”  Jungkook is confused. He has no idea what his new girlfriend has to suggest for his house chore. 

“I mean… Why don’t we move in together? It will be easy for both of us. We can take turns on the chore and spend more time together when both of us are free? What do you say?” Jiwon’s eyes are full of hope. But Jungkook doesn’t know what to say. 

“I- Jiwon, I think it’s too early. We will have to talk to the agency as well.” Jungkook runs a hand through his already disheveled hair. 

“Why will we have to talk to the agency? They already know about us. All we need to do is to inform them once we are ready.” Jiwon holds his hand tighter. 

That’s the thing. Jungkook is not ready yet. Your words ring in the back of his head.  

“Home? You mean the apartment you left because your agency said it’s risky to share a space with your girlfriend of three years? The same place you refused to meet at because paparazzi are keeping tabs on you as you are rumored to be dating someone else?”

He sighs. 

Yes, he loves Jiwon but he doesn’t know if he is ready to share a space with her yet. Especially when he left you behind in the excuse of his career and prying paparazzies. 

Jungkook concludes that it’s his guilt that is resisting him from going too far with Jiwon just yet. So he decides to wait, to take a little time to think more deeply about what he actually wants, not what he wants to want for the sake of his girlfriend. 

“Jiwon, I don’t want to rush anything. We can take it slow and understand each other better before moving in. Let’s give each other a little more time, okay?” He says with a tight lipped smile. 

Jiwon’s face falls a bit but she nods in understanding. 

“You must admit, the guardian of your new counselee is too hot.” Miseon mumbles as she chews down a spoonful of bibimbap, “he seems quite young too. Must have gotten married to his high school sweetheart or something?” 

You narrow your eyes at her, “If you are trying to dig down his personal information then let me remind you that-”

“Yeah. Yeah I know. Confidential information and all. I was just curious. I mean usually both of the parents or mothers visit with their children. It’s probably the first time I saw only the dad coming in, that too, looking like a snack.” Your friend looks up at you with a quizzical gaze as if she wants you to validate what she just commented. 

Yes. Hoseok is certainly hot and attractive. But what gripped you more is the way he is determined to be a good father to Sua, despite the complicated fatherhood he faced. The concerned look on his handsome face flashes in your mind.  

“Y/N?” Hoseok calls your name as he stands up from his seat, getting ready to leave your cabin. 

“Yes?” you respond. 

“Sua.. she will be fine, right?” If you are not wrong then you hear Hoseok’s voice trembling a bit.

“I will be able to answer that after two more sessions I suppose.” you smile apologetically. 

“Yeah. Yeah of course. I am sorry. I- I am just very worried.” His eyes drop to stare at the floor. 

“Which is only natural. There is no need to apologize.” You voice. Pausing a little bit, you continue, “Sua seems to be more mature than the kids of her age. She is quite closed up as well. So, it is possible for her to hide some sort of things she is going through. I need to win her trust first to let her open up to me but-” 

“But?” Hoseok grows impatient.

“But that is going to take some time. Especially because I don’t think she liked me. She might refuse to come back for the next session.”  You place carefully. 

“Then? What do you suggest doing in that case?” Hoseok questions. 

“I suggest outdoor therapy. Spending time with the counselee and their guardians in a place they like to visit together occasionally or frequently. And I also suggest Friday afternoons for counseling. Kids tend to be in a better mood and far more approachable when they are in their pre-weekend glory.” Your suggestion seems to put Hoseok at ease. “You already have my number. You can text me the place and time once you decide. Although I prefer the slot after lunch.” 

He nods, “Great then. I will see you on Friday… after lunch.” 

Hoseok’s dark eyes bores into yours once again as he steps towards you.

“It was nice to meet you, Y/N.” he extends one of his veiny hands. 

You slip your hand into his, intertwining the muscles in a shake, “Likewise, Hoseok.”  

Miseon claps her hands in front of your face, shaking you out of the thoughts of Mr. Jung, “Hey mate! Where are you so lost?” 

“What? Yeah? Sorry, I was… thinking something.” you reply, jabbing your spoon in your bowl of bibimbap. 

“No. Don’t tell me you were lost in the thoughts of your douchebag ex-boyfriend.” Your friend regards you with fake anger in her eyes. 

“Ugh no! It was completely different.” you groan. Now that you realize, it’s probably the first time since your breakup that you have gone so long without having to let Jungkook’s thoughts seep inside your head. Meeting the Jungs was one thing but to keep on thinking of them even after they left your work place hours ago, is a completely different matter.  

And it’s a very welcoming change.

You sigh, “Don’t call him douchebag. He is not that bad.” 

Miseon’s eyes go wide at your response, “What is wrong with you? He left you for another girl, Y/N! How can you defend him like this?” 

You sigh, closing your eyes, “I am not defending him, Miseon. Some things are not just meant to be, you know? No matter how much time you invest, some relationships are not meant to last. Just like you can’t help falling in love with someone, you can’t help falling out as well. And he fell out of love with me, he found someone more suitable for him. What’s wrong with that? I should appreciate him that he at least didn’t go behind my back and cheat on me. Yeah, whatever Jungkook did, did not hurt me any less but that does not make him a bad person. Everyone deserves to be happy, be loved, be in love… so does he. I just- I just need to accept it.” Saying these words out loud really lightens your heart. Maybe today can be the first step towards your healing, just as you thought at the beginning of the day. 

“But what about your happiness? What about you being loved, being in love?” Miseon places her question. 

“I don’t really know. At this point I don’t even know if I deserve to be loved or not. Maybe there is something wrong with me, isn’t that the reason none of my relationships were successful?” You smile at her with eyes full of tears. 

“Cut the crap. You- I will strangle you to death if you say stuff like this ever again.”  Miseon jerks a fork in your direction making you laugh a little.

“Calm down, you angry woman.” you joke but your heart still feels heavy beyond measure.

Everything about weekdays is fine.. Apart from the fact that you have to come back to a huge and lonely home. 

It’s Wednesday and you sigh at the thought of entering your condo with absolutely nothing waiting for you. The thought burdens you, saddens you and you almost feel jealous of the newly married couple who just moved in last week. 

You punch the key-code in, which is, by the way, your and Jungkook’s birthdates combined. 

Placing the bag of groceries, you take a seat on the couch. The soft material soothes your aching back right away. You lean your head on the headrest, stare down at the cream-colored cloth of the couch, and caress it lightly as if caressing fragile memories. 

“Jungkook! What is wrong with you?” you sigh in resignation, throwing your purse on the couch.  

“Nothing.” He replies heading straight to the kitchen. 

“Don’t avoid it. You have been sulking all the way home. Did I offend you somehow?” you head towards your boyfriend. 

Jungkook chugs down water, crushes the plastic bottle and disposes of it in the trashcan so ferociously that you can’t help but be more and more amused with each passing moment. 

The moment he is about to exit the kitchen, you come and stand in front of him, “Jungkook, what is it?” 

Jungkook takes in a sharp inhale, avoiding his eyes from yours. 

“Who was that guy?” His voice is low, decorated with a buzz that suggests his annoyance.  

“Which guy?” There were a lot of guys at your reunion party and you don’t know which one Jungkook saw. Especially because he was waiting at the exit inside the car. 

“The one that saw you off with a hug.” He grits these words through his teeth. 

“O-Oh.. that’s Taeho, one of my batch mates. We used to be really close.” you gulp at the face Jungkook is making at your response.

“Really close huh? Is that why he hugged you so intimately? Wrapping up your waist, burying his entire fucking face on your neck? Just like a lover would? Just like I would?” 

Jungkook is jealous. And jealous Jungkook is not a good news. So you clear your voice as you choose your words carefully. 

“I admit that he was a little touchy. But he has always been like this with everyone. I promise, Jungkook, he didn’t have any other intention.” you reply calmly. 

“Really? Are you sure?” your boyfriend starts backing you up on the kitchen counter and soon you feel the cold countertop through the material of your dress. 

“Yes. hundred percent.” Jungkook’s tattooed arm comes to rest on one of your cheeks. 

“Good.” his body presses onto yours. “You know I love you, right? I am sorry for my behavior earlier. I just can’t see you with anyone else. What if they steal you from me?” Jungkook’s expression softens and an adorable pout takes over his lips. 

You giggle a little, “I know. And you, too, should know that nobody can take me away from you unless you give up on me.” 

“I am never gonna give up on you.” whispering these words, Jungkook brings his lips to yours. Locking two pairs of the soft pillowy muscles as if to seal the deal. 

A lone tear rolls down your cheek as you stare at the kitchen counter at present. Jungkook gave up on you and your love so easily, so fast and so readily that you didn’t even get the chance to ask him why and how. He looked so dejected the moment you pulled out the ring, that you had to take a step back out of embarrassment. You felt like you were throwing yourself at him when he was not at all willing to look at you properly. 

You are about to reach for the tissue box kept on the coffee table but you feel your work phone buzzing inside your coat pocket. It’s a text from an unknown number, probably from one of your new patients. 

“Hi.” “Seodaemun Children Park, Friday, 3:30 pm.”  “- Jung Hoseok.” 

If you are excited for an outdoor therapy, then you are not showing it on your face and absolutely not with your dress. 

You decided to keep it casual with a pair of denim boyfriend jeans and a lavender-colored knitted top. You check your face a little before getting out of your car. You look fine. Not that you want to look extra pretty or something, it’s just that you don’t want to convey your internal troubles through your face. 

A gush of fresh wind hits you as soon as you step out of the stuffy interior of your car. And you are smiling, without even noticing. 

You decide to take a moment to admire the beauty of fall, the light chill in the wind and the dimmed sun heading in the west. Maybe Miseon was right. You should have taken a walk around your neighborhood instead of drowning yourself in bottles of Soju back in the days of your pity party. 

Sighing to yourself, you pull out your phone from your purse to call Mr. Jung. 

He receives it just after the first ring. 

"Hello, Mr. Jung. This is Dr. Y/N. I have arrived at the park." You speak into the device. 

"Hey, Y/N. Just walk straight from the entrance and you will see a huge fountain. We are sitting at a bench right beside that." His voice comes out thicker through the speaker of your phone but you can feel the cherriness in it regardless. 

"Okay." You reply briefly as you cut the call.

Unlike you, Mr. Jung has chosen to dress formally. A dark blue three piece suit paired with equally majestic dark Chelsea boots signify an aura of authority in him. The attorney badge, sitting right on his suit, makes him look even sexier all together. He sits cross-legged, a sight that could take anyone's breath away. 

You stare at him from a distance, unable to keep your eyes off of the man for some mysterious reasons. However, you compose yourself before it's too late and look around for Sua. 

She's on the seesaw. She has her signature pigtails with adorable pink bows matching her pink dress perfectly. But the best thing is, she's smiling widely, which makes her look so damn cute. This father-daughter duo could kill people with their looks alone. 

You start walking towards Mr. Jung but Sua sees you before him. Her expressions turn somber as she registers you walking towards her dad. 

"Mr. Jung." You breathe out, standing beside the bench.

"Y/N." He stands up and greets you with the most beautiful smile you have ever had the opportunity to witness. And suddenly you find it hard to breathe.  

"I thought you agreed to call me by my name, which is Hoseok, in case you don't remember." He teases you with a playful grin.

Your cheeks hit up with embarrassment "Ah, yeah. I'm sorry. I tend to be forgetful. But I didn't forget your name, Hoseok." 

"That's good. I would have been seriously offended if you did." He teases you again, gesturing you to sit beside him.

“How is her mood today?” you question, sitting down beside him while keeping a respectable distance between your bodies. 

“Gloomy as always. But she brightened up as soon as I told her we were going to grab some ice-cream here in the park.” Hoseok replies, staring at Sua. 

“Did you see her face turning grey again as I walked in?”  You continue staring at Sua as she climbs off the seesaw and starts walking towards the bench.

“Umm.. yeah. She is usually very friendly but then again she is not quite herself these days.” Hoseok sighs. 

“Hmm noted.” you mumble. 

“Hey my little girl.” Hoseok coos as Sua runs into his embrace. She pulls his collar with her little hands lowering him down to her level to whisper something in his ear. 

“What is she doing here?” you hear her say. It’s impossible to resist your laugh at this cutely angry baby who is very displeased at your presence. 

“Sua. Where are your manners?” Hoseok scolds her. 

“Hey. it’s alright.” you stop him, without realizing that you have reached for his arm in the process and placed your right hand there. 

Hoseok’s eyes shift towards your hold and you remove your hand as swiftly as possible, mumbling a quick apology.   

“I didn’t mind a bit.” Hoseok whispers. There is an undertone in his voice and again you don’t know what it is. 

You have never been as clueless as you are about Hoseok.

Reading people has always been one of your greatest abilities, even far before you got into psychotherapy. Understanding what’s going inside someone’s head is nothing too hard for you. But with Hoseok it’s different. You feel exposed under his dark gaze when you should be the one to make him feel intimidated with you.  

The way he looks at you, makes you feel like he knows exactly how troubled you are, how lonely you feel and how broken you have become. 

Realizing you have been lost in Hoseok’s eyes for far too long, you avert your gaze to Sua. 

“Hey Sua. Annyeong.” you give her a big smile but she remains unfazed. 

“Annoyeng.” her small voices is sounds whiny. 

You sigh. She is harder to approach than you assumed. 

“You know my friends just ditched me. They went shopping without telling me that they had changed their plans. I was feeling so down, so I called daddy and asked him if I could see you.” you can feel Hoseok’s eyes still trained on your profile. 

“Really? Your friends went without you?” from her voice you know she relates. And that is the main reason why you chose this lie. 

“Yup. But it’s alright if you don’t want me to be here. I will-” You start standing up faking to leave the park. 

Sua cuts you off, “No. You can be here.” 

Great. That’s what you wanted all along, “Really? I can?” 

She nods. 

Your eyes divert to Hoseok again, who is staring at you with amusement in his eyes. 

“Then do you want to go swinging with me?” You ask the little girl pointing towards the pair of swings a little far away. 

She looks at Hoseok for permission and when he gives her an affirmative sign, she mumbles a little yes. So you extend your hand towards her, hold her and walk her towards the swing. 

“You know, I used to be so afraid of swings when I was little.” you are staring at the ground but you can feel Sua’s eyes at you. 

“Why?” she asks. You feel a sense of accomplishment as she is finally interacting with you. 

“One of my classmates pushed me so hard that I flew off the swing and ended up hurting both of my knees.” You laugh a little, “I didn’t go near swings for a long time after that.”

“And now? You are not afraid of swings anymore?” She stops her swing rendering it out of motion. Her full concentration is on you. 

“No. I grew up so tall. See.” You show yourself off by expanding your legs.

“So.. when I grow up tall I won’t be afraid of Jaemin anymore?” she looks up at you, her expression is filled with fear. You know you need to be more careful from here. 

“Umm.. that depends on why you are afraid of Jaemin. Is he… your classmate?” you speak softly. 

Sua diverts her attention to her shoes, kicking dirt and avoiding looking into your eyes. She stays silent for a moment and you don’t push her to talk. 

“Yes. He- he is a bad boy.” her soft voice quivers. 

Another case of school bullying. Most of the teenagers you counsel are either a victim of school bullying or an unhealthy domestic atmosphere. But this is the first time you are counseling a kid so small troubled with bullying. Usually kids of Sua’s age are more likely to tease each other over small things but bullying is a complex concept. Hence, counselling Sua may not be an easy task. 

“Does he annoy you a lot?” you place carefully enough so that you don’t trigger her unintentionally. 

“Yes.” her eyes are still trained on her shoes. 

Nodding to yourself, you decide not to push the conversation any further. Sua already looks down enough and you don’t want to ruin her Friday afternoon any more.  

“Sua, what do you like more, chocolate or vanilla? I like chocolate more.”  You say, trying to brighten up her mood. 

Her expression changes within a heartbeat, “Me too. Me too. I like chocolate a lot.”    

“Then should we have some ice-cream?”  you extend your hand towards her. 

This time Sua doesn’t wait for her father’s confirmation, she grabs your hand as you two hop off the swings and walk towards Hoseok, who is currently busy on the phone. 

He smiles up at both of you as he speaks into his phone, “No. not tonight. I am busy. I’ll call you later.” and he cuts the call. 

That sounded pretty much like the cancellation of a booty-call but whatever it is, it’s not your business. 

“Hey you girls. Did you guys have fun?” he asks, taking Sua into his embrace again. 

“Yes. We did. Right sua?” you giggle. 

Sua nods giggling back. 

“But daddy, you promised to buy me ice-cream, why haven’t you bought it yet?”  she pouts adorably and you giggle again. 

“Pabo! It would have melted.” Hoseok laughs at her daughter. 

“Oh. That’s right.” Sua exclaims, wondering hard. Even before you know it, you are laughing out loud. A fit of laughter escapes your throat at the cuteness of this father-daughters duo. The frequency of your laughter increases when two of them join you. Suddenly you realize it’s been an embarrassingly long time since you have laughed this loud, this freely, this genuinely. Suddenly, you feel good, you feel free. 

“Do you think there’s something to be seriously worried about?” Hoseok asks, walking you towards your car. Sua fell asleep right after having a bowl full of ice-cream. Hoseok tugged her into a blanket and put her into the car seat before walking you to yours. 

“It will be too early for me to say anything but I will get there soon. She is a kid after all, I can’t rush with her. I can’t dig into her fears unless she is comfortable enough. That will do more harm.” You come to stand in front of your car. 

Hoseok nods. 

“Yes. You’re right.” he murmurs. 

You swear to all the gods above there, they really took time to craft this man. His sharp jawline is a perfect contrast to his soft features. His dark brown eyes glint under the setting sun. And in this dimming light, he looks like a dream. 

And maybe you are dreaming because there is no way he is stepping close to you now, raising his hand, bringing it closer to your face and touching you. But then his fingers brushes on the skin of your neck, gently picking something off from it. You feel goosebumps all across your skin and at the same time your face feels like it’s on fire, bazing red and hot. 

Fuck. You are deprived of touches for so long. 

“Loose thread.” Hoseok whispers. 

“O-oh. Thanks. This top keeps losing threads.” an useless TMI. 

“It does the job though. You look really pretty.” he whispers again and with that heart-breakingly beautiful smile of his. 

That’s it. You need to run away as soon as possible. 

“Ah, thanks. You are kind. Bye. See you next Friday.” you bow a little. 

He takes a step back without dimming his smile, “Bye. I will be waiting. Drive safe, Y/N.”

You finally find your breath when he turns his back and walks away from you. This is unexplainable, this is not ethically right, you should be heartbroken, and you should stay miles away from stupid feelings but you just can’t stop admiring Hoseok. Currently you are more confused and clueless than you have ever been. And you absolutely don’t know what to do with it.  

Taglist:-

@phenomenalgirl9 @variety-is-the-joy-of-life @soraviie @sukunabitch @chimchimmarie @coffeedepressionsoup @meowstake @vonvi-blog @nochuel @xjoonchildx @justmewondering-recs @cuteipat @miakey98 @purpleanchorcrown @chimmisbae @ane102 @junniesoleilkth @terjeonbebas @kookssecret @appleh4ad @kayleeshinee @whoa-jo @definetlythinkimanalien @lovelgirl22 @agrika

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Bunny Boy (3)

Chapter Summary: The day after the incident Y/n is back to working, Jimin continues to visit and even brings a friend with him. Y/n sends a surprise for the boys and invites them inside the café, what happens when they show up without Jimin?

Word count: 3.3k

Warnings: Implied Violence, Bruises, Hand marks. Let me know if I missed any!

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As the sky slowly started to light up from the rising sun, I too woke up, doona tossed and half falling of the bed and pillows scattered all over the mattress and floor.

I really need to throw some of them out. I thought to myself slowly sitting up in my comfortable bed reaching for my phone to turn off the obnoxious alarm that I dreaded every morning. Groaning I scrambled out from the twisted blankets and headed for my bathroom grabbing my towel on the way.

I was a morning person really, just after I had my shower.

The warm water jolted out of the shower head before reaching my hair, feeling the relaxing water running through my hair and on to my scalp before escaping down the rest of my body was always my favourite part of showers. Washing the shampoo out of my hair I was remined of what had happened yesterday in the alley with Jimin and his...friends? Family? I wasn't sure on who they were, but Jimin trusted them, and I trust Jimin.

They way they were all living in that small alley put me off, that was why Jimin always went through the alleys, because that's where he lived. Appling conditioner to my hair I continued to think about the events for yesterday. After I left, by the time I made it back to the café it would have been late afternoon.

How long was I out for in the alley with Jimin?

I dragged myself through the back door, fatigue plaguing me just wanting to go home and sleep and shower the dirt off me. Walking to the counter, I lean over, looking into the sink, the plates from earlier gone, washed, dried, and put away. I turn the tap on ready to wash my hands before a stern voice sounded.

"Where have you been?!"

I spun around scared out of mind only the see Seoyeon, her arms crossed over her chest, a stern look on her face holding anger, annoyance, and most of all concern. Staring back at her I didn't know what to say or do and it seemed she didn't know either.

Her eyes slightly soften realizing the state I was in, hastily she made her way over to me engulfing me in a hug before pulling back and looking over me. She stopped when she noticed my scrapped knees and hands before looking up at me, sooner than I could stop her she pulled the neck of my top down to the right spotting the forming bruise from where I had hit the ground after Namjoon had shoved me. A gasp left her mouth at the sight before she pulled it down further showing the red hand marks from Namjoon, he did not grab me hard enough to bruise but those marks would be there for a bit, maybe a few hours or even a day or two.

She raised her hand covering her mouth lightly tracing the marks before speaking. "Who did this?" The coldness in her voice scared me, I had seen Seoyeon annoyed or mad at rude customer but never had I seen her like this.

"It was just a misunderstanding." I broke my silence.

"A misunderstanding! " She scoffed. "Y/N misunderstandings are when people don't understand. Whoever did this obviously understood what they were doing."

"Really it was! It was my fault. He was just trying to-"

"He?! Y/N we must call someone, this is-"

"No! Seriously, Seoyeon I am fine, and the marks will go away in a day or two, you do not have to call anyone. Don't worry, I just fell over and landed on my shoulder." I spoke sternly hoping she would drop it before giving her a reassuring smile.

"But-, I-, Ugh fine, I'll drop it. Just so you know, whoever did this to do, I do not like them" She grumbled. "Now tell me where you were, you completely disappeared and left me to manage the shop, Nali and Haewon were great help though."

I smiled at her as I began to tell her most of what had happened leaving out exactly where the alley way itself was and a few other details.

Stepping out the bathroom I started to tidy up my bed before making my way to the kitchen grabbing something to eat before heading to work. I only had 2 a bedroom apartment in the complex despites my mother's complaints and wanting to buy me a 'Nice big house, out of the city'. I told her that I did not need such a big house for just me and wanted to buy my first place myself. So, we settled on this apartment, it was the perfect size for me and wasn't too far away from where we opened the café.

Seoyeon's parents and my parents worked in the same business and got along well, both our families would spend holidays together which naturally resulted in me and Seoyeon developing the friendship we have today.

Luckily traffic isn't too bad this early in the morning, the café had to be open early in the mornings for the breakfast rush which meant I would have to wake up extra early to make it and open shop. Arriving at the café I noticed all the lights were on, walking in I could hear the radio and the music meaning Seoyeon had arrived before me and had started setting up.

The bell chiming must have gotten Seoyeon attention as I saw her head poke out from the kitchen door a smile on her face and some flour in her hair. Stifling a laugh, I walked over to her placing my bag down on the counter joining her in the kitchen.

"What- Seoyeon how did you even manage to do this?" I giggled looking at all the flour on the bench and on the floor, not to mention the flour in her hair on her face.

"Shut up" She grumbled back at me hiding her smile.

We continued to work in the kitchen together catching up on anything that had happened to us recently, I was baking some pastries and muffins while Seoyeon was cleaning up her mess from earlier, soon enough the breakfast rush started, and we were swamped with customers.

I was in the kitchen baking some cheesecake while assembling some savory croissants to put in the display case since they tend to run out quickly, we had been busy today, so I had kind of lost track of time. Finishing the croissants, I went over to the sink to wash my hands, as I was drying them, I looked out the window only to see Jimin waiting patiently near the table.

Crap

I looked up at the time only to see my lunch break was almost an hour ago, he must have been waiting for me. It seemed Jimin had giving up on waiting as I saw him frown before turning around and start walking away, quickly finishing drying my hands I run out the door yelling.

Jimin turned around at the sound of my voice a grin forming on his face, I walked closer to him and he to me.

"Sorry Jimin, we've been so busy today and I completely lost track of time." Stumbling over my words and rushing them out I explained to Jimin why I was not out here. "Here come inside I'll only be a minute or two."

Before I could think or Jimin could respond I dragged him inside the kitchen with me, letting go of his hand once we were inside, I hastily walked over to the oven opening it and checking the cheesecake, seeing as it was ready, I reached in and pulled it out, setting it on to one of our cooling racks.

Dusting the fake dust off my hands, I start moving the croissants on to a tray to escort them out into the display turning around I remembered Jimin was here, just standing in the middle of the room awkwardly, I pulled over a spare chair for him letting him know I'll just be a minute.

I walked out the front behind the counter where Seoyeon was serving the customers, I placed the tray on top of the display while I opened it and pulled out the board for croissants this caught Seoyeon's attention as I saw her look over to me.

"Y/N you're a life saver, I've had like 12 customers asking for some savory croissants." Seoyeon expressed her gratitude as I started placing the croissants into the display. When I finished I smiled back up at her before heading back into the kitchen where Jimin was sitting on the chair I had got him, he moved it over the bench where I had previously been making the croissants.

I walked over to Jimin apologizing again before heading over to the cooling rack and getting some muffins I had baked earlier and some croissants I had set aside. I tuned back to Jimin "Is there anything specific you'd like?" He looked confused at first before standing up and walking over to me.

"Whatever you choose is okay, I don't mind" He spoke softly, I could tell he was saying that as to not come across as wanting more food.

"Please Jimin, we've got muffins, croissants, biscuits, wraps, whatever you like I promise it's okay." I said gesturing to all the food we have. "I can get you something from out the front too."

Jimin looked over to the front, so I walked over to the door opening it, he didn't seem to want to walk through the door and was staying out of sight from the customers. I bent down at the back of the display showing him all the different labels of foods.

Jimin point at the seasoned pork sandwich which I happily grabbed out of the display case, standing back up again heading into the kitchen before Seoyeon called out for me.

"Y/N could you please grab the next customer?" I mouthed for Jimin to give me a second placing the food on the bench while taking the customer's order. Just as I finished handing him his order, I heard a crash and a squeal from the kitchen.

Oh no, Jimin!

Excusing myself from the customer I ran to back only to find both Jimin and Seoyeon on the floor clearly having run into each other, there were a few bottles rolling about on the floor, Seoyeon was probably restocking the fridge.

I bent down and helped Seoyeon up before making my way over to Jimin and helping him up as well asking if they were both okay on the way. Jimin immediately started apologizing to Seoyeon and tried picking up all the bottles, he put all the bottles on the counter before looking back at Seoyeon then me.

"Seoyeon, this is Jimin. Jimin, this is Seoyeon" I introduced them both. "Sorry Seoyeon, I was just getting us some lunch."

"It's nice to meet you Jimin."

"U-uh, You too."

"Sorry about running into you Jimin, I wasn't looking." Seoyeon smiled. "Anyways, I have to fill up this fridge and then get back to serving the customers, it was nice meeting you."

Seoyeon picked up the bottles smiling at Jimin before heading over to the fridge, I quickly raced out apologizing to the customer and giving him his change before grabbing the food and going back into the kitchen. I grabbed Jimin hand as we went out the back to the table and sitting down, I passed Jimin his sandwich.

As we ate, I apologized to Jimin for what happened in the store before we caught up and just chatted for the rest of lunch.

After we finished lunch, I told Jimin to wait while I went back inside, walking over to the far bench I got a small basket that I had prepacked with sandwiches, muffins, croissants, and a handful of biscuits, making sure there were 7 savory and 7 sweet foods plus some extra biscuits.

Prancing back outside I happily handed Jimin the basket, at first, he tried to open but I told him not to open it and wait until he got back, sceptically Jimin looked at me but kept the basket anyway. I knew if Jimin found out what was in that basket before he left, he would not have taken it. I smiled waving goodbye to Jimin wishing him a good rest of his day, before heading back inside the shop just as Nali and Haewon showed up for their shifts.

I wasn't sure how Jimin and his pack would react to the food, but I hoped they would except it.

As Jimin arrived back at the alley the other boys were all sitting round on the ground or couch. "I'm back guys." Jimin announced. All the boys looked up at him hoping he brought back some food like usual but seeing the small basket rather than the regular food bandana was odd.

"Did Y/n give you food today?" Jungkook questioned hopefully looking at the basket and Jimin, Jin elbowed him in the side for asking.

Jimin walked over towards the middle on the group placing down the basket and sitting down. "I'm not sure, she told me not to look inside until I got back." This peaked the leader's interest as he came over to Jimin and the basket standing up next to Jimin, some of the others also moved closer to see the basket.

Jimin slowly peeled back the covering on the basket, gasping at what was inside, he slowly put in hand in the basket and pulled up a beef sandwich. "It’s full of food." He whispered in disbelief.

"She wouldn't."

"She did."

All the other members also looked in the bag gasping before pulling out more sandwiches, wraps, croissants, and muffins.

"Oh my, this-this is amazing."

Tears began to pool in some of the hybrid's eyes, never experiencing such kindness especially from a human, this food would keep them going, not having had a meal in who knows how long.

"Why would she do this...?"

The pack handed out and sorted through the food, exchanging with each other for what they preferred before digging in, feeling well fed and full for the first time in a long time.

Jimin's visits continued every day, some days when I was running late, he'd come wait inside sharing greetings with Seoyeon while I finished working before heading out for lunch. I would always send Jimin home with enough food for himself and his six other friends whom I'd recently learnt were in his pack, not that I'd seen any of them since that day, occasionally along with the food I'd put a small sticky note in the basket and some drinks. The café had been super busy recently so most days Jimin would stay inside with me while I finished up and he was more than welcome to, despite the number of times me and Seoyeon had told him that he can just come in he always knocked on the door and waited for us to open it.

Today didn't seem much different than the rest, once again the café was busy, not so bad we needed to call someone in to help but enough to keep us busy with little down time. We currently had a special menu item on which was proving to be extremely popular, so much so that I contemplated added it to the new menu permanently.

But due to the popularity that meant I spent most of my day making more of it in the kitchen. Eventually a knock sound at the door, knowing who it was I quickly put down what I was doing and made my way over to the door. Opening the door, I started welcoming Jimin without really paying attention until I realized it wasn't just Jimin.

"Hey Jimin, sorry we're swamped today. New item on the menu and-" Finally looking at Jimin I realized that behind him stood Jungkook the bunny hybrid from his pack.

"Oh, Hi Jungkook." I said slightly confused.

"I hope it's okay I brought him Y/n, He wanted to see you again." Jimin confessed looking behind him when talking about Jungkook who just coyly grinned showing off his bunny like teeth.

"Yeah, of course that's okay." I let him know before stepping aside welcoming them in. "Come on in guys, I'm just making something."

They followed in behind me as I walked over to the stove stirring the mix to stop it from burning. I could hear behind me chairs moving so Jimin and Jungkook must have taken a seat on the spare chairs we have in the kitchen. Turning to the table I went back to what I was doing before they'd both arrived, grabbing the knife I began to cut the strawberry pie in to the appropriate sizes then moving it to separate them.

I went over the fridge grabbing out the whipped cream bag and fresh strawberries putting them down next to the pie and grabbing the chocolate piping bag from the stove. Drizzling the white chocolate over the pies making sure to miss two at the end, I then piped some cream onto each one, topping it off with a fresh strawberry.

Moving them all onto a tray I left three behind before heading out the front smiling at the boys on the way, pushing through the door into the front I put the pies into the display before heading back to the kitchen. I plated the pies that I left over, grabbing some forks, a banana milk and some juice and then I joined the boys, giving them the food and drink.

Sighing as I sat down finally off my feet, I looked to see Jungkook questionably only look at Jimin as if asking permission before Jimin nodded and Jungkook started eating and Jimin followed shortly. We sat in silence for a bit before Jungkook spoke up.

"This is really good! Thank you." He gushed over the pie.

"You're welcome, I'm so happy you like it. It's proving to be pretty popular, I might need to add it to the permanent menu." I beamed back at him.

"Do you think you could pack more of those really good carrot and apple muffins please? They are my favourite." Jungkook said with a large smile on his face before it twisted into pain and annoyance as Jimin had jabbed him in the ribs before looking at me apologetically. I returned Jungkook previous smile saying, "Of course I can."

"Actually, we are closing soon, if you guys want to wait around you can choose whatever you'd like, I feel bad that I never asked you guys and just kind of chose an assortment and stuck with it." I said sheepishly towards the end.

I saw Jungkook's eyes light up at what I had said, an unspoken agreement between us passed as we finished our drinks and pies waiting for shop to close.

Having Jungkook join me and Jimin for lunch had become a regular thing, he didn't come every day, but he came often. So, it was no surprise when I opened the door to see the bunny hybrid whom I'd grow accustomed to but what was surprising was the worrisome look on his face and the lack of a certain dog hybrid who hadn't missed a lunch in weeks.

"Hey Jungkook, I-" My eyes passed over his head to see the white tops of a pair of fluffy orange ears. "Hoseok? Wait where's Jimin?"

Seeing how distressed they looked I began to worry what was wrong, but I didn't have much time to think before Jungkook spoke.

"We need your help."

A/n: Hello everyone, hope you all having a great day and if not, I hope this made you feel better! I don’t have much of a lore/plan for this book I’m just writing as it comes to me, also I'm trying out some new line break art which i made myself. Have a nice day & Thankyou all for reading! 💜

[cmncisspnandmore]

Coming Home To You: part 2

Pairing: Captain John Price X Wife! Reader

Warnings: Dirty talk, mentions of past animal abuse (nothing graphic) Allusions to smut.

Word Count: 4694

Catch up here: Part 1

The alarm interrupts your dreamless sleep, the incessant beeping growing louder and louder the longer you ignore it. You pry your eyes open, as John’s arm wraps around your waist, pulling you backwards against his chest. His breath tickles the base of your neck, as he presses a kiss to the top of your shoulder. 

“Mmm… Morning, Love,” John whispers, his voice thick with sleep. Your hand reaches out connecting with the off switch on the clock silencing the beeping.

“Morning, are you feeling better this morning?” You ask, turning over in his arms, your face pressing into his bare chest. 

“I am..” he presses a kiss to the top of your head. “Do you need any help with the chores this morning?” 

You pause for a moment, mentally going over the list of things you need to do this morning. “I wouldn't mind some help, if you’re feeling up to it that is.” 

“And miss the opportunity to watch you walk around in those tight jeans? I wouldn't miss that for the world,” he muses, letting you go as he sits up in bed. You push up on your elbow watching as he swings his legs over the side of the bed, the muscles in his back flexing as he stretches. The silvery scars that are scattered along his back from years of combat stretching and pulling as he moves his body from side to side. Trying to work out the kinks in his stiff muscles after sleeping.

“Cheeky old man,” you tease, a small smile playing on your lips. 

“Old man?” John retorts, turning towards you, blue eyes narrowed in mock offense. “I may be older but I am still young enough to keep up with a minx like you,” his voice is low and husky as he crawls over you. His muscled arms on either side of you now, caging you in against the bed. His knees pushing your thighs apart as he shifts his weight to one arm, using his now free hand to gently wrap around the base of your throat. 

Blood pounds in your ears, as John stares down at you, his tongue flicking out to wet his pink lips. A small smile plays on your lips as you wrap one of your much smaller hands around his wrist, ensuring it stays firmly in place. John's eyes darken slightly, as he gently squeezes with just enough pressure to make you gasp. The veins in his arm are pronounced as he leans down pressing his lips to yours. Stealing the air from your lungs, with one soft slow kiss. 

The kiss lasts only a few moments, before the weight of him is gone. A shiver now wracking through your body at the lack of body heat. You sit up, cheeks flushed, your hair wild and falling into your face at your sudden movement. “Hey!” You call out, as John's fleeting form disappears from the bedroom into the adjoined bathroom. 

His deep chuckle is all you hear as the door softly clicks shut.

“Tease!” you call as you stand from the side of the bed. Heading over to your dresser, you yank the dark wooden drawer open harder than you should. The skittering of your heart from the heated moment fizzling out as you search for something to wear. The sun starts to filter in through the bay window, the sky painted pink and orange in the morning glow. You were now late to start chores. And on top of being late you were now incredibly frustrated with the man who has spent the last 3 weeks away on some remote mission. 

As you shove your feet into the tightest pair of jeans you own, the bathroom door opens. Even with your back turned you can feel John's eyes on you, so you make a point to wiggle your ass as you pull on the skin tight fabric. Once the jeans are securely buttoned you pull on your shirt, a low cut all black shirt that shows off your cleavage and turn towards your husband. 

He leans lazily against the wall, dressed in his usual heather gray t-shirt and dark wash jeans. His hair is pushed back, still in need of a cut after coming back from his deployment, his blue eyes trailing the length of your body. A small smirk on his lips as he takes in the shirt you’re wearing. 

“Something the matter Love? You look a little flushed,” He muses.

“No,” you turn your nose up at him, brushing by him on your way out the door. He wanted to be a tease? Well the road worked both ways, and playing hard to get was your speciality.

John's hand skims your waist as you walk by, but you quickly jog down the stairs, out of his reach. The warmth from his fingers lingering on your skin as you make your way to the kitchen. You hear his footsteps on the stairs as you reach for your muck boots, still covered in mud from the rain last night. You lean down, pulling them on one at a time,your hands quickly becoming covered in dirt. 

As you pull on your second boot, a sharp smack across your ass causes you to jump. You gasp standing up straight to come face to face with the smiling man you called your husband. “Jonathan Price!” you scold, brows furrowed as you glare at him. 

“I couldn’t resist the perfect opportunity,” he chuckles, as you punch his chest. His much larger hand grasps your wrist as he tucks you into him. Your bodies pressed against each other, as your heart hammers in your chest. One arm winds its way around your waist as he leans in, his face angled towards you, your lips centimeters away.

 “I’m sorry for being a bloody tease, I'll make it up to you. You’re always such a good girl, and you deserve to be worshiped. Not some quick before chores fuck. Wouldn’t be a proper man if the first time I had my way with you after being gone was a quick shag before we rushed off to take care of the chores.” He murmurs against your lips. A red blush creeps up your chest, painting your cheeks the same color as the sunrise. 

“i..I” your brain short circuits as he closes the distance between your lips. For a moment you forget how to breathe, your eyes fluttering shut as you lean into the kiss. His lips are warm and soft against your. His beard tickles your cheeks and chin as he squeezes the flesh of your hip, almost hard enough to hurt. His fingers left red impressions on the skin there, but you didn't care. You had missed him. You missed the way his rough fingers felt on your skin, the way his beard tickled your face when you kissed.

Even though he had physically come home to you last night, he was somewhere else mentally. He wasn't the playful and often a little grumpy man who doted on you last night. Ast night he was the broken, soul battered man who witnessed too much death. Too much pain for one lifetime. And even though you loved that part of him as much as you did the rest of him. When he was stuck in his own mind, battling the invisible monsters inside his own head. There was always this air of distance around him on those days. The days where he was physically in front of you but somewhere else entirely mentally were hard. The days where no matter how close you got to him, you still weren’t reaching him made your chest ache. 

So in the moment, standing in the early morning glow of sunrise, you felt at peace again. The raging storm of uncertainty that plagued you when he withdrew into his own personal hell was calmed. The hollow aching hole in your chest you felt everytime he walked out that door for deployment was filled. 

You used to think that your mother was crazy when she told you that one day you would meet someone whose soul spoke to yours. How one day someone would come into your life and your heart would be theirs before your mind got the chance to say no. It wasn't until you met John that you understood her words. 

“ ‘mustn't keep the animal’s waiting, Sweetheart..” he whispers against your lips, your eyes fluttering open to meet his. He was right, you had a barn full of animals to feed and turn out. “Promise as soon as we’re done, I'll make it up to you..” he smiles, pressing one last kiss to your lips. 

“You better,” You mumble, your brain still struggling to keep up from the rush of emotions that bubbles in your chest. 

The old wooden door that leads to back door creaks as it scrapes along the worn porch. The soft breeze is warm against your skin as you both step out into the morning glow. The view from the back porch was your favorite. The acres of rolling pasture behind your house always looked peaceful as the sun rose over the horizon. The tall grass swaying in the morning breeze, as you take a deep breath. 

There was nothing better than the smell just after it rains. The old red barn stands tall just off to the side of the house. No more than 50 feet from the side of the porch, the paint faded and weather worn. You had no idea how old the barn was exactly, you knew it dated around the same age as the house but there was no clear record of it being built. But it was one of the selling parts of the house for you. As soon as you saw it without seeing the inside of the house you had declared that this was your forever home. 

This was the place you wanted to spend the rest of your life. John had just laughed, turning towards your real estate agent and telling them to put in an offer, despite the agent's reservations about buying such an old property. The agent had tried to talk you and John into buying one of the newly updated row houses in the bustling city but you had your heart set on the countryside. He had even gone as far as explaining that the house and barn were terribly out of code and would need costly repairs. 

It was your little slice of heaven.

Pulling open the heavy wooden doors, you’re greeted by the sounds of shuffling animals as they rise. The sheep are all clambering to their feet as you walk towards them. A series of bleating comes from the group as you lean against the pen door.

“Good morning ladies!” you call as they all shift around the pen, a chorus of baa’s their response.

John makes his way over to the pen, carefully climbing over the wooden fencing. You watch as he hops into the pen, the sheep scattering to make way for him to walk through. You watch as he pulls open the small sliding door on the side of the barn. It leads into a fenced in pasture that you often kept the sheep in, during the rainy season so they could run into the barn for shelter. “Alright Ladies, out ya go!” he calls as he waves his arms at the flock. The sheep shove and push each other as they flee from his waving arms out the small door towards the open pasture.

After all the sheep have left the barn, you climb over the fence, your boots squelching in the muddy dirt floor of their pen. “We should lay some straw out, try to soak up some of this water, i don't want any of their hooves getting abscessed,” you glance down at the wet ground. 

“Probably for the best, I’d hate for one of them to become lame,” John replies, leaning down to turn their water trough upright again. The shiny metal tub caked with mud, “Should probably bring this out, give it a good sprayin’ while they’re out.” 

“The hose should still be connected!” you call over your shoulder as you walk towards the pile of straw in the corner of the pen. Leaning up on your toes you reach for the pitchfork that's resting against the outer wall of the pen. You pull the metal pitchfork up and over the wall, a few pieces of stray straw falling into your hair. After a few moments the ground of the sheep pen is covered in a thick layer of straw, and your brow is slick with sweat.

You wipe your forehead with the back of your arm as you stab the pitchfork into the ground. Movement catches your eye as John walks in with the now clean metal tub, a small smile on his face as he walks towards the gate of the pen. “You got something in your hair,” he laughs softly, reaching over the fence and plucking the stray straw out of your hair. 

“Hey! That was my new fashion statement, didn't ya hear? Straw is the new Gucci,” You wink. 

“Oh i'm terribly sorry, allow me,” John laughs as he reaches down and tosses a handful of straw at you. The pieces of straw rain down on your, sticking to your hair and sweat damp skin. A startled squeak passes your cover your head from the raining straw, earning a hearty laugh from your husband. You slowly lower your arms, a devilish smirk on your lips as you reach down grabbing your own straw to launch at him. But he's faster than you, with nimble movements he hops over the fence and tackles you to the ground. A cloud of straw plumes into the air as you both fall to the now smaller pile of straw in the corner of the stall. During the fall John had spun you so he took the brunt of the impact, landing on his back, with you hugged tight to his chest.

Your laughter quickly fills the barn as you both lay there for a moment catching your breath. You’re both completely covered in straw, it's stuck to your hair, your clothes, John's beard, there's even a piece stuck to his boonie hat.

“Now we’re both ready for the runway, don't ya think darlin’?” John smiles, pressing a kiss to your cheek.

“Oh yes, we’re going to win and be on the cover of Vogue,” you laugh lightly rolling your eyes. After a moment you push yourself up from John’s chest, looking down at him, the smile still on your cheeks. You gently reach up, plucking the straw from the brim of his hat, letting it fall onto his face. 

John sputters and shakes his head trying to shake the straw out of his beard, “you cheeky minx.” 

“Now you’ll definitely be on the cover of Vogue,” you smile as you clamber off him. Brushing your hands down your clothes in an attempt to get the stuck pieces of straw off you. From the corner of your eye you see John stand doing the same, once most of the straw is off both of you. He reaches out, hands wrapping around your wrist as he tugs you into his chest. He drops a kiss into your hair, before his fingers catch the bottom of your chin and he tips it upwards. 

His thumb runs along your bottom lip softly as he looks down at you. His sky blue eyes flickering between your lips and eyes. “You’re something else, you know that?” He breathes, leaning in to press his lips against your.

“I’ve been told once or twice by this grumpy old man,” You smirk against his lips, earning a small scoff from him. As quickly as the kiss started its over, and John is already climbing over the fence towards the other side of the barn. 

You roll your eyes, following his path, climbing over the worn wooden fence. Your muddy boots hit the packed dirt of the aisle with a resounding thump. The dirt was far more compact in the center aisle of the barn than in the pens with the animals. Years ago you had asked John if you could pour a concrete walkway, but he had never gotten around to it between his deployments. You wipe your hands on your worn jeans, brushing off the residual dirt, as you walk over to where John is standing. 

His arms resting on the tops of a stall door, his boonie hat tipped downward as he looked at the small animals inside. “Love?” He looks over at you,”who are they?” he points into the stall.

You lean up on your tiptoes, peering in at the small animals. Inside lay 3 miniature donkeys. They stand together in the back corner of the barn, all huddled in a group. Their large ears flickering as they listen to your voices. “That's Donald,” you point to a skewbald donkey, his dark brown eyes watching you.

“The all gray one is Daisy,” you point to the gray one in the back corner, her head resting on top of the last one, a cream one, much smaller than the others. “And the smaller cream colored one is their baby, Duey. Aren't they cute?” You smile.

John shakes his head, he tries to look annoyed at the new additions to the barn but he fails. A small smile playing on his lips as he hears you introduce your newest pets. This wasn't the first time you have gotten animals while he was away. The last long deployment he went on he came home to a drove of pigs. It took him nearly 3 weeks to convince you that you couldn't keep 12 pigs at once, even if you had the space for them. He felt terrible when you had to say goodbye to 10 of the pigs you had rescued, but John had assured you that he made sure they were going to lovely farms where they would live out the rest of their lives, not turned into bacon. It was the only way you would finally let them go. 

Now he only had 2 resident Sows on the farm, who you affectionately named Squiggle and Periwinkle. Even though they were no longer piglets, the two sister pigs weighed well over 100lbs, you still loved them like they were tiny piglets. You would sit in their pen with them some days as they laid their giant heads on your lap, basking in the sun on warm afternoons. 

So there wasn't really any surprise when he saw the 3 miniature donkeys in one of the previously unused stalls. If anything it was John’s fault for leaving you to your own devices for so long. But even with your habit of beginning home stray or unwanted farm animals, you always made sure that each animal that was brought into your care was given the best life possible. You spent hours each morning cleaning, feeding and turning them out. And while John knows you would love nothing more than to keep every animal that crosses your path, you know limits. 

Oftentimes when you would bring home animals, you rescued them from auction, or inexperienced owners who thought they knew what they were getting into. But suddenly find themselves way over their heads. You would take the animals in, nurse them back to health and find them suitable homes. Ensuring that anyone who bought one of your animals knew that if something changed they were to bring it right back to you before sending it to auction.

“Are they staying? Or are we just a stop along their journey?” He asks, rubbing a hand across his beard.

“They’re temporary residents, Mrs. Rosen will be picking them up later this week once her outdoor run is built,” you smile, reaching over and unlatching the stall door. 

“Alright,” he smiles, following behind you as you walk over, gently grabbing the halters of the two older donkeys. John quickly grabs the halter of the baby, and follows you out of the barn. The melodic beating of the donkeys hooves on the dirt as you guide them to a small pasture next to the sheep. As soon as the family of donkeys is safely turned out, you both head back into the barn and begin mucking out their stalls.

It was mornings like this that you enjoyed, although you and John were both focused on working. Neither of you carried on much of a conversation other than a few ‘excuse me’s’ and ‘behind you’s’ as you worked. It was enjoyable. There was something peaceful about getting the morning chores done together. There wasn't a need for the awkward small talk that some couples felt they needed to use to fill the silence. You both just found joy in spending quiet moments together. 

After the Donkey stall had been thoroughly cleaned, it was time to tend to your personal favorite residents of the barn. With pockets stuffed full of peppermints you make your way to the last two stalls at the end of the barn. Their metal name plates set them apart from the others. As you get closer two large heads poke out from the stall. 

“There's my girl,” John hums, walking over to stand in front of the stall, a smile on his face.

Rookie was a Chestnut English thoroughbred, with dark brown eyes that you swore saw straight through to a very person's soul. She was 12, 17 hands high, and absolutely smitten with your husband. You had found Rookie abandoned in an old barn, she was emaciated, and covered in rain rot. You had no intention of bringing another horse into your lives, having just lost one to Colic a month before you found her. But you couldn't leave her. 

You had fully expected the abandoned horse to spook, to react poorly to you invading her space. But Rookie seemed to understand you were there to help. She stood still as you fashioned a rope halter from some old baling twine. She didn't flinch when you checked over her hooves and legs, making sure she was sound to walk the long distance home. She was well behaved the entire time you walked her home, she never spooked at a passing car or strange sound. 

Although she never fought you once on your long journey home, it wasn't until she saw John that her personality seemed to come to life. She was a playful horse at heart, and her favorite person was very much your gruff husband. The first time she met him, he had come out to the barn to help you with the chores. He had leant down to grab something from the ground in front of her stall and she plucked his Boonie hat right from his head. Tossing it onto the ground in front of him. 

At first John had mistaken her taking his hat as her trying to nip at him but when the incident kept happening, he realized she was trying to get his attention. It was the same day that John learnt she knew a few tricks. She could bow, and smile, she also knew how to rear on command. He was also the first one to ride her, and she responded beautifully to him. She would come right up to him when he was walking into the pasture, and she loved to lay her head on his shoulder. 

Price reaches out, Rookie bumping his hand with her muzzle, as he stroked her softly. A soft nicker came from her as he talked softly to her. Showering her with praise as he pet her, patting her strong neck affectionately. 

“I swear you love her more than me,” You tease, coming to stand in front of the other stall. Where another large head their nose out, though he was far larger than Rookie. Captain was your horse, he was an old shire horse. You were given him by your elderly neighbor, from what she knew Captain was in his early 20’s. He was once a carriage horse for a popular horse drawn carriage ride in the city. But he had been sold when the owners of the carriages wanted to change the look from the shire horse to Clydesdales. Claiming that the Shire horse was becoming too hard to find with their dwindling numbers. 

Thankfully Captain had ended up with your neighbor instead of being sold to an auction house where his fate could’ve been much worse. She had kept Captain for a few years before her health became frail, and the year you moved into the farmhouse she had asked if you could take care of him for her while she was in hospital. But unfortunately she never came home, and her family didn't have the means to take care of Captain. 

So now the giant Shire was yours. He was a lot like Price in aspects of personality, he was a little grumpy, and tended to be strong headed about certain things. Like he would only eat a specific brand of peppermints, which he now nuzzles your pocket trying to get. 

You can't help the cheek aching smile that takes over as Captain tries to get the peppermints out of your pockets. Your hands pressed against his face to try and keep him back but it's useless against the strong animal. “Alright, alright! I know what you want!” you laugh, finally pulling out the plastic wrapped mints for him.

He tosses his head in the air, his upper lip curled up in what looks to be a smile.Youo unwrap a few, laying your hand flat for him to take them. Rookies large head nudging your hand for some of her own. 

“Okay okay, hold on, you pushy mare,” You laugh, quickly unwrapping some more to give to her. Both horses crunch the mints, as John wanders off to the feed bucket. He scoops their feed into the plastic buckets. Making sure to add the supplements for the needs of each horse before he brings them to their outdoor feeding troughs. Both horses were well accustomed to the routines and as you unlatched their stall doors and shoves them open they both walked to their pasture. Tails swished with each step, after they had both been secured in the largest pasture on this side of the property. You stand next to John watching the animals happily grazing in their fields.

His strong arm wrapped around your shoulder, his lips pressed to the side of your hair. You lean into his side, the soft breeze gently caressing your skin as you stand together. Just taking in the peaceful morning, the birds chirping overhead in the trees.

“I didn't think I would ever end up with my own personal safe haven..” John whispers.

“No?”

“No.. I didn't think it was in the cards for me… I didn't think a man like me deserved it. But, have shown me that everyone deserves some peace,” He whispers, looking down at you. The morning sun highlights your beauty, as the sun rises higher in the sky.

“You’re not as terrible as you think Jonathan Price, in fact I think you’re one of the most amazing men I have ever met. There’s no one I wouldn't want to share my life with, other than you.” You lean up pressing your lips to his, a smile playing on the corner of your mouth.

“I believe I owe you something..” He whispers against your lips, his hands coming to cup the sides of your face, your own hands resting on his waist. 

“Oh?” You hum.

“Yes, I do,” He smirks, large hands sliding down you grip your waist. He hauls you up his body, your legs locking around his hips. His hands grab your ass as he starts walking towards the house. “You’ve been driving me crazy all morning in these tight little jeans of yours. I think it’s time they come off.” 

Next: Part 3

Taglist: @a-small-writer-in-a-big-world

[spinnysocks]

mini kiburi x ushari fic :3

Every muscle in Kiburi's body ached. Scar just had to call a meeting after he, Janja and Reirei had their tails handed to them by the Lion Guard for the thousandth time.

The only positive thing about the sundown meeting was Ushari. While Scar berated them as usual, the snake gave the crocodiles the benefit of the doubt - they were being sent on nearly every mission lately and were likely overtired, of course they couldn't fight as well. The firey lion didn't like to hear that coming from his second-in-command, but it was better than having to hear his prolonged reprimanding.

“Tomorrow morning, you will attack Ukuni Woods, where there will be less backlash from the Pridelanders.” Scar announced. He set his gaze on Kiburi, then looked at Ushari who gave him a nod. “Kiburi, you and your float can rest, as long as you fight better.”

The crocodile leader stood tall. “We crocs can fight just fine. We won't lose next time.”

“You better. Now, all of you go and prepare for tomorrow… And I don't want to hear any excuses again.” The ghostly lion threatened before disappearing into smoke.

Kiburi sighed deeply and let his eyes close for a second. He hadn't been allowed to sleep properly in who knows how many days. The news, although extremely small and insignificant, was a relief for him and his float.

“Kiburi?”

He opened his eyes and glanced to see Ushari slithering towards him. They were the only two left in the volcano now. The atmosphere was strangely peaceful for once.

“I thought you might fall asleep there.” The cobra was joking, but there was something more in his voice that he couldn't quite pinpoint.

Kiburi turned to face him, feeling every sore muscle as he moved. He stared back at Ushari, for once in his life unable to think of a comeback due to his fatigue. “I should get back to my float before they start thinkin’ we’ll be on tomorrow's mission.”

He began walking down from the volcano’s ledge, each step slower than usual. Ushari caught up and matched his speed.

“I’ll accompany you.” The snake insisted in his ever-so-casual tone. Kiburi continued walking as he considered it. He supposed it wouldn't hurt to have company but he had to play it off.

“Don’t you need to return to your hollow for the night? It's getting dark.” As they exited the volcano, he looked up at the darkening sky where stars were beginning to show. At least it was a pretty night.

“I slept during the day. Scar usually has his best schemes in the middle of the night.”

Kiburi snickered. “Sure. What I meant was, why are you escorting me? I'm not some weak, pathetic animal who needs protection.” The words came out his mouth a little ruder than he intended.

“Of course not. You're the farthest from that… when you're not falling asleep on your feet.” Ushari responded, smirking as Kiburi snapped his weary head back up at the comment.

The crocodile leader stopped. “So you are here to protect me—”

“Relax. All I'm doing is making sure you don't walk into a rock on your way.”

The pair resumed walking. Kiburi smirked slightly. “Sounds like something my float would do. They’re a bunch of fish-for-brains.”

Ushari watched the expression on his face closely with curiosity. The crocodile barely ever smiled, but it was nice when he did. “But you like them?”

“Like them? Ha! They're my only friends.” The somewhat sad response sounded positive coming from the crocodile. Maybe it was just the fatigue.

The cobra raised an eyebrow at him, a smug smile on his face. “Am I not your friend?”

Kiburi looked back at him with a blank face. “...I like you enough. For you to be my friend, I mean.”

“I assumed we already were. Perhaps making friends with crocodiles is different from snakes. Although, a crocodile liking me is high praise to me.” Ushari hissed.

Kiburi glanced away, refusing to let the sudden redness on his face be seen. Even in his sleep-deprived state, he wouldn't let himself be uncharacteristically flustered. He could play it cool.

“Another reptile respecting me is high praise to me. I liked you from the moment we met.”

Ushari chuckled. “Not enough to be unspoken friends?” The hint in his voice was just like that of their first meeting — smooth and casual and yet producing so many feelings in the crocodile.

Kiburi dared to look at him again — if he was brave enough to fight, then he was brave enough to look at Ushari's face. “Oh, I don't think we're friends, Ushari…”

[vshthestmpede]

Hi there!

Could we get some headcanons for vash, nick, and knives and what pet names they use for their s/o and how they would use them? Like in what situations they would use them? And what their s/o would call them in return?

Thank you 🫶🏻

the boys & their nicknames for their significant other

word count; 896

warnings; none, this is just some sweet stuff to alleviate the constant trauma our boys (and subsequently, we enjoyers) go through

note; i am such a damn sucker for cute nicknames, so this request was super fun to write!! tysm for requesting, i truly appreciate it <3 so sorry for the lack of things, covid has been kicking my butt lately on top of college ;-;

cross-posted to ao3

VASH

mayfly + lovebug

to make up for the lack of pda, vash makes sure you know how he cares by the way he calls for you

as soon as it starts, your real name is out the window and you're only to be called by the pet name he bestowed on you

you love the way it rolls off his tongue, like it was meant for you

started as a private thing as vash prefers to keep his love life under wraps but eventually became something he was proud to use in public amongst those he trusted

"good morning, mayfly."

you stretched the sleep out of your joints, blinking to adjust to the bright sunlight. vash had himself propped up on his forearms, twirling your hair around his fingers gently.

"sleep well?" he asked as you turned on your side to face him. he leaned forward and kissed your forehead as you nodded. "good. we don't have to leave for another hour or so, wanna snuggle?"

you responded by pulling him closer to you, burying your face in his chest. he wrapped his arms around you, his fingers lazily drawing shapes into your back.

"how'd you sleep, lovebug?" you murmured, voice still heavy with sleep.

vash grinned. "lovebug, hm? that's new."

you shrugged and readjusted, looking up at him. "well i thought with mayfly i needed to come up with something similar."

"fair enough, i like it." vash chuckled. "very creative. i slept okay, had a weird dream though."

"is that so? tell me all about it."

WOLFWOOD

my star + handsome

you never took wolfwood to take to romance or any of the cheesy aspects of being in a relationship

however, being a man who wasn't given any real love growing up, he craved it more than anything

of course, he'd never show it to the other three, so things like nicknames were saved solely for time between the two of you

you savored those times, enjoying the softer side of the undertaker

he would tell you how there were billions of stars in the sky yet only you were his, the brightest and most dazzling in his eyes

you pounded on the bathroom door, fed up. "c'mon, princess, i'm sure you look amazing now open the damn door!"

the door swung open and nicholas, hair still wet and messy, gave you the coldest stare behind his sunglasses.

"the hell did you just call me?" he asked, blocking you from moving past him. "no, no, no. you've never called me any sort of name before and now you just -"

"i'll keep calling you it if you don't let me use the damn bathroom," you snapped back, grabbing his arm and literally pulling him out of the bathroom. "thank you!"

coming out of the bathroom after finishing your business, you held back a laugh when you found nicholas sitting on the edge of the bed with his lips pressed into a tight frown. you flopped on the bed next to him, pulling him down with you.

"oh my gosh." you laughed as he turned away from you with a small 'hmph'. "c'mere, handsome."

instantly, he melted into your embrace, clearly much more pleased with the new nickname.

"that's better," he murmured.

"you're such a big softie," you chided playfully, brushing his hair from his face. "never change, okay?"

"yes, my star."

KNIVES

sunshine + sweetheart

if you thought it would take knives forever to even acknowledge the feelings you two shared, just imagine how long it took for him to take up on any sort of romantic gesture

you were at the helm in this voyage, showing him acts of affection first to egg him on

quickly you both learned he wasn't the biggest on physical touch but definitely enjoyed the whole concept of nicknames, something that made you stand above the rest even more to him

despite that, he found himself fighting on what he thought would fit you perfectly

you had cycled through the generic ones (babe, baby, etc.) but decided that sweetheart was the winner the way a goofy, almost childlike smile appeared on his face when you called him it the first time

knives refused any help on coming up with your nickname, demanding he figure it out himself

"i've got it!"

your head snapped up from your book as the piano playing suddenly ceased and knives stood, knocking the bench over at his abrupt movement.

"are you alright, sweetheart?" you asked, pushing yourself up out of your chair and heading towards him. he met you halfway, taking your hands in his excitedly. "what's going on in that head of yours?"

"you're my sunshine, (name)."

he had said it so happily, staring right in your eyes as he declared his newly thought of nickname. you felt your heart race at the simple gesture and the look on his face, basking in the joy that radiated off of him.

"i love it." your hands moved from his up to cradle his face. "what made you think of sunshine?"

knives leaned into your hand, proud of himself. "you just. . .you light up my life. you're so warm and caring, it's like you're if sunshine was a human."

your heart swelled at his kind words, this soft and sweet side of knives - albeit rare - was something you treasured and would always hold close to your heart.

[fincik]

Been a while since I updated. Quick doodle with some story for y'all

First | Previous | Next

After the thorough explanation Vermon’s curiosity was satisfied. Though he still wanted to know who attacked them and why. Quickcell didn’t volunteer the information he knows about them either. He’d like to hide in his pretend obliviousness a little while. It’s not like he’s specifically being hunted down so all the others need to know for now is they are in danger and they need to flee. Vermon’s most burning question has been answered now so he drifted off to sleep at a speed Quickcell would only hope to experience. The adults and the kids were sleeping too. But Quickcell has been awakened and now his mind wont let him sleep again. His thoughts centered around survival. He needs resources, shelter, and to predict his enemies movements to secure some semblance of safety. He started calculating: It took him a bit longer than a day to get to the valley from where his family was attacked, and it took the pursuers around a week to catch up. They just flew from afternoon to dawn. At this rate they bought themselves around 4 days of peace until the pursuers catch up and that’s IF they continue the same pattern of behaviour. But that was not guaranteed and he didn’t have enough data to make any predictions. He jolted at the sudden feeling of being watched and found Scorcher staring at him from where he laid. His eyes glowed softly as the rays of a full moon fell upon his figure. Now that Quickcell can get a closer look he realised what his red scales hide very well; Scorcher’s skin is a patchwork of old wounds, marks and burnt scales. The kinds of injuries you don’t get from a peaceful life.

“You’ve been through a lot haven’t you, little one?” – he said, his voice gentle like the morning breeze.

Qickcell was speechless. He was amazed about the number of scars this dragon has, the goofy exterior he’s seen when he saw them playing in the sky, his gentle words, but most importantly his eyes. Those eyes spoke of the same hardships he’s been experiencing. A life of trouble and danger. Eyes that know how to survive. Not just survive, but fight for survival! For the first time in maybe forever, Quickcell’s nerves calmed as he stared into those piercing orange eyes. And although he hadn’t wanted to share the information he knew with Vermon, somehow, he started into the whole story of how he got here.

“We were on the run. We were always on the run...Though at some points it did feel like it was just a fun family trip. We’ve met a few different dragons on our way. But one day we had guests, it was 3 very big dragons. They had 2 legs and were using their wings to assist them in walking. They were mean. They told us to get out of their territory. And we did. They followed us to their border and let us go. But a few days later they showed up with the same demands. Again and again they did this. For 3 weeks we weren’t able to remain in the same place for more than 2 days. We aren’t built for constant flying, we’re built for speed. This exhausted all of us. And then they decided they had enough of us. Attacked us brutally. They got the jump on mom and when dad went to help, the dragon that pinned mom down ignited himself on fire. I’ve never seen something like that. It burned my dad’s mouth. I am not sure if he can still shoot at all. But my parents told me to run. To find a safe place and wait for them. That they’ll be fine, I just need to get out. I flew as far as I could. When I had to land to rest and hunt, that’s when I met Vermon.” – he didn’t realize but while telling the story, tears started down his face. He quickly wiped them off and steeled himself. – “Anyway, if those dragons are now here we have to go as far as we can!” – he looked up but only saw a sea of red as Scorcher pulled him into a big hug.

“Don’t worry kiddo. You just relax and let the adults handle it.”

Quickcell found unexpected comfort in Scorcher’s words. He’s heard almost the exact same sentence from his own dad but it was somehow more reassuring coming from Scorcher. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to get him to sleep through the night. He woke up to every single sound the night has produced. The only reason he could fall back asleep is because Scorcher was curled up around him and though still half-asleep he was clearly monitoring all the sounds around them.

[bey0nd-1he-stars]

A line of beauty - Nikolai Lantsov

Masterlist

Pairing: Nikolai Lantsov x reader

Wordcount: 1942

Summary: Based on this request

Warnings: none

A/N: I'm so sorry I haven't posted anything in FOREVER but I really haven't been able to. Also, I don't know how happy I am with this but it'll have to do. I hope you like it nevertheless <3

Walking on the ship, Tolya led the three of you to the captain’s quarters. He knocked quickly three times and when a “come in” was heard from inside he pushed the door open and ushered you inside. You, Alina and Mal all stepped over the threshold and into the carefully decorated room. A mahogany desk stood in the middle of the room and behind it, lounging in an elegant throne-like chair, sat a young man. He raised his eyebrows at the three of you before taking a swig of whiskey from a carved crystal glass. 

“And what brings the sun summoner and her friends to my quarters?” he wondered from behind the glass in his hand. You raised your eyebrows at his knowledge of your company and he smirked at your reaction. Mal met your gaze through a side glance but looked away when Alina started speaking. 

“We need charter out of here immediately.” The captain nodded and threw a glance out the window and when you followed his gaze you saw the lights from the docks quickly getting further away. Nikolai noticed as you did your discovery and when you looked back at him he was already looking at you. You just gave him a nod and he smiled, standing up and walking past you with a promise to show you where you’d be able to sleep at night. Alina, Mal and you quickly went after him, letting Tolya close the door behind you. 

-

You’d been on the Volkvolny for almost three weeks now and you, Alina and Mal helped the crew out wherever you were needed and on this particular night you’d been asked to join the night’s watch. You were standing on deck, a shawl wrapped around your shoulders. It was a calm night. Warm winds swept across the sea, soft waves crashed against the sides of the boat, the smell of fresh sea air filled your nose and billions of stars covered the dark sky above you. They reflected in the water making it look like you were sailing in an endless sea of stars. It was breathtaking. You stood at the front, keeping watch forward and at the same time enjoying the view and the peace and quiet. 

The clinking sound of boots against the wooden floor pulled you out of your thoughts and when you turned around you were met by the now familiar sight of Nikolai in his teal coat making his way towards you. His steps were heavy and he had dark circles under his eyes, but tried to hide it away with his usual smirk, hoping it would make him look more awake and alert than he really felt like. 

“Everything okay up front?” he came to rest his arms on the railing beside you and you turned back towards the sea with him. A small nod told him everything was in order and he let out a breath of relief, letting his shoulders fall slightly. 

“Everything okay with you?” you spoke back with a hint of worry in your tone. Nikolai turned his head to meet your gaze, searching for something in your y/e/c eyes before giving you a stiff nod. With a gentle hand you pushed away a few strands of his hair from his eyes and his eyes fell close for a second, relishing in the gentle touch. 

“You sure?” you mumbled and pulled your hand away. His breath got stuck in his threat for a second when your warm touch left him, leaving him speechless for just a moment. He nodded. Neither of you said anything else that night but you both stayed there, at the front of the ship, shoulders pressed together as you watched the stars fade into the morning glow. 

-

Nikolai knew he’d fallen in love after you’d been a month and a half on the Volkvony. You had your hair in a braid tied up with a ribbon that day but the winds had been hard and when you had been wrapping up some lines of rope on the starboard side of the ship, a particularly hard wind tugged your ribbon away. You just barely missed it reaching out for it, watching as the silk slipped between your fingers. Nikolai saw it flying out to sea, carried away with the wind. He followed it with his gaze but when he blinked, he lost it. Instead he turned his gaze back to you and the sight took his breath away. Now your hair flowed freely, whipping around your face in the wind and dancing like wildfire. He couldn’t take his gaze away from you. 

Tamar walked past you and noticed the chaotic state of your hair and said something that made you laugh. You threw your head back, eyes glittering and your melodic laughter carried on the wind. Your beauty had bewitched him and he found himself not minding it a bit. 

-

“Welcome to the spinning wheel.” 

You’d traveled on horseback since you came back to Ravka and now you were standing in front of two massive stone doors in the mountain wall. The top of the mountain disappeared into the clouds but you could almost see the outlines of it. 

A few guards pulled a lever and the great doors opened themselves revealing a set of stairs carved out in the stone. You all jumped off the horses and walked inside with Nikolai in the front. He explained that this was one of his secret hideaways that he’d built when being Sturmhond. Now it was a grisha sanctuary and a secret base hidden away in the mountain and above the clouds. The only way to get inside would be by the mountain doors or flying. The air was his domain. 

When you reached the top of the stairs Nikolai pushed a heavy door open and light flooded in through the opening. You had to shield your eyes for a moment when you walked in, but when you’d gotten accustomed to the blinding light, the sight of the Spinning wheel took your breath away. The place was fabrikator made. The whole building was made entirely out of glass, except for the floors. It let the sunlight in from all directions and it let you see across the sea of clouds. Nikolai smiled at your reaction, pulling you with him to show you around. He showed you your room where you’d be sleeping, the war room, his office, the great balcony and he even had a garden up here. It was overflowing in greenery, trees rising along the wall of the building, flowers thriving in every direction. It was messy, the garden unkempt but the grass was cut neatly. It was so perfectly Nikolai and that made it even more beautiful. 

- 

When Nikolai suggested having a ball it was the last thing you’d expected out of his mouth. You’d been prepared for a declaration of war against the Darkling or storming the little palace and taking it back. You’d been prepared for anything but a ball. That didn't mean you thought it a bad idea. All the people at the spinning wheel could probably use the distraction and a night of fun. So, a ball it was. Nikolai got some fabrikators to decorate the grand hall and a few of the grisha could assemble some kind of orchestra and fix the music. Everyone was invited so the only problem really was whatever were you going to wear? 

After moments of trying and retrying a few different dresses you settled for a lightweight gown that flowed like a waterfall around you. I moved smoothly whenever you walked and it shined in the light. A few flowers from the bouquet that Nikolai had placed in your room matched the color of your dress and you carefully picked a few of them out and placed them in your hair. When you were happy with your look you walked out and set off towards the ball. 

Nikolai had been mingling with Zoya, sipping lightly on a glass of champagne while making a bit of small talk, when the doors opened and you stepped through the door frame. If Nikolai hadn’t already fallen in love with you, he would’ve fallen then. You were breathtaking. The light from the chandelier made our eyes and dress sparkle and he found himself almost at a loss of words. Those who’d been dancing when you entered had slowed down to be able to take in the look of you. 

You moved with elegance and ease when you walked across the room, smiling at the festivities, ignoring all the looks she got. A slight blush dusted her cheeks when Nikolai caught her gaze. He set off towards her, meeting her halfway. 

“Well, you certainly know how to stop a party,” he smirked at her, offering you his arm, inviting you to dance. 

“What can I say? I like to make an impression,” you accepted his offer and he spun you around one time before gathering you up in his arms. His heat radiated off of him and it enveloped you in a feeling of comfort and love. He swayed you across the dance floor, the rest of the company were stunned by your beauty and grace. Nikolai smiled at that and chuckled softly. 

“That I believe, love.”

You spent the night mingling with the other guests, laughing, drinking, talking. When the clock was almost hitting midnight and the moon shined brightly upon the spinning wheel, you went outside to take a breather. The air was chilly but fresh, the bleak light from the moon lit up the whole of Nikolai’s little garden. It was beautiful. The sound of the door getting shut behind you made you turn around, smiling softly when your eyes found Nikolai’s. The sound of the music from inside slipped through the wall of glass, but it was muted greatly making the night quite peaceful outside. You’d slipped off your heels when stepping outside and Nikolai spared them a glance, grinning at the sight. 

Looking at you, Nikolai found he’d never set eyes on something so beautiful as you. You were swaying softly to the music from inside, the moonlight illuminating you and making your dress look like a waterfall of moonlight. For a moment, he was afraid you’d hear his heart skip a beat. Elegantly, you reached out a hand for him. In a few strides he was within your reach and he took your hand in his, pulling you in to meet him halfway. Wrapping you up in his arms, keeping you close and relishing in the feeling. A smile made its way to his lips. Your y/e/c eyes looked up into his, getting lost in the hazel that swirled in them. 

“You are astonishingly beautiful, Nikolai,” the words left your lips before you could stop them. Nikolai felt his breath hitch in throat. He swallowed hard, taking in the sincerity in your words and in your eyes. His words melted on his tongue and he couldn’t find anything to say in return. He hadn’t heard those words from someone he cared about and finally hearing them seemed to have stopped his body from functioning normally. You smirked at the reaction. 

“You don’t have to say anything back, Nik. I just wanted you to know that.” He only nodded and pressed a sweet kiss to your cheek before pulling you even closer to him. Finally he whispered out a quiet “thank you”, letting the words linger in the air along with the fog from his breath. It swirled up into the night, disappearing and fading into the clouds.

[katelynnwrites]

We’ve Been Doin’ All This Late Night Talkin’ (‘Bout Anythin’ You Want) | Ona Batlle

warnings: a little bit of angst and smut

word count: 1730

summary: an insight into the times where you and ona do a little late night talking, about anything you want until the morning and a briefer insight into the times where you and ona do a little less late night talking and more of another much loved late night activity

chosen song: late night talking by harry styles

a/n: bonus chapter 3 of you were bigger than the whole sky (you were more than just a short time)

‘Hello my love.’

Having just finished your shower, you sprawl yourself into Ona’s lap and she giggles softly.

‘Hola mi amor.’

She gently scratches your scalp and you practically melt into her. You’re so relaxed and comfortable that you miss the mischievous look your girlfriend gets in her eyes.

The pillow she proceeds to hit you with startles you, causing you to jump.

‘Ona…’ You groan, feigning annoyance.

You bury your face into her stomach and she strokes your hair gently.

Just when she lets her guard down, you pull the nearest pillow towards you and hit her in the shoulder with it.

You grin and Ona starts to smile as she reaches for her own pillow.

‘Oh you’re so on.’

‘I’m ready if you are.’ You challenge and Ona doesn’t bother to reply, responding by chuckling and swinging her pillow towards you.

******

‘Oni that tickles.’ You protest weakly.

Your girlfriend giggles, kissing a line up your stomach. She pushes your sweatshirt up, pressing kisses onto your ribs.

Suddenly she pauses.

‘Show me? Please?’

The pain in Ona’s eyes makes it clear what she’s talking about.

‘Here. Ribs four through six.’ You whisper, running a finger briefly over your previously fractured ribs, to show Ona exactly where you had been injured.

The Manchester United fullback, gently presses her lips over the area you’d shown her. She gives you long, slow, healing kisses. She kisses it better, wanting to show you how sorry she was for not having been there.

And you know exactly what she’s trying to do so you lightly push her away.

Ona’s hurt expression and sudden apprehension make you reach out for her immediately.

‘Ona. I know you’ve been feeling guilty. Please, please don’t. Stop beating yourself up.’

‘I-I can’t.’ She insists.

There’s a profound sadness written all over her features, as well as self hatred and anger which you know she also directs towards herself.

Patiently, you reassure her, ‘I love you. I understand. I’m not angry at you mi amor. Please believe me.’

The brunette shakes her head adamantly, ‘I believe you. But I hurt you. I hurt you so badly and I can’t forgive myself for that. It’s my fault you were in pain.’

Softly, you agree with her last point, ‘Yes it was. But we have moved past that. I am here and you are here and we love each other. Will you make the same mistake again? Ona, will you leave me again?’

‘No. Of course not!’

Your girlfriend looks horrified at the very thought.

‘You’ll talk to me if you ever begin to feel overwhelmed and terrified again?’

‘Yes. I promise I will.’ She answers with certainty.

‘Then forgive yourself please, Ona. I have forgiven you so please please forgive yourself. You fixed things, you have done more than enough for me to forgive you.’ You plead.

The guilt weighed heavily on her, you knew that but you hope that she would be able to see that you really had no ill will or resentment towards her.

Ona looks torn, unease and anxiety clear in her usually bright chocolate brown eyes.

‘Oni please. I love you. I have forgiven you.’

The Spanish woman takes in a deep breath (albeit a shaky one) and hesitantly nods.

‘I’ll try.’

You reach out and squeeze her hands in yours gently.

‘Thank you.’

Ona nods again, firmer this time, despite the tears streaming down her cheeks.

In time, Ona does learn to forgive herself and you love her (and are proud of her) all the more for it.

******

‘Did you know that the King Cobra is the only snake in the world that builds a nest?’

Ona makes a face, ‘That is interesting mi amor but you know I don’t like snakes.’

You laugh and think a little harder, trying to remember more fun facts about snakes.

‘Ona?’

‘Yes?’

She looks up from her book, giving you her full attention. Her glasses are perched on her nose, hair done up in a messy bun. She’s so adorable but that doesn’t stop you from teasing her (it does make you feel a little bad though).

‘Did you know that snakes don’t have eyelids?’

Ona groans.

‘Amor…’

‘Okay okay. One last one por fa?’

Your fiancée sighs but nods.

Cheekily, you say, ‘Hm. You must really love me.’

‘I do. So come on, give me a fun fact about snakes.’

She looks at you expectantly and you grin, ‘Did you know that snakes smell with their tongue?’

‘Oh. That’s actually pretty cool mi amor.’ Ona admits.

Your grin widens and you kiss Ona sweetly.

******

‘I love you.’ Ona states, dropping a kiss down onto the top of your head.

‘Te amo.’ She says, this time in her native language.

Your fiancée places another gentle kiss onto your hair as she holds you close, in the dark room.

The both of you are all settled in bed, ready for a good night’s sleep before the next day’s game. It seemed that Ona is feeling a little sentimental though (not that you mind in the slightest because you would never pass up an opportunity where she tells you she loves you).

Her legs are resting against yours as she leans against the headboard with you wrapped in her arms.

You snuggle into her, murmuring a quiet ‘Te quiero.’

******

‘You’re my wife.’ Ona mumbles in between kisses planted all over your body.

You’re both lying in bed (the air smells of sex), Ona curled into your arms.

‘I am.’ You smile widely, the expression on her face matching yours.

‘I can’t believe you married me.’ She breathes, cradling your face in her hands reverently.

Teasingly, you tell her, ‘Believe it Ona. You gave me your last name mi amor.’

‘I did. And I am so glad I did.’

Ona laughs softly, kissing you gently. (the eagerness that was present earlier is still there but mostly sated, probably due to the way Ona made love to you as soon as you returned home from your wedding).

‘You’re my wife.’ She breathes.

‘Madre you’re my wife.’ She repeats.

Ona’s disbelief makes you laugh again.

‘I love you.’

The brunette dreamily continues, ‘I can’t believe I’ve had married sex with you.’

‘Oh my god Ona.’

You dissolve into a fit of giggles, ignoring your wife’s soft protests about not laughing at her.

******

‘Hey.’ You quietly greet Ona.

She gives you the tiniest of smiles, one that fades quickly.

The brunette had a bad day and you want to comfort her as best as you can.

‘I love you.’ You remind her, sitting down beside her on the bed.

Ona leans into your shoulder and after a moment turns her head so that her face is tucked into your neck.

You can feel the soft puffs of her breath against your skin and you can feel when she takes a deep breath in.

‘You smell nice mi amor.’ She mumbles.

‘Thank you?’

‘It’s a good thing. You smell like home and that’s all I need right now.’

‘Okay. You have me, my love. You have me.’

You bring a hand up to lightly card through the strands of her hair.

Your fingers gently massaging her scalp elicit a sigh of mixed relief and contentment from her and she melts into you.

‘Thank you for being here.’

‘I’m always going to be here for you, Ona.’ You murmur, kissing the top of her head lovingly.

******

Two in the morning Ona is your favourite Ona. She’s the funniest then, often having the silliest and most impulsive ideas at that time.

‘Mi amor?’

You look up at Ona who is sitting on her side of the bed, a little smile on her face.

‘Will you tell me something cool?’

‘What like a fun fact?’

‘Mhm.’

‘I’ve told you a lot…’

You pause, trying to think of something you had never told Ona before.

‘The average British person eats nearly 9,000 peas a year.’

Ona laughs (it’s your favourite sound).

‘You never cease to amaze me.’

She gazes at you with wholehearted adoration, making the butterflies in your stomach flutter around.

******

It turns out three in the morning you is similar to two in the morning Ona.

‘Cookies?’

Ona looks at you, practically vibrating with excitement at your suggestion.

‘Yeah let’s bake some cookies.’ You insist.

‘Mi amor it’s 3am.’

The brunette laughs but gets off the bed, holding her hand out to you.

You grab it eagerly and then the two of you are racing to the kitchen.

Ona gets there first (she has always been faster than you) and she does a little dance to celebrate her victory.

Dissolving in a fit of giggles at her antics, you find yourself falling even more in love with her.

More laughter fills the kitchen as you and Ona work together to make a tray of chocolate chip cookies.

Sitting on the counter top, you swing your legs lightly as Ona uses a cookie cutter to cut the last bit of dough into hearts.

Dipping your hand into the bag of chocolate chips, you snack on a few as you watch her.

She looks so pretty, the new freckles and tan she’d got from recently spending time in the sun making her glow.

Your wife pulls you out of your thoughts with a tap to your thigh and a little (and very adorable) pout.

‘You weren’t going to give me any?’ She half whines. She gives you her best puppy dog eyes, pleading with widened pretty brown eyes.

Shaking your head, you quickly assure her, ‘Of course not.’

You feed her some immediately and Ona gives you a kiss in thanks.

She tastes like chocolate and you pull her in to deepen this kiss.

‘Te amo.’ She murmurs.

‘T’estimo.’ You answer, making Ona smile against your lips.

******

Sometimes Ona has a better idea of what she wants to do in the late hours of the night.

It involves her coaxing orgasm after orgasm from you. It includes her between your legs, perfecting the art of making you cry out her name and pant exhaustedly for hours at a time.

The proud little smile on her face at the end of it all lets you know that she loves it (and you’d never deny her that pleasure, especially when you yourself got so much pleasure out of it).

Spanish Translations:

hola mi amor - hello my love

mi amor - my love

por fa - please

te amo - i love you

te quiero - i love you too

madre - an expression similar to oh my god

Catalan Translation:

t’estimo - i love you

[delta-pavonis]

Dream Journal Rescue for the wip game, please

WHOO! Thank you for asking about this one, Nonny.

For the 2022 Dreamling Secret Santa I took a risk and wrote something that can be very divisive in fanfic and in fiction in general: first person narrative. I wrote the first half of i had a dream (i got everything i wanted) as a dream journal that Hob used to record his dreams after they came back when Dream got out of the fishbowl in 2021. It draws both from the early comics and from the TV show in terms of events/timeline. This fic got significantly less attention than the others I had written at the time, but it was also the one I was most proud of that year (and that's with Eros in Pragma and Hypnopompia turtur in there!). I am still extremely proud of it because it is, for me, I think very poetic writing. However, the first version of i had a dream wasn't post-fishbowl, but actually started before the fishbowl. Hob still kept a dream journal, and it still started in first person, but the idea originally was that Hob would figure out that something had happened to his Stranger because of his dreams stopping. Which meant that they needed to have enough of a relationship/rapport by the 1910s that Hob would trust that Dream would not miss a dream "date" of theirs without very good reason. Hence, "dream journal rescue" as the name. I only have pieces of the fic, but I keep them because I still viscerally love what I did with i had a dream SO FUCKING MUCH that I want to return to that style at some point. If you have read i had a dream you will see the bits I took from this and transferred to that.

This is totally G-rated and starts before 1889, as Hob is anticipating that next meeting, and then keeps going into 1914. Here's what I have in that WIP file:

1:

21 October 1885

I think I need to write these down. Olive suggested I start writing these down. She is usually right about such things.  

Maybe it will bring some clarity to this… mess. 

I’m in the White Horse Inn. (It is always the White Horse.) 

The year is not obvious from the decor, which is a riotous mix of 1389 and 1489 and 1789. Delicate teacups and straw-covered floor and fireplaces with chimneys. Of course chimneys. But I know, in the way of dreams, that it is the day of our annual appointment, the next one, in 1889. 

I shake my coat and hat free of the London morning rain. I am many hours before the time of our appointment. This my usual - I always arrive early. To ready the table and, more importantly, myself for our meeting. 

But in this dream I enter the White Horse to find the Stranger already there. He looks exactly as he did in 1789. Which must say something about my imagination since he has always been in impeccable fashion specific to the era of our meeting. 

Or perhaps it is because he looks at me with the same burning intensity that made our last appointment so spectacular. His eyes devour me, just as they did when we parted last, and I am absolutely helpless to resist.

I am sitting then, across from him, cups of tea and venison pasties between us. His beautiful pale fingers trace around the gilded edge of the teacup. I am speaking, words tumbling forth, I can hear the droning vibrations in my ears and throat, but it is not where my attention lies. 

My attention is riding the wave in his coalblack hair. My attention is wafting the bob of his throat above his high collar. My attention is tracing the sweet pout of his pink lips. My attention is flying through storm-sky eyes. 

He reaches across and

Fuck. I can’t write this.

2:

[There are several attempts at starting entries after the previous one. None manage more than a sentence.]

[No attempts at entries are made after 1889.]

3:

1 November 1898

I woke up still drunk and still in very rural Wales (note: never ever always maybe return for Nos Calan Gaeaf in the future) and found this old journal in the bottom of my trunk, so I suppose I shall once again make a valiant attempt to take dear Olive’s advice to sort out the dreams of my Stranger that ever plague me.

(I have heard tell of work by a man named Freud who claims dreams can be used to better understand someone’s psychology and potentially even relieve psychosis. He'd have a field day with me. May I never come within 400 miles of him.)

My drunk mind lacks creativity for scenery and so when I sleep this night I find myself in the same village square I was in only hours prior… however, I am back in time about 400 years? Long before the industrialization of the region, before the extermination of these old traditions by the expansion of “civilization.”

I have just won the silly harvest mare from the clutches of the other young men bringing the last of the harvest in, a horse-shaped horror made from the final stalks of grain reaped. I am now expected to try to sneak this rustling beast into the home where the bulk of the feast is being prepared by the womenfolk without one of them dousing me with washwater. If I succeed in getting into the kitchen unscathed I will win their finest beer and an honored seat at the feast-table. I am always up for new games.

(This is all Iwan’s fault for convincing me to accompany him home for the holiday yesterday and for me getting drunk while they all told me stories of the Old Days. Let it never be said that I abandon a friend in their time of need.)

I easily weave through the crowds of women and children, in their dresses and aprons and smocks, clothing I haven’t seen in centuries but are still as real as yesterday, and cross the kitchen threshold only to find the room empty. An empty kitchen except for the crackle of the hearthfire and my Stranger sat on a barrel in front of it. 

The large fire paints him in oranges and golds and he looks warm and inviting in a way that I have never experienced outside of my mind. It is the moment I know for certain that this is a dream. 

When he looks up to me he appears confused, brows drawn, lips parted. 

I am the first to speak, although words do not come easily to me. “What…?” After our parting in 1889 I can scarce understand why I am seeing him before me now. Although nightmares of the night plagued me in the months afterwards, I had been blessedly free of any night-time visits from my Stranger for almost a decade now. It has been an unexpected boon after so many years of dreaming of him more carnally. I know these facts within the dream. “Why are you here?”

He doesn’t stand, cranes his neck back to look up at me, and I realize he has a low collar this night, lower than it had been even in 1489. I can see flame-gold arcing around the shadowed hollow of his throat.

“It is a Ysbrydnos.” He explains in perfect Welsh, as if I am some child. I do not question why I can so easily understand him despite my mediocre grasp of the language. It is a dream, after all. “Many call on me such nights.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Yes, ‘tis a Spirit Night and you a spirit.” 

He tilts his head to the side, bird-like and distinctly not human. “Not as such. But I will attend the dreams of many who call me here this night.” The Stranger’s voice is just as rich and decadent as it is in person. This detail my memory - traitorous bastard it is - does not neglect. 

“Of course. Even the version of you I make for my dreams gives non-answers and evasions.” I can feel my whole body hunch in defeat. I wrap my arms around myself, look to the floor. “Just why…” Even my dream cannot steady my voice. “Why does my mind show you to me now? Why this torment?”

“Ah.” Now his voice is choked and staccato. “You did not call me here yourself this night.” Perhaps he is surprised, or ashamed, I cannot tell. 

Still, I want to scream. “After last time…” I grit my teeth and continue to stare at the floor. 

I see the toes of his black shoes enter my field of view. His chest is perhaps a handspan from mine. “Do you truly wish to never dream of me?” This inquiry is a mocking echo of his usual question, but there is no mockery in his tone. “Given…" He shakes his head, unable to say the words. Say the words he should say: Given what I did to you… Instead he restarts the sentence, "It would be well within your right to request it.”

I sigh. He almost sounds remorseful. What a fantasy this is. How contrived. “No.” And if I ever doubted before that this was a dream the tiny bits of relief I see wash over my Stranger confirms it. His eyes soften minutely. His shoulders relax a hair's breadth. “This might be the only chance I have to ever see you again. And I would take the machinations of my mind, I would take delusions of your regard, over nothing.”

He hums, looking back to the fire as he takes a step away from me. I feel cold and bereft. “This dream is over.”

And then I woke up.

3: 

1 Nov 1898  I have not dreamed of him in six months. one year.         three years.         seven          ten          fifteen 

4:

25 May 1914

After almost 17 years I found myself dreaming of the White Horse last night and when I focused upon it in my mind’s eye I almost burst into tears.

Wait, Olive always said that this was more effective if I narrated as if I was reliving the dream. That I would get more details back that way.

I begin the dream standing outside the White Horse Inn and knowing that I am dreaming. It is the first time I have begun a dream this aware and therefore it is noteworthy. 

When I enter I feel his presence before I see it. Through the doors in the back, to the private room that had been set aside for us in 1789. He is once again in front of a fireplace, standing this time, hands clasped at the small of his back as he looks down into the flames. 

(Note: Ponder this pattern more later, that I associate him in dreams with fire.)

The door to the room automatically closes behind me and he turns. Despite the venue, he is dressed, as always, in the pinnacle of fashion. All black - of course - but a suit with long jacket and waistcoat and tie nonetheless. The ever-present ruby sits heavy and dark just below his throat.

“I did not intend the delay, Hob.” And doesn’t that throw me for a loop. I did not know prior to that moment that one could get dizzy in their own dreams. “I sometimes forget that time flows… differently… for you humans. But I did think on our last conversation.”

Thirty questions stampede through my mind at once. Everything from ‘Did he just directly admit that he is not human?’ to ‘Which last time?’ I throw all of these aside and instead opt for a cautiously lilted “And?”

A magnanimous wave of his hand and we are sitting, the same tea and sweets that were present in 1789 grace the table between us. I hold my breath. “Perhaps we can pick up, as much as we can, where we were in 1789 before the Lady Constantine interrupted us.” I am so taken aback by the turn this dream has taken that I cannot for the life of me think of what to say next. Luckily, my mind does not require me to as he continues. “I believe you asked my name.”

I almost fall over myself to give him leave to avoid it. “Only if you wish it.” Just don't leave again.

He smiles, something brighter than usual, and it feels like looking into the Sun. “I have a list of titles, which we can get to later, but the simplest name is Dream.”

I clamp down on the anguish that’s in my throat, but it still comes out as a high-pitched wheeze from between my teeth. “Dream?! DREAM?!?” I let myself slump boneless into the chair, impropriety be damned, and splay my legs out in front of me, hands over my face. “Oh fuck my mind and these GAMES. Why can it not send me sweet dreams of you? Of COURSE you are named Dream… you are a dream! Has my subconscious no creativity? Christ in heaven…”

“Hob!” He shouts. He has never shouted at me before. I look to him through my fingers, meet twilight-blue eyes. “My name is Dream of the Endless and I am the King of Dreams and Nightmares.”

Shock, bright white and violent, runs through me and I quite literally fall out of my chair.

And then I wake up.

5:

26 May 1914

I do not think I have ever been more wrong about something in my long long life.

Fuck. 

My Stranger is Dream. He lords over dreams and nightmares. They are his Domain, his Kingdom. 

F U C K

I knew that he was something Other. But this. This. 

We met again last night, in my dreams. I don’t need to work at this anymore (thanks for trying, Olive) because he asked me last night if I wanted to remember this, remember meeting him. Apparently he has some manner of control over such things.

I told him yes. Of course I said yes. But I think I want to continue to keep track of what has happened, what will happen, in my dreams, here in this journal. If only so that I have something to refer to later when I have absolutely zero confidence that this is real. Some proof that I haven’t gone completely barmy. 

Last night we talked. Just talked. It was in a liminal space, barely distinct as containing a floor and walls and chairs. All monotone, in blacks and greys and faint whites. It still reminded me of the back room from 1789.

He - Dream - told me so much. More than he had ever said to me in one go ever before. He told me some of his other names: Lord Morpheus (or just Morpheus), Prince of Stories, Oneiros, Shaper of Forms. He has a kingdom, home to dreams and nightmares alike. They are not only his citizens, but he creates them. Creates!

I have so so many questions.

But I must parcel them out carefully. Each answer is a treasure I will hoard. 

I returned his generosity with words of my own.

[maggiecc]

When the World Shifts (Finnick O’Dair x reader) Part 3

TW: It's about the Hunger Games, so murder, talks of death

We have left the other district 4 tributes now 😞. You do drink tea, but you can change it to coffee or water it's not important. Should I base the chariot outfits on the books or movies?

No Betas, we die like vikings.

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (here), Part 4: TBD

You sat on the train to the capital staring out the window as the trees zip past. You felt numb, you could only think of those who have been left behind and what you are heading to. You wonder what Mags and Annie are doing right now, hopefully, Annie is in a calmer space than when you last saw her. 

You hear Finnick’s steps toward you but you cannot make yourself turn your head to him. “Darling,” He calls to you, hand wrapping your cheeks to make you look at him “I brought you some tea, you need to have a drink.”

His care of you made you softly smile as you grab the tea from his hands. You take a sip, the liquid soothing your throat.

“Finnick, what are we going to do?” You ask him.

“We have been training, haven’t we? I wasn’t doing that for fun darling.” He jokes trying to keep the mood light. He knew the seriousness of the situation but he was trying to comfort you.

“You know what I meant Finn, physically we are training but who are we allying with? Are we going to go to try and start fighting immediately or will we wait it out? I want us to be ready for what we will be facing in there.”

“Well I am sure Joannah will want to team up with you and she will tolerate me because of that.”

You giggle at his comment. Joanna had become a good friend to you, her anger at the games was something you felt and her honesty was something you applauded her for. She refused to be the capital’s pawn and you wish to join her, but you knew what it cost her. Her fight lost her family and you couldn’t risk the people you cared for. You knew the cost of fighting them, Finnick warned you but Joanna did not have someone to tell her that, leaving her with nothing to lose. Her honesty at the capital and willingness to call them out of their lavish parties while districts starved gave you comfort. You felt you could trust her friendship, she didn’t play capital games, she stood with you and talked because she wanted to not gain something.

“Let’s hope, but just to make sure maybe you shouldn’t mess with her. She doesn't think your jokes are as humorous as I do,” You responded.

These moments where you could pretend everything was okay, that you weren’t about to return to the arena. You could pretend you were at Victor village, just spending time with Finnick. But the truth chokes you, you aren’t at the village. You were here and although you joke with him you cannot truly be relaxed, knowing the peacekeepers in your train would report you if you did what you truly wanted. You hated how you had to keep Finnick further than he truly was to you. You cannot show any excess affection to him, only what you would to the other victors. The only reason you wish to get off this train is the fact you could finally have a truly private moment with Finnick, away from guards without fear of someone witnessing it. You spent as much time with the girls before you left since you did not know when you would see them next, with Finnick doing the same which meant you lacked time to be just the 2 of you.

“When the sky has clouds and we move so fast they almost look like waves,” Finnick spoke, eyes looking at you and guiding your eyes to look out the window with him. You look and understand what he means. The blue of the sky was rich like the waves you hear at night, and the cloud acted as the seafoam. You smile thinking of your home, although you were just there you realize that you did not appreciate it enough. You let yourself become comfortable, thinking you would live the rest of your life at the district, but that was something that would not be happening. You should have spent more mornings where the sea met the land, walking barefoot, and speaking to those who share your home. You had holed yourself away, feeling so much guilt for the lost tributes you could not save that you stopped seeing your beloved home.

“There are a lot fewer fishermen in these waves,” You point out, wanting to keep the conversation going.

“Maybe the weather is not nice enough to go out,” Finnick counters you “They did not want to waste the day on the sea when nothing would come of it.” The idea of this is a paradoxical joy for the District 4 people. A day off would be wonderful, but the weather would be terrible. Though being unable to be at the sea for a full day, being unable to catch your livelihood is risky.

“You know Jaks would never,” you giggle “Livia would have his head for not being out there. He would drive her too mad being inside all day.”

“Maybe they are celebrating something, something so important he had to stay on land,”

“He could never handle the whole day. He would spend the morning at home before he became too antsy and Livia would kick him out until supper. If she truly wanted to spend the day with him she would have to go out on the water with him, you know what she says,”

“If you could marry the ocean you would never spare me another glance!” You both say in unison, laughing at the thought of the old couple. The old couple was a stable at District 4, and although they bickered they were deeply in love.

“His response was always so beautiful,” Finnick reminds you. “My sweet Livia, even the ocean does not compare to you. If I could never go to the sea again I would survive, but to never see you again is a curse I could not bear.”

“Jaks could have been a poet with words like his,” You muse “they are sweeter than capital cakes. You could learn a thing or two from him.”

Finnick laughs, “Oh really? Maybe you just haven’t heard the best of my words yet.”

“Well, you should try to impress me before the games begin. It could be your last chance.” Your voice quiets as you finish your thought.

“I’ll have plenty of time to impress you, darling, that I promise you.” He throws a wink your way and takes a sip of his tea.

“I’ll hold you to it,” you tell him miroring him to take a sip of the tea. You both sit in a comfortable silence, not feeling the need to keep talking. You sit across from each other, you wish you could sit next to him, and be wrapped up in his arms but if this is what you can have you will take it, Your eyelids become heavy, and knowing he is with you, you let yourself rest falling into a sleep.