#sure lost boys is already written but i want art

[pherryt]

So some time ago I put up a crossover called Lost Boys and i've been wanting to put art in every chapter ever since. i've had 3 pieces ready since LAST YEAR but my art mojo has been MISSING

BUT! I have been pushing at it recently cause it got a really nice comment which really made my day (cause seriously, as much as i loved writing this crack fic, i didn't expect anyone to actually read it, even though i hoped people would) so that brought some of the mojo back!

Anyway, i need 12 pieces total. I just finished number 8. Which might be my favorite so far (Number 8 refers to what order i did them in, not what chapter it goes to) and i kept having to try and restrain myself because i want the art styles to be CONSISTENT. but it was begging the whole time for me to do a full on piece. like, i might actually redo it some time later in full ink, hatchwork and color.

in the meantime, back to the drawing board i guess. only 4 more to go, right? And then i can start posting them... I can totally do this!

[undreaming-fanfiction]

Just Wanna Bewitch You In The Moonlight

Written for @steddieangstyaugust - Day 7: Moonlight. Another cursed statue Steve because I have been sitting on this idea for ages. Title from Ghost lyrics.

The garden of the Harrington manor was quiet when Eddie snuck in. He already knew all the patrols, cameras, everything important. It wasn't like he wanted to steal something anyway, the worst he could get charged with was trespassing. Or at least he hoped so - Harringtons weren't exactly the most forgiving bunch.

He soon found what he was looking for. A statue of a handsome young man, reaching for the sky. There was something sad about him, the curve of his lips, forever frozen in a wistful smile. Just as beautiful as he was a month ago. 

"Hi, sweetheart," muttered Eddie and squeezed his stone hand. He sat down at its feet, leaned against the statue's legs and waited. The sky was clear today, he could even see stars through the light pollution, so it would not take long. If only the moon hurried up.

"Fancy meeting you here."

Eddie leaned back and smiled at the upside vision of the handsome boy, now with color in his cheeks. "Hi, sweetheart," he repeated, pulling him down for a kiss.

The statue obliged. "Hi yourself. I don't mean to rush you, but can I have my legs back? I'd like to stretch for a bit."

"Sure thing, Stevie." Eddie quickly moved away and offered the statue - Steve - a hand so he could leave his pedestal. He seemed uncertain on his feet for a moment, but soon he was on the ground and doing stretches that Eddie would never even consider. "I'm always amazed that this is what you want to do with your precious time," he laughed and watched Steve stretch his calves.

"And I always tell you that if you have to stay still for a month, your body will scream for a good stretch," Steve smiled at him and changed legs. "I'm more amazed that you still haven't given up. It has to be annoying, always having to come here. How long has it been?"

Eddie pretended to count on his fingers. "Hmmm, let me see…two decades, give or take. I was nine when I met you, I'll soon be thirty. Why, are you counting?"

"I lose track. Still, I feel guilty about it. You should be living your own life too, you know." Steve finally stood up and nudged Eddie's side. "I'd understand if you wanted to quit. I can't ask you to keep doing this for the rest of your life."

Eddie caught Steve's hand, swinging it back and forth. "You don't have to."

..

They always did this, ever since Eddie was a child roaming the Harrington grounds where his uncle worked. He couldn't sleep one day and got lost in the fancy maze that was the estate's garden. The moonlight made everything so pale, it was difficult to find his way back to Wayne's shed. Eddie was getting tired and cold, but he wasn't about to panic. He just needed to catch his breath. He half collapsed against another piece of art that Harringtons had collected over the years.

And then, just as the full moon showed up in all her glory, the statue that Eddie was leaning against moved.

Eddie was so terrified he couldn't even scream, he just fell backwards into a thorny bush. Before he knew it, the statue rushed to him, pulled him back up and started fussing over him. "Are you okay?" it asked. "I overheard you talking to yourself, you're going the wrong way. The shed is further to the right, come with me."

It took Eddie's hand and swung it back and forth, establishing a brisk pace with Eddie skipping next to it. They didn't really talk, but when Eddie was back safe with Wayne, he saw a moonlit figure give a small wave.

After that, Eddie would go to visit the statue every night, but it never moved. It just stared towards the stars, as if it was reaching out to grab the moon itself.

It finally happened a month later, at another full moon. Eddie thought that maybe he'd hallucinated the whole thing at that point, maybe he just hit his head when he fell into the bushes, but as the moonlight hit the statue, it yawned and stretched its arms. "Oh," it said when it noticed Eddie, "you're back? I hope you don't end up like a pin cushion this time."

After that, they talked. A lot. The statue was called Steve, and he didn't always use to be a statue. He never really knew the scorned witch who cursed him, or what he did to her. "I used to be a real jerk back in the day," he smiled at young Eddie. "Maybe I trampled over her herbs when I was rushing back home after another party. Maybe I knocked into her. Or maybe it wasn't even me, maybe my dad did something nasty to her. He isn't really the nicest person."

"The old Mr. Harrington?" Eddie asked. "But he's like, ninety? How long have you been here?"

Steve shrugged, stretching his arms. "Hard to say. I only get to fully wake up every full moon. The rest of the time, things are hazy. But I think I got cursed in nineteen thirty two. I was twenty then."

Eddie's jaw dropped. "Wow. That has to suck. Does your dad ever come and visit you? Maybe try and break the curse?"

"Not really." Maybe it was just the moonlight playing tricks on him, but Steve's smile seemed sad. "He doesn't believe in the whole magical mumbo jumbo, you see. Or that's what he used to call it. He's ashamed that I made a spectacle out of our family."

"But it might not have even been you!" blurted out Eddie. That's not fair!"

Steve reached out and ruffled his hair. "I know. He tried bribing the witch, but that didn't work. Then he tried to destroy me or move me, but that's impossible. So he just ignores that I'm around. He used to send someone to leave a snack for me, before I woke up, maybe to ease his conscience, but now that he's old, I don't think he remembers me anymore. Maybe it's better for him this way. And since another part of the curse is that I can't leave the garden...he doesn't really have to worry about anyone finding out about me."

He fell silent, but Eddie's mind did anything but that. He stood up and grasped Steve's shoulders. "Well, fuck your dad."

Steve blinked at him. "Hey, aren't you too young to swear like that?"

"Fuck that too. And shush, I have something important to say. I, Edward Munson, herefore...ther....I mean, I promise on my soul that I'll find a way to free you." Eddie was grinning at him, but there was something in his eyes that made Steve take that promise seriously.

"Eddie. I appreciate it, really do. But you don't have to do that. I'm fine."

Steve smiled at him as he said it, he tried to sound persuasive, self-assured. But that scrawny kid in front of him just rolled his eyes and, much to Steve's surprise, patted his head. "Now now. Wayne says that pretending to be okay isn't cool, so we're not doing that. I'm keeping my promise, Steve. You'll see."

..

The evening was colder than usual. Eddie threw a blanket over himself and Steve, cuddling close. "The research is going well, you know. Dustin believes he found the origin of the curse, or at least some of the components. He believes we have a real shot at freeing you."

"I still can't believe you roped other people into this," laughed Steve. "How did you even get them to humor you and come here? Did you just tell them that you met a cursed statue when you were a kid, and they just went with you?"

"Oh, you'd be surprised how curious these little assholes are. Not so little now, they're starting college, but they're all committed. Especially Max, she considers it an insult we haven't solved it yet."

Steve sighed, staring into distance. "College already? I met them when they were barely teenagers. Time flies so fast."

"Not for you, baby," whispered Eddie and kissed Steve's cheek. "Not for you."

It was soon time to part. Steve's hands grew colder and more stiff by the minute, pulled back into their original position. As life gradually left Steve's body, Eddie repeated his promise again, just like he had for twenty years. He didn't know if Steve could hear him at this point, but it didn't matter. It was equally for both of them.

Maybe they would finally set him free in a year, five, or twenty. Maybe Eddie would be older, full of wrinkles and with grey streaks in his hair, while Steve would still be young and handsome. It wouldn't matter, as long as Eddie could see him walk past that garden's gate, feel the sun on his skin again.

Steve might have been worried about the day that Eddie would inevitably stop coming. Maybe he'd give up, or something would happen to him. Maybe, as he told Eddie many times, he'd finally find a life purpose that would bring him happiness.

But Eddie made a promise, and as long as he was alive and breathing, as long as he had anything to say about the matter, one thing was certain: Steve Harrington would never be alone on full moon again.

[runninriot]

Inspired by the prompt Love is saying "I love you" even when you're scared by @quinns-shadowy-arts for @steddielovemonth day 20

Give and Take

wc: 1737 | rated: t | cw: mentions of drinking and smoking weed | tags: Hurt Feelings (past), Fear of Rejection, Eddie realises he has a crush on Steve, Love Confessions, Friends to Lovers

  

Eddie is just about to leave when Wayne calls after him. Tells him not to stay out too late and to say Hi to Steve. And then he ends how he always does, never lets Eddie go without:

„Love ya, son."

Eddie smiles, gives his uncle an affirming nod before making his way out of the door.

He's heard it so many times now, these words his uncle says so easily, and he wished he could do the same.

It's something Eddie struggles with a lot; telling people he loves them is generally scary as shit.

Because in his experience, to love means to hurt because loving always comes with a price, a piece of your heart you give away with no chance of getting it back.

He’s given away too many of those.

Gave a piece to his mother when he was six. Proudly holding up the card his teacher helped him write for mother’s day. “I love you, mommy” it said on the heart-shaped paper and Eddie smiled, toothless and wide. Got a dead-eyed glare in return when she threw it on top of a pile of unopened letters. Not saying a word, not even acknowledging his extra neat hand-writing or the colourful flowers he’d drawn on the back.

He gave one piece to Jenny in grade 6. The girl with the blue eyes and rosy cheeks who was always so nice to him. One day after school she took his hand and kissed him on the cheek. Eddie felt like flying, told her he liked her a lot, thinking she might feel the same. But Jenny just scrunched her nose, pure disgust written on her face when she told him “Eww, no. It was just a dare.”

He lost a large piece in high school, gave it to Nick. The pretty boy with the seductive smile who dragged him behind the bleachers and stuck his tongue down Eddie’s throat. The kiss was too wet and too sloppy but Eddie thought maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be. Let Nick push him to his knees and willingly opened up wide. Not once, not twice, it went on for a month. And Eddie felt wanted but apparently wanted too much when he asked him to be his boyfriend.

Eddie learned to keep his mouth shut. To keep the remaining pieces to himself.

-🖤-

Steve is already waiting in his car that’s parked outside the Munson’s home, waving happily when he sees Eddie step outside.

They’ve made plans to spend the evening at Lover’s Lake, have a couple of beers and maybe a smoke while watching the sunset.

They do that often, just hanging out together. Enjoying the long summer days and each other’s company.

It’s always nice to spend time with Steve because with him Eddie never has the feeling he needs to tone himself down. Can ramble and rant, can be as loud and impulsive as he naturally is without having to worry about scaring him off. Steve never makes him feel bad about himself, accepts Eddie as he is.

Being with Steve always feels right.

They get along. They’re friends now. And the more time Eddie spends with Steve, the more he understands him, sees him.

He’s vulnerable, like Eddie. Has had his fair share of people misjudging him based on what they see on the outside. Where people assume Eddie is scary and mean, they think of Steve as being strong but dumb. Where they think Eddie’s only interests are metal and nerd games, they think Steve’s life revolves around nothing but sports and girls.

But Eddie knows better. Knows all of Steve’s layers.

Sure, Steve does love his silly ball games (something Eddie will never understand) but he also loves to cook and bake. He hates the taste of ginger and is afraid of moths. He can’t sleep with his back turned to the door and he likes the sound of heavy rain pounding against the window. He hates to read but he loves to listen if someone takes the time to read to him.

Eddie cherishes Steve’s honesty. The way he’s not afraid to ask questions if he doesn’t understand something. The way he’ll tell you, straight forward, when you’re being unreasonable.

Eddie likes the way his eyes sparkle when he’s happy. Likes the way Steve snorts when he laughs really hard. Eddie likes the snappy tone he uses when someone (usually Dustin) gets on his nerves. He likes Steve's fierceness, and his courage, and how much he cares.

Liking Steve is easy because he’s a genuinely nice guy with a big heart who never lets his friends down and always gives so much.

Eddie feels lucky to have him in his life, would give everything to keep him there.

-🖤-

They are lying side by side on a blanket, their minds comfortably buzzed from the joint they shared, while the sun sets over Lover’s Lake, painting their bodies in a dark orange hue. A gentle breeze caresses their exposed skin, just a warm touch of air drifting over their sun warmed bodies.

It’s quiet out here, now that most of the people that came to enjoy a day at the lake have already gone home.

Eddie thoughtlessly turns his head to look at Steve who is lying there with his eyes closed, basking in the tranquillity of the moment. Calm and content, so still and at peace. So different from his usual demeanour – always alert, always a little tense, always ready to step in if someone requires his help.

He's... beautiful like that.

And suddenly it is like something snaps in Eddie's brain.

He can’t tear his eyes away, lets them wander over Steve’s soft features and the expanse of his body. Wonders, foolishly, what Steve’s skin would feel like underneath his fingertips, what it would be like to hold him, maybe even get a taste of his lips.

    Oh no. Oh fuck.

Something in his gut coils and twists, ripples through him like an electric shock wave when the realisation hits.

It was inevitable, really, and maybe deep down he already knew for much longer than he’d ever admit.

It’s a bitter truth to accept but the confession comes easy now that he allows his heart to speak.

He’s in love with Steve.

Can’t have him, clearly. But that’s just how it is. That’s always how it is.

Eddie turns his head back, eyes pinched close in frustration as he tries to breathe through the stinging pain in his chest. His heart pumps so fast it makes him dizzy, makes him feel a little like spinning on a carousel that’s going too fast.

    SHIT! Eddie thinks or did he said it out loud? Because Steve startles beside him and Eddie can feel him ruffling at their shared blanket when he moves.

   “Eddie? What’s wrong?”

Eddie looks back at Steve who’s suddenly so much closer than he was before –  brows pinched together in question, with small worry lines showing on his forehead, his face hovering over Eddie’s.

   “I just realised something,” Eddie answers too honest, doesn’t know where to go from here but he can’t find it in him to lie.

    “Oh,” Steve breathes out, his expression softening as the seconds pass. “Wanna talk about it?”

   “Uh, I- no. I’d rather not.”

The look Steve gives him shouldn’t sent him spiralling even more but goddamn does he look cute with that stupid smirk tugging at his lips.

Eddie wants to bite him, feels a deep red blush take hold of his face. Maybe he can put it off as a sun burn?

   “Who knew that the great Eddie Munson could be so timid?” Steve jokes and okay.

So much for trying to play it cool.

   “I’m not-“ Eddie takes a deep breath, “It’s just something I can’t tell you.”

Steve sits up and without being prompted, Eddie does the same. For a moment they just look at each other.

   “You know you can tell me everything.”

If Eddie didn’t know better, he’d think there’s something like disappointment ringing in Steve’s voice.

   “Yeah, hah, uh- not this, I guess.”

Eddie looks away, can’t hold Steve’s gaze. Nervously he starts to play with the rings on his fingers until a warm hand stops him, causing him to look back up.

   “Try me.” Steve’s voice is soft and Eddie knows he can trust him but-

    No.

He can’t. This isn’t worth losing him over. Eddie knows how this is going to go. He can’t give anymore pieces away.

   “I-“

Only now Eddie realises Steve’s hand is still resting on his own, his thumb gently rubbing circles over the back of it.

Steve has never touched him like this before, so tender it almost doesn’t feel real.

   “I like you a lot, Steve.” The words sputter out before he can even try to hold them back.

Eddie winces, tries to avert his gaze but before he can turn his head to the side there’s a hand on his cheek and a firm press of lips on his mouth and-

Eddie can taste weed, and beer, and the chips they shared. Steve’s breath is hot as he sighs into the kiss, his lips are plush and soft... they’re so fucking soft Eddie feels like sinking right into them.

He allows his eyes to flutter close as he deepens the kiss, wants more of the taste, more of Steve. His hands find their way to Steve’s hips, digging and pulling like he just can’t help himself, needs Steve closer.

They part when their startled laughter breaks the tension as Steve tumbles ungraciously on top of Eddie, looking down at him with glistening eyes.

   “Fuck, Steve.” Eddie feels giddy, breathless.

   “Yeah. Fuck.” Now it is Steve’s turn to blush.

Somehow their lips find their way back to each other, like it’s easy. And maybe it is.

Maybe it is easy because they both want it.

   “Want you, Eddie. Wanted you for so long but I was scared to tell you that I-“ Steve inhales shakily.

Maybe they both feel the same?

   “I love you, Steve.”

This isn’t just a piece. This is his whole heart he holds it out for Steve to take, hoping that this time, he’ll maybe get something in return.

Eddie holds his breath, feels cold sweat running down his spine as he waits for a rejection that never comes.

   “I love you, Eddie.”

[the-faceless-bride]

Just had an idea, lost boys with the Phantom reader.

Idea -> reader is a phantom, they've been dead for many many maaaaany years and live in the cave with the boys. The boys have never seen them because they are in a deeper part of the sunken hotel. The hotel was a high-end hotel that was used for opera showings and classical performances and the night the hotel sank reader was trapped and killed.

reader never comes out or plays their music when the boys are around, by now the reader has forgotten that they are dead, and they don't even know about the boys. They are so deep in the cave that the enchanting music they play is covered and muffled by all the rubble.

One day Laddie finds an opening that's just big enough for him to slip through. After a crawl, a long walk, and shimmying through a tight gap Laddie finds himself in what used to be the hotel's theatre....

elegant pained walls covered in dust and grime, the golden archways above the stands of the theatre now dull. The clack of his small shoes against the cracked dusty tiles, the grand chandelier in the middle of it all.

Laddie looks at the grand stage lights off, instruments thrown about some in alright condition and others completely destroyed. Old and very dry red stains paint around a part of the stage that had caved in and he couldn't see the bottom. But out of all things, it's the stunning grand piano with gold-encrusted keys.

He sat in the chair, too small to fully sit in it properly. He starts mindlessly pressing the keys, noting in his head what keys sounded best in his opinion. And he jumped when he heard a voice behind him. "would you like me to teach you?"

The boys weren't too worried about Labbies whereabouts, they knew Laddie memorized the boardwalk and all of its attractions. But gradually got more and more suspicious of the little boys' outings and they knew asking Star would be no use. But the boys kept silent, maybe the boy just found a new game to play. But eventually, Laddoe did something that spiked the boy's interest and they didn't feel so sure about the boy going out on his own anymore...

"uuhhh, classical little man? Really?" Paul raised his brow looking at the track Laddie asked he could get. In that moment all the boys were on edge, now noticing the changes Laddie had... His clothes though still in their rock style looked less dissolved, his hair looked brushed and he used one of stars' scrunchies to tie it back. That's how they knew something was definitely wrong. Laddie always wanted to be like them be like Dwayne and always had his hair down and messy.

Now the boys had started interrogating the little boy, and criticizing Star for allowing Laddie to be around "stuck-up classical mouth breathers?" and Star denise knowing any.

Laddie didn't want to tell his big brothers about his new friend and the lessons in piano he had been getting from the nice ghost that lives in the deepest part of the cave.

And it wasn't until much much later that the boys stayed up in the day to see where their halfling little brother was going. The next night, while Laddie and Star were out the boys started digging through the rocks and rubble careful not to bring the whole cave down.

The boys find the grand theatre and begin looking around, they always found classical boring however they could admit this place was quite the sight. Marko had loudly claimed this room as his "art room" and was already planning on paintings to go all over the walls and ceiling, Paul whined and said "its full of instruments! Let me have my guitar room!" and it was quickly becoming a bickering contest between the terror twins.

It wasn't until Dwayne found a note on the piano written in curved writing, "I decided to freshen up, just play the song we've practiced once you get here." next to the note was sheet music. Now Dwayne didn't like to open up about his past and never told his brothers that not only did he know how to play piano he also could read sheet music.

He knew he would never hear the end of it from his three brothers but he wanted to know. He began playing the somber piano tune, quickly getting the attention of the three boys and Paul was already teasing. That was until Reader appeared in front of the Piano...

"you're not Laddie."

So should I make this a full thing? Or is anyone feeling those inspiration juice? I hope so.

[medusapelagia]

A Magnet For Trouble: CH 4 I’d love to wear your touch on my skin

written for the @billybigbang2024

Read from CH 1, ..., CH 5

Find the beautiful art @akichania made for this chapter HERE!!!

Read here or on AO3

This time Jason’s phone rings for real, and Billy invites him out on his first night off. 

Nothing too fancy, just a movie at the local movie theater, but Jason spends almost two hours with Chrissy’s help turning his closet upside down trying to find an outfit that doesn’t make him look like a gravedigger. It’s the first time someone invites him out in ages and he doesn’t know how to dress: too casual and Billy will think he isn’t serious, too fancy and he might think he is presumptuous.

In the end, he chooses a simple jeans jacket, a white polo, and his favorite pair of jeans.

“It’s going to be ok,” Chrissy comforts him, hugging him from behind while staring at their reflection in the mirror, “He looks like a good guy.”

“Yeah. I know. It’s just… What if I’m not ready? I have never had a real relationship, you know? Just casual hookups.”

“If you never start to be serious with someone you’ll never know if you’re ready.” She winks in the mirror, “No more doubts, Jason. Worst case scenario you’re going to have a nice evening with a friend. But from the way he looked at you, I’m pretty sure things will get hot quickly.”

Jason chuckles, turning to hug her and kiss the crow of her head, "I’d be lost without you. You know that, right?”

“I might have my suspicions. Now get out of here. Being late isn’t a nice way to start a relationship.” Chrissy reminds him, so they both leave Jason’s apartment and the policeman gets into an Uber, already waiting for him in front of his building.

The movie theater isn’t that far, and when Jason gets there, Billy is already there, waiting for him in front of the glass doors.

“Am I late?” he asks, looking at his watch, he’s pretty sure he’s on time if not early.

“No, you’re fine. I was just a little bit too eager. And… you know… I wanted to make sure you would actually come.” Billy replies.

“Were you worried I wouldn’t show up?”

“Maybe?”

“That’s so silly. Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because I treated you like shit?”

“You didn’t… you were just… rude.”

“Rude. Yeah. You can say that out loud.” Billy grins, getting closer and bending toward Jason who freezes, “No kisses? Got it. Just boring old hot sex.”

“It’s not that. It’s just…”

“It’s ok. Let’s have our friendly evening.”

There’s something in the tone Billy uses that makes Jason flinch, but he follows him.

The movie theater is a small one and the options are a cartoon, a romance movie, or an action one and, after a little debate, they opt for the action movie. Billy pays for the tickets, a huge popcorn bucket that they can share during the movie, and a couple of sodas.

“Hey, Billy! How are you doing?” one of the employees asks him, patting his back.

“Hey, Ronald. Still scraping gum to pay for college?”

“Not everyone can be blessed with artistic talent. Some of us still have to clean popcorn from the floor to pay back our student loans.” Ronald replies with a warm smile, “Hey, I’m Ronald. Nice to meet you.” 

Jason shakes the young man's hand and has just enough time to exchange a few words before the screen at their back announces that they can get inside.

“Do you come here so often that the employees know you?” Jason asks while looking for their seats in the semi-darkness.

“Moving with fifty dollars in my pocket wasn’t the cleverest idea ever, but we managed. Heather and I worked here for a couple of years to pay the rent and I’m still friends with some of the boys. You know how stray dogs are. They look for a pack.”

“Are you saying you’re a stray?”

“Am I not?”

“I think you’re purebred,” Jason replies.

“Strays can be purebred.” Billy chuckles, sipping some soda.

Once more, Jason has the feeling that he’s missing something, but he doesn’t have time to ask any questions because the lights turn off and the movie starts with a huge explosion that he wasn’t expecting. It makes him jump in his seat and he grabs Billy’s arm in the darkness. When the policeman turns to face his date, the tattoo artist’s teeth shine in the dim light coming from the big screen.

Jason immediately releases his grip from Billy’s arm, concentrating on the movie. The story isn’t that complicated, the protagonist, a former special forces operative who retired after a mission gone wrong, is forced back into action when his ex-partner and best friend’s daughter is kidnapped.

Somewhere at their back, a young couple is enjoying the darkness to exchange a few kisses and Jason feels almost jealous of them, but he keeps his eyes on the screen, avoiding looking at Billy, until their hands brush one against the other in the half-empty popcorn bucket and they both giggle like schoolchildren.

Once outside, while Jason is complaining about how unrealistic the movie was, Billy chuckles softly, “I love it.” 

“The movie? Yeah. I guess it wasn’t that bad.”

“Your smile.” Billy explains, staring at Jason in the eyes, “You look so soft when you smile. Makes me wanna pick you up and hide you in my pocket.”

Jason bursts out in a loud laugh, “Sorry. That’s not exactly the kind of thing people usually say to me.” he apologizes, wiping away the laughing tears.

“What do people say to you?”

That there’s something wrong with him. That he’s not good at doing his job. That he’s a waste of space.

“Let’s just say there aren’t many people who would like to keep me in their pockets. Maybe Chrissy, but she’s a sweetheart so she doesn’t count.” 

“Is it difficult? Being gay and a policeman.”

That’s a heavy question, but Jason doesn’t avoid it, “Yes. It is. No one knows I’m gay in my unit. I’m not closeted, as you thought, but I’m not out either. I simply avoid talking about my relationships, not that there’s anything to talk about anyway. All my experience comes from a few hookups I had in the past few years. No one wants to hang out with someone like me. It doesn’t matter how hard I try, I’m never enough.” 

He gulps the soda left in his cup in one go.

“Wanna go somewhere nice?”

“Your place?”

“Yes. And no. I’m not propositioning you to have sex, even if I’d very much like to. I just want to have a nice night with you, if it’s ok.”

“So mysterious.” Jason comments, but he follows him back to Billy’s building. To Jason’s surprise, they don’t stop at Billy’s floor, but they keep climbing the stairs till they get to the roof.

“It’s always closed for security reasons, I think someone tried to kill himself or something like that, but I have the keys.” Billy grins, grabbing a bobby pin from his pocket and picking the lock with a few safe and accurate movements.

The door opens with a loud squeak and Billy grabs Jason’s hand and drags him outside with a bright smile. Outside the air is fresh and the view of the town is breathtaking. A sea of lights stands in front of them.

“This is beautiful.”

“Right? I don’t know how someone could decide to end their life here. At most, you could decide not to.” Billy chuckles, and Jason senses that there’s something more hidden behind that affirmation.

“You ok?” Jason asks, tentatively, reaching out to put a hand on Billy’s shoulder.

“If you are sure you want them… I want to give you wings, to fly high in the sky.” Billy murmurs, staring at the rounded moon in the sky.

“For real? Would you… would you tattoo me?”

Billy nods, “It was stupid of me trying to impose my beliefs on you. I still think what you ask is too much for a first tattoo, but if that’s what you want, who am I to deny you?”

“I’d love for you to tattoo me,” Jason replies, but what he really means is: I’d love to wear your touch on my skin.

“It will take three or four appointments, maybe even more. Your skin is very fair and I would guess it’s very sensitive too, and I won’t let you rush me.” Billy states, his eyes pinned on the sea of colorful light under them.

“Ok.” Jason immediately agrees, “Thank you.”

And when they kiss, softly and gently, under the moonlight, slowly dancing at the sound of the traffic, it seems that the entire world was waiting for that moment.

***

They have talked about the tattoo design in detail, and after agreeing on the sketch, Billy has made a huge version of the same images, sticking together different parts of the stencil that’s now waiting for Jason on Billy’s table. They have decided on a long wing on Jason’s left arm and an image of Saint Michael holding a shield and a sword on his back.

When Jason gets into the tattoo parlor for his first appointment, Billy has been really clear about the fact that there are going to be multiple appointments, he’s both excited and worried. He’s looking forward to having his tattoo done, but he’s also scared it will hurt.

The little sketch Billy drew for him is now a huge piece of transparent paper, and for a moment Jason wonders if it was a rushed decision, but that image is so beautiful and Jason needs it on his skin.

“Strip off your shirt and stand up for me, please,” Billy asks, grabbing a razor and cleaning Jason’s skin once more to be sure to get rid of any stubborn hair. He looks like a dork with the eyeglasses on, but Jason tries not to chuckle or move at all. Once Billy is satisfied with his canvas, he makes a few signs with a red marker on Jason’s back and then grabs the huge stencil.

Applying a stencil is way more difficult than Jason thought,  "We want it to bend properly and follow your body structure." Billy explains, while cutting little stress-cut into the stencil to avoid the wrinkles once pressed on the skin. Wetting the transparent paper little by little, Billy moves the image from the stencil to Jason’s skin. An arabesque of blue lines he will follow with his tattoo gun soon.

“Ok. You can lie down, but try to keep your shoulders relaxed, ok?” Billy tells him, gesturing to him to get on the tattoo chair.

Jason nods and lies on the chair, his face turned toward the door to avoid staring at Billy during the entire session.

“I’m going to start. If it hurts too badly, if you need a break or you simply have to sneeze you tell me, ok? Communication is key if we don’t want to fuck up.” Billy says, “We’ll take a few breaks, those are both for you and me, so don’t be shy and just tell me if you’re uncomfortable or whatever.” Billy says, grabbing his tattoo gun, “You ready?”

Jason nods.

“I need verbal confirmation, baby. Are you ready to get your wings?”

“I am,” Jason replies, trying to relax on the chair.

The soft buzzing of the tattoo gun fills the air, while Billy’s expert hands start to pull the skin while moving over the stencil’s blue lines.

Art by Akichania

“So, an angel, huh? Does it have a religious meaning to you?” Billy asks.

“Yes and no.” Jason replies, “I’m religious, you already know that, but this tattoo is here to protect me and to protect others, you know?”

“Like a magic shield or some shit like that?”

“Maybe? Is that stupid?”

“No, it isn’t. It’s cute. You’re cute. And I’ll give you the best wings you have ever seen.” Billy promises him.

Their appointment lasts almost six hours. They take a little break to eat a couple of sandwiches Heather bought for them and they talk a lot. Billy tells Jason a few things about his past and how he misses his mom even years later, and Jason tells him about his job. How hard some days are, and how he is trying to balance his personal life and his work life. Being gay and being a policeman it’s not easy.

“It’s not like I’m closeted, you know? It’s just that I haven't had a partner in a long time so there’s no point in telling everyone I’m gay and putting a bullseye on my back. The police station isn’t the most gay-friendly place ever.”

Billy hums in agreement, cleaning the black ink with a wet towel while he keeps drawing on Jason’s back, but when Jason tries to turn toward him Billy immediately stops and slaps him softly on the shoulder.

“What did I say?”

“Communication is key.” Jason sighs, “Can I turn now?”

“No. I’m working on your shoulder blade. You can move before I start to work on your back, ok?”

“Ok,” he whines.

“If you’re tired, we can take a little break.”

“I want to see you. I’m tired of staring at the walls. Who in his right mind could have chosen to paint the walls red, anyway?”

“No one in his right mind obviously. It was a drunk choice. But Heather and I like the contrast between the black wood and the red walls.”

“Did you paint the wood too?”

“Yeah. Let me finish your tattoo and I’ll tell you the shop story in front of a nice dinner.”

“Are you asking me out, Hargrove?”

“Would you say yes if I were?”

"Definitely."

“In that case, I am. Now hold on a little bit, we’re almost done.”

***

Surprisingly, Billy drags Jason to a little Italian restaurant and not to a McDonald's like he promised to do. The owner, a nice old woman, seems to know him because as soon as she sees him she starts yelling Billy's name and talking in Italian fast in front of a very confused Jason.

"Gloria is the best cook in town. If you haven't been here before, you've been missing out." Billy winks, while the woman shows them to a little table in the back of the restaurant. To Jason's surprise she doesn't give them a menu or anything, she just says in broken English that their food will arrive soon.

The restaurant is small and crammed with people. The air is hot but full of amazing smells that make Jason's mouth water. On the table is a little basket with some fresh bread, oil, and a little plate.

Billy grabs a piece of bread, pours the oil on it, and offers it to Jason who grimaces, "It's good, trust me." Billy insists, while a little bit of oil dribbles down his fingers. Jason takes it and smells it, still unconvinced, while Billy licks the oil from his fingers with no shame. 

With a big sigh, Jason opens his mouth and nibbles at the piece of bread, finding it really tasty.

"Good, huh?" Billy chuckles, taking another piece of bread for himself.

Not once in his life had Jason thought that some oil on a piece of bread would have tasted so good.

"It's not any oil, you know? This is extra virgin olive oil."

"What does it mean?"

"No idea," Billy says so seriously that Jason snorts, spitting the water he was drinking.

Fuck. Their first date and Jason already ruined it!

"Sorry, sorry! I'm so sorry!" he mutters, trying to dry Billy with his napkin.

"Oh, I see. It's that kind of date, huh?" an annoyed red-haired girl says.

"Don't know. Maybe? Max, this is Jason, Jason, this is Max, my sister."

"Step-sister." she immediately clarifies, "My mom married his dad. Big mistake. Not only now she’s married to Neil, but I gained this pain in the ass."

Jason's confusion must be clear on his face because Billy immediately clarifies that Max lives with her dad and her Nonna, the old restaurant's owner.

"I didn't even know it when I first moved here, but Max came to the shop for a tattoo and she recognized me from our parents' wedding. And Gloria adopted me.

That's the moment the old woman chose to come back, say something to her nephew, and pinch Billy's cheek.

" Arriva subbito. " She says, and even if Jason doesn't really speak any other language apart from English, arrival must mean that something is coming and he's proven right when a few moments later two steaming dishes of pasta appear on their table.

" Vino. Vino. Il vino ci vuole! Maaaax! Maaax! Il vino! " The woman yells and the annoyed teenage girl gets back with a bottle of red wine that she pours into Jason’s glass without even asking them if it's to his liking and avoids Billy’s glass.

The restaurant is a little bit chaotic but very homey  and at the end of the dinner Jason finds himself hugging the old woman and swearing with tears in his eyes that he will come back while Billy and Max keep laughing their asses off.

Once outside, the fresh air cools them a bit; the little restaurant was really hot.

"So, that's the place you bring all your dates?" Jason asks while they take a walk, keeping his hands in his pocket to avoid reaching for Billy’s.

"Actually, no. And I won't make the same mistake again. It seems to me that you fell in love with Gloria instead of me."

"She's amazing!" Jason agrees with a bright smile.

"Can't deny that. And I can't compete with her culinary prowess so… is this over?"

"This… what?" Jason asks, without daring to look Billy in the eyes, but he grabs him by his shoulder and turns him toward himself.

" This . You and me." Billy explains gesturing to the two of them.

"I... I don't want it to be the end.” Jason stutters, lowering his eyes, “I… I’d like it to be the start of something." he admits in a lower voice, his eyes pinned on Billy’s red Converse.

"Good. Me too." Billy replies, lifting Jason’s chin before kissing him under the yellowish streetlamp's light.

Billy's mouth tastes of coffee, and Jason grabs Billy's jacket's collar and kisses him even more deeply, feeling his dick twitching with interest.

"Slow down, tiger. Your back had enough stress for one day. Let it rest a bit. Do you remember what I said?"

"Clean it three times a day with soap and water, and gently pat it dry. Keep applying a moisturizer or ointment after cleaning it to keep it moist and protect the skin until it heals."

"Good." Billy grins satisfied, taking Jason's hand, "You know what? I thought your skin was too sensitive for a tattoo, but it’s not. It’s tough. Like you.” Billy winks.

“What can I say? I’m a tough cookie.” Jason chuckles.

"You might be, but you melted like snow in the sun last night."

The night before, with the excuse of having to help Jason shave his back to have him ready for his tattoo appointment, Billy fucked him in the shower. It was a very pleasurable experience, and by the end, Billy had to drag him to bed because he was too spent. 

“Maybe I should blow you, on your next appointment.” Billy chortles, “Would you like that? Me and you, the smell of antiseptic and metal and your dick in my mouth?”

God. Billy’s mouth is definitely something.

Jason shivers, nodding, and Billy grins like he won a great prize.

“So be it. Next time I’ll make sure to book your appointment on Heather's day off, and if you're a good boy I'll blow you. As a reward.” Billy winks and Jason almost suffocates on his spit.

They walk around the block, chatting like they were old friends, and Jason realized he missed all of this. The only person he really trusts is Chrissy, but now that she has a girlfriend they don’t see each other like they used to do, and Jason never made friends at the station even though he has been working there for almost two years. Billy is so full of life and experiences. He goes swimming every morning, he has an extended family that cares about him, and a business partner who’s also his best friend.

All that Jason has is Chrissy, and he doesn’t even dare to bother her too much.

“Are you sure you’ll be ok wearing your uniform tomorrow?” Billy asks when they get closer to his place.

“Don’t worry. Tomorrow is my day off, and I’m not the only man with a new tattoo and a job, right?”

Billy's lips lift just enough to let Jason understand that he’s slightly amused.

They wait for Jason’s Uber, and a moment before it arrives, Billy kisses Jason, wishing him good night.

***

Chrissy is staring at the tattoo on Jason’s left shoulder. 

“That’s huge!” she comments, looking at it so closely that he can feel her breath on his skin.

“Do you like it?”

“I surely hope you like it, because it’s huge!”

“You just said that,” Jason replies, trying to turn and look at Chrissy’s face, but she stops him and keeps looking at every detail.

“It’s really well done. It’s a piece of art, I’ll give you that, but isn't it a little bit too much? I mean, I get that you like this guy, like really like him, but asking for such a huge tattoo sounds a little bit excessive.”

“I didn’t pay for a tattoo to fuck a guy, Chris! I thought you knew me better than this!” Jason frowns, shaking off Chrissy’s hand and putting back on his t-shirt.

“All I know is that you fell in love with a tattoo artist and bam, huge tattoo on your back.”

“I’m not… I’m not in love with him, ok? We’re just seeing each other. It’s nothing serious.”

“Do you hear yourself? ‘It’s nothing serious’,” she mimics him, “but you still made him draw on your back like it was a canvas!”

“Ok, you hate it. Got it.”

“It’s not- Listen. I like it, ok? It’s very good, it fits your arm perfectly and when your muscles flex it really looks like you’re moving that wing. What I don’t want it’s to see you get hurt.”

Again, goes unsaid.

“Billy isn’t like the others. I swear. He was clear with me. He told me he didn’t want any emotional involvement with a closeted guy, and I get it, ok? But yesterday he took me out for dinner. We went to this little Italian restaurant his family owns, well his extended family, it doesn’t matter. Anyway, everything was perfect. The dinner was incredible, the walk under the moon was so romantic and I think we started something. I’m not saying we’re in love but… I think he likes me back. And I don’t know if it will work out between the two of us but I want to try.” Jason turns, his chest still naked and the plastic protection that Chrissy just applied on his tattoo, “Can you… Can you try to be happy for me?” 

Chrissy sighs, relaxing her shoulder, “You’re right. I should have been more supportive. Sorry about that.”

“I know you care about me.”

“Of course I do! You’re family!” she replies, jumping at him.

Jason bites down a little whimper and Chrissy immediately apologizes, releasing her tight grip.

“When am I going to meet him properly? I need to give him the shove talk.” She says, crossing her arms in front of her in a threatening way, and Jason bursts out in a loud laugh because there’s no way a tiny and soft girl like Chrissy could ever threaten a muscled man like Billy.

“Don’t laugh! I’m trying to protect your honor! You’re such an ungrateful brat!” Chrissy complains, turning her back, offended, while her blond ponytail jumps from one side to the other.

"Sorry, sorry. You're right. I'm sure you'll scare him off if needed." Jason replies, kissing Chrissy's forehead. "I love you."

"I love you too," she replies, hugging him gently, not to hurt him again.

[oh-no-its-bird]

Ok so updated list of my WIPS;

Actually in progress;

- Offal and All (Kakashi's relationship with food throughout the years, mostly told through the eyes of others) I'm activley focusing on this one rn and hoping to post it like, this week actually. It's a mash up of a lot of different tiny Kakashi hc's I've posted about and should be very fun (and depressing, but that's kind of my brand, so.)

- One Step Three Steps chapter 10, it's going well so far actually I just keep writing it at work then being forced to stop bc like. Work. Might go up this week, hopefully

- Chasing Shadows chapter 4, it's like 20% done? Ish? I just need to find the head space to get back to writing it, will go up within the next 2 weeks for sure but idk when exactly. It'll be great tho ur gonna get Hikaku, Fugaku, Shisui, Mikoto, just all the cool Uchiha. Lots of politics, lots of drama, the works

- Itama and the secret senju weed empire fic,,,, it will be long and it will be beautiful which means it'll take me forever to do, sorry

- Magical Girl Izuna AU (my beloved) I got distracted by other projects midway through writing chapter 1 but I'll get there eventually

- Little lab mystery where kid edo-tensei reincarnations of Madara and Tobirama wake up with no memories and immediately stage a jail break

- Nin burger!!!!! Yes this is a real thing yes I meant to post it like the same week I started making it but then I got distracted and didn't. But I swear to fucking GOD I will see it complete. Nin Burger is my favorite real naruto restaurant that is real

- That one oneshot where Madara and Tobirama spend a festival night in the capital together as children, and Madara develops his very first crush on the fox masked boy, but seems to be doomed never to meet him again— till Konoha's first festival is held and he sees a man wearing the very same mask, waiting for him in the crowds. Might not actually finish this one tbh but also maybe I'll save it for tbmd week?? Idk

Considering / Planning;

- Hikaku as the Uchiha clan head after Madara's betrayal comic,,, not an actual fic but I wanna make this so bad. I've written notes for it I just need to get along to drawing it

- Izuna in Wonderland comic, honestly I'll probably end up doing the entire thing in one go one night when I get hit in the face w a brick w motivation. So it'll be a surprise for both u guys and me when I post that! I always do my comics in one go bc I physically can't bring myself to return to art projects if interrupted, which means I tend to do longer ones on my days off where I have literally nothing else to do or distract me, but I haven't had one of those in like. 2 months now. So. But I will soon!! Umm. Maybe.

- Here Before and After Me chapter 2, I'll probably make one eventually but who tf knows when. I have a very specific vision of Kakashi following Tobirama onto the battlefield and scaring the shit out of a very alarmed and confused Izuna

- Tobirama and Izuna's field trip through time and space, I don't think I want to commit to a full fic bc it'd be seriously long and I'm already commiting to Chasing Shadows and One Step Three Steps as my regular update long fics, then the MG Izuna au and Itama fic as my "write it all behind the scenes then post" long fics. One shots only for me, sorry. But I do wanna write a silly one shot of the boys crash landing face first into a konoha council meeting during their field trip

Dropped / Abandoned;

- That one mdtb space mermaid au, rip. Maybe I'll come back to u one day but for now I have a lot to focus on, sorry

- mdtb fish in a pond fic where Tobirama is half spirit and turns into a koifish that Tajima then brings home and tosses into the families koi pond

I think that's everything? I have a shit memory and do everything on my notes app then forget to categorize the notes half the time so I honestly wouldn't be surprised if I'd lost smthn else in my like billion different notes.

Those are the important ones tho, so, good enough!

[dandylion-s]

Thoughts on S3 of The Bear

Ok finally fucking.finished watching, my thoughts are under the cut and hold on to ya butts because there's a lot

Let's start with pros:

There are some QUALITY jokes in this one. The whole John Cena bit cracked me up, he is truly embodying the Fak lifestyle in his scenes

Entirety of Tina's episode, you can tell this was made by people who love this character. Who love what she represents in the show and what she means for people who are in her shoes. I still do not like Jon Bernthal though but that is a me thing.

Sugar explaining to Donna that her always wanting to make her happy is a fucked up way of life. The exact opposite of what a parent child relationship should be, god help me that HIT.

Long live playing in the background of Richie talking to Frank which is a nice continuation of last season.

Sydney's best meal ever being made by Carmy.

Still love that they intercut people talking about how much they love their craft with the price that it extracts.

Now let's get to the cons (and get ready cos there are a lot of em) :

I do not understand the point of this season. I don't know how impacted they were by the WGA strike or if this is just genuinely bad writing but it felt like half of a season, not a complete arc. Nearly all of it felt like filler and I'm not sure why they would do that in an 8 episode season. None of the characters, including and especially Sydney, Carmy, Richie or even Sugar. Like what are we doing here. This feels like the first half of a season.

Marcus. What did they do to my boy. We see the funeral, we hear his speech and we see the violet and then we get nothing. What the ever loving fuck are we supposed to take from this.

The Faks. Why THE FUCK do they get so much screen time. They are great as comedic relief but by god it feels like they got more lines than Syd. Why are they inserted into Donna and Sugar's narrative. What purpose is it serving. Marcus or Sydney - people who have lost their mothers could've worked, hell Richie could've worked because he's a parent. WHY THE FAKS.

Some of the pontificating about food and cooking in the last episode really really felt like I was back in a creative writing seminar and had to listen to dudes go on about how art changes lives. Not saying that it was bad, I just think the writing could've been tighter there.

Why does the Richie Carmy thing NEVER GET RESOLVED. It hangs on from episode 1 to the fucking END!!

Now we get to my biggest problem: CLAIRE. WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE TRYING TO DO WITH HER. WHAT ARE WE SAYING. IF SHE WAS SO IMPORTANT WHY DIDN'T SHE GET MORE TIME TO DEVELOP LAST SEASON. WHY ARE WE SUDDENLY SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE THAT SHE'S THE CALM IN CARMY'S LIFE.

Listen, I'm not coming to this as a Sydcarmy shipper, for me the show could leave that and I wouldn't be hurt but I don't fucking understand the point of Claire. If you want to show the similarities between Carmy and his dick ex boss and how much of his life he's losing out on, there's a million ways to do so. Some of which the show is already doing. Like him using the way he speaks or him undercutting Syd and calling things "his dishes" and him losing his connection with his family (not going to Mikey's funeral, not being there for Sugar while she gave birth)

What, pray tell, is the point of Claire then. What is she supposed to represent apart from this male character must have a saintly woman he scorns for becoming the tortured genius. It's lazy. It takes up so much time. And it is just not written well.

[melimpostor]

OMG you are one of if not the best aruanie artist i saw, i cant believe i have only found you now!

They were like the first ship ever for me and they still mean a lot, they are so sweet, especially in your style. The ironic thing is, that at first way back around season 1 i started to see aruanie fan art, and at the time i tought it was a bit odd (i guess i missed all the signs in the show), i liked it but i considered it somewhat of a crack ship, especially since Annie was present just for one short season then it seemed like she never actually gonna come back. And then i lost my mind when suddenly in the manga it was just straight up canon xd. It propably helped that from the begining they were my favourite characters even individually.

They are still the best ship ever, like what do you mean in her whole life she was raised for war, but then couldnt kill the one guy who didnt cared about all this conflict and revenge he just wanted to explore the world, and her decicion cost the warriors the whole mission and eventually changed the world 😭

Btw do you know of some fanfictions that you would recommend?

WaaaAAAAAA- (ಥ◡ಥ) I’m not sure i deserve such a title, but thank you very much for your kind words, I appreciate it a lot ! ♥ ♥ This blog is fairly new, i've been active here since january so it might be why -

Haha I feel you! Aruani made me feel things i never thought i would for fictional characters before. I personally shipped them from the start. I guess I was gifted with the vision and carried the curse of being judged by my AOT-enthusiast friends for years. So I understand why it felt like a crack ship at the time for some. I was pretty sure i was delusional myself- but now… SIKE !!!!!!!!!!!! I am unapologetically taking my revenge with Aruani fanart now XD

But yeah, Annie is basically the one who compromised the whole mission because of her affection for Armin. Ruthless Annie. Flawless Annie... Falling for the sweet sweet boy with cute smiles and curious eyes?? aaa i’m weAk..

As for fanfictions, I am actually new to this kind of media. I never really looked for written fan-content in any other fandoms before…well- now... But i’m happy i’m finally doing it because it opens my artistic viewpoint and this community is very talented ♥ I didn't know writing could make me feel so many emotions and keeping me involved like that. I never experienced it to that extend in the past.

That being said, it means I haven't read a lot of them yet, besides work keeps me busy and my reading is pretty slow…So for the time being i 'll suggest you take a look at this post which regroups a lot of work already (and I think reblogs have some updates too ! )

And if you wanted my personal recommandations, maybe ask me again in 6 months or 24 so I have time to catch up ! haha- sorry dear writers, i failed you for so long ;;

[sungminxxx]

❦ The Lost Paints❦

masterlist!

----------------------------------------------------

Summary: Felix wanted to paint the lovely nature that laid in the backyard of the not so Stray Kids' house, but realized his paints were missing. Felix knew Hyunjin had them, but jinnie didn't want to admit he was right. So Felix gave him a good lesson on how to be honest~

Positions: ler!felix, lee!hyunjin

Warnings: Tickle fic

Requested by: @sinsibbutwannabetoki

A/N: I am extremely sorry for the long wait!! I havezd had a lot going on. I'll try to get into more requests as soon as I can! . Sorry if this isn't the most well written thing I have made. I'm sick and very tired atm. (its 3am) Please excuse any misspellings! Enjoy this very late, but cute story!! ♡

----------------------------------------------------

Its a relaxing day at the house. All the members had the day off and most of them decided to spend their day off outdoors, all besides Felix and Hyunjin.

Felix was in the living room, bored, thinking about something productive that he could spend his time doing. He thought for what seemed like forever, until he finally got it. He would paint a picture of the beautiful nature that lived just outside, in the backyard. The blonde brushed his hair off his face and got up from the sofa, gathering all his supplies and setting it up outside. After gathering mostly everything, Felix noticed he had one thing missing that was most certainly needed in order to complete his new mission. His paints. He checked his room, his art cabinets, and even the living room. He could not find them anywhere! He stood and thought for a moment. "Hmm.. maybe someone took them?.. but.. who?" More time went on. What other member loved painting? "..Hyunjin hyung!"

The freckled boy rushed over to the older boy's room, knocking at the door before coming in. There, Hyunjin laid on his bed reading a book with a dark red cover. After noticing his door had been opened, Hyunjin glanced up at Felix with a smile following. "Well hello~" he said, setting his book down next to him. Felix went to the edge of the bed and sat down. "Hi Hyungie, I have a question for you." Jinne scooted himself towards Lix. "What is it?"

"Have you seen my paints? I can't find them anywhere." He said. Hyunjin looked at the wall, then at the ceiling. "Uh.. I haven't seen them." The elders' movements were not missed by Felix. He knew that every time his Hyung lied, he would not look straight at someone's face. "Uh huh, are you sure? You're not looking at me.. you do that when you're lying, hyung.." This made Hyunjin go slightly red. "N-No.. sorry Lix." Felix knew his hyung had his paints, but it seemed like Hyunjin wanted to do this the hard way.. and oh boy, was Felix ready. "Yeah, okay.. I believe you." the freckled boy sarcastically said before laying Hyunjin down on the bed and straddling his legs and living his arms above his head using one of his hands.

The long haired boy went pink, already knowing whats about to happen. "haahh.. L-Lix.. whahat are you doing?-" The younger takes out one of his paint brushes from his little bag and pulled up his hyungs shirt. "Oh nothing~ I'm just gonna make my cutie hyung laugh for a little bit!!'' The second the sentenced finished, Felix began tracing his paint brush up and down Hyunjin's sides.. already earning a few squeaks from the older. "w-wHWhAHaHAHahhahhahaAT? nHohoHOho!! FehhehehelihihiX-" Hyunjin said, already giggling loudly. Felix enjoyed this. He loved watching his hyung giggle from all the ticklish feelings. It was adorable. As Hyunjin continued to giggle under Felix from the brushes light touches, the younger began to move closer to his ribs, and then up to his underarms. Oh boy, Hyunjin didn't know the amount of ticklish feelings he would get the minute the soft point of the paintbrush entered his death spot. The minute the older had felt the paintbrush touch his underarms, it was an easy win for Felix from there. "eheHEHAHAHAAHAHA!! N-NOHOHOHOT THEHEHEHEHERE-!! FEHEHELIX-!!!" Hyunjin was losing his mind already, but of course this was not enough for Felix. "Why not here, hyung? I love tickling you here!!!" the freckled one said, swirling the paintbrush around in his hollows and drawing cute little doodles to add on. At this point, Hyunjin was kicking and bucking his hips in a horrible attempt to get his younger one off of him. Due to all the bucking, Felix began to laugh along with his hyung, finding it funny that no matter how hard Hyunjin tried to escape.. nothing would work. In fact, this only encouraged him to keep going. So he did. Continuing to torment his hyungs sensitive underarms, he decides to add on some... spice to the menu. Lix let go of the olders hands but quickly inserted his pinky into his hyungs bellybutton. This drove Hyunjin absolutely bonkers. The long haired boy was now trying to thrash around uncontrollably. It was adorable. Felix was only scratching ever so softly at his hyungs cute bellybutton. Due to the amount of ticklishness Jinnie was feeling, the younger only kept up his act for a little longer before stopping and getting off of his hyung. Hyunjin laid there for a moment, catching his breath and getting out the giggles he still had. "Y-yohOhou ahAhre the wohohorst-!!" Hyunjin said, finishing up his little giggle fit. Felix pretended to act offended. "Well thats what you get for lying to me, hyung!! I know you have my paints!!" The older one chuckled before getting up and going into his drawer, taking out Felix's paints. "Yeah yeah, okay kiddo. Here you go~" Hyunjin handed back the youngers paints, smiling. Lix giggled and took the paints from his Hyung. "Thank you!!" The freckled boy was on his way to walk out of Hyunjin's room, but he stopped and looked back towards his friend. "Hey.. do you think maybe I could paint a portrait of you, hyung? I was orignally gonna draw the nature in our backyard, but you're a lot more prettier!" he said, smiling. This made Hyunjin happy. "Really? Of course you can! I'm too stunning to say no!" The older joked before grabbing Felix's hand, walking out of the room together.

[eastwindmlk]

Hi! Amnesia for the WIP game? 👀

Excellent choice! This also comes with a little background because technically I've had this laying around for give or take five years. And the plunny keeps hopping by every once in a while. But I'm never quite sure where I want this story to go and now it lives in limbo between my WIP folder and my graveyard.

Set in 7th year. James gets into a quidditch accident and loses part of his memory. Specifically people, only remembering bits and pieces but unable to connect them to the figures he finds at his bedside. Lily teams up with his friends and teammates to try and restore what was lost. But can they? Or is their friend forever changed.

There isn't much written but I wrote the opening paragraphs. So, there you go!

It wasn’t entirely out of the ordinary to find Lily Evans roaming around the hospital wing; she had taken an interest in the art of healing when her father had gotten ill. The matron had gladly taken her in and had the redhead help out. She had seen potential in the girl with her gentle disposition, deft hands and proclivity for potions. She could be a great healer, if she chose to pursue the path once she graduated. Though her visits in the past three days had not been to shadow the nurse and help out with the people that needed no immediate attention. No, she had a purpose this time.

Quidditch was always a tricky time and usually one or two students would end up needing some ointment for bruises or the setting of a bone. It rarely ever ended in blood. Though this game was bad. Lily had been there from the moment James wrapped his lucky scarf around her neck and said something silly to the moment that the teachers helped carry him in, bleeding from a bad blow to the head. The Gryffindor girl had busied herself with fetching towels and shooing away the people that had no use being there. Even if it broke her heart to see the pain in their eyes as they peered across the ward to the closed curtains and the stained uniform that lay discarded on the chair.

It had been three days since they had rushed in here and Lily had been by his side for most of it. The boys and her trading shifts to make sure that someone would be awake when he would finally open his eyes. So, there she sat on the uncomfortable chair that had become her home, flicking through some sappy romance novel Mary had brought her. She was deep into a chapter that was probably not meant for the eyes of a teen when it finally happened. In a whirl the raven haired boy sat up, looking nine shades of green and about to empty his already empty stomach.

The book fell on the ground with a dull thud as she guided him back into the pillows. If he only took a moment to breathe it should be fine. Taking a deep breath herself she found his glasses and put on a smile, despite the fact that her heart was hammering in her chest. “Very funny, Potter.” She replied as he asked who she was, taking the water from his bedside and setting the glass to his lips. “Drink this and slowly sit up. I’ll go get the nurse.” She mused, shaking her head a little as she slid off the bed convinced this was just him taking the opportunity to play a prank, as usual. She never could have guessed that there was nothing funny about what was about to be happening.

[firecoloredwater]

Fic authors self rec!

Oh boy I've been tagged twice now, by @planeoftheeclectic and @denialcity. Thank you both!

(And uh, since I somehow didn't actually get notifications for either of those and just noticed while scrolling, if anyone else has tagged me in... anything, really, and I didn't respond, sorry about that! Tumblr is being tumblr apparently.)

Rules: Fic authors self rec! When you get this, reply with your favorite five fics that you've written, then pass this onto other writers. Let’s spread the self-love 💖

Going to tag uhhhh @domoz @asukaskerian and uhhh what's a people I've never met a people in my life. what's a tag. I'll go shake discord a bit and come back with more tags in a reblog probably.

Fics!

These are... not in any particular order of preference, I will just make question marks for a year if I try to sort them that way, so this is just the order I grabbed the links in. Which means newest to oldest.

1: Roots Grow Up - Naruto (Founders)

I still don't like the title, but I like basically everything else in this fic (including one detail I've decided on but not posted yet so... can't say). I am planning to add more, but the first chapter (which is all that's posted now) stands alone pretty well, since I wasn't sure whether I'd continue it at all when I first posted it.

The premise is that Kawarama didn't die, but instead lost his memory and has been living as a civilian farmer when Hashirama and Tobirama find him, a few years after founding Konoha. 0 people were prepared for this discovery.

Summary:

It's been fifteen years since Isamu was found, badly injured and unconscious in the forest. He woke up with amnesia, but his origin was pretty obvious, so he doesn't even miss the memories. It's been fifteen years. He's grown up, earned a place in the town that took him in, and even gotten married. His not-so-mysterious past doesn't matter. Not until shinobi wander into town, anyway.

2: Blessed Sacrifice AU - Naruto (Founders)

Cowritten with @codedredalert aka @denialcity, on hiatus while we both deal with Life, but there's a large and excellent chunk up already and so many cool things planned. So many!!!

Also, turns out I REALLY LIKE cowriting. Which is kind of old news because I've been doing forum RP for a decade+, but I wasn't sure if that would translate to fic. Turns out the answer is definitely yes.

BSAU is basically taking the "red eyes blessed" trope and digging into the like... worldbuilding repercussions of that, as shown through Izuna. And also crows.

Also comes with LOTS of fantastic art from Red!

Summary:

Mythology-religion freeform AU where Tobirama is considered blessed by the gods by the Uchiha, but they still need to deal with him as an enemy, so Izuna is ritually disowned from the Uchiha and given a special role responsible for protecting/fighting him.

3: Somebody Else's Dream - Girl Genius

Written as a gift for khilari! I can't remember what the exact prompt was, but I ended up writing an elaboration on the canon detail that Mechanicsburg was founded when a Heterodyne decided he wanted a town, so he just had his people build one.

The main character is an OC who was kidnapped to become a non-military member of the town, and the story is about how he ends up settling in. It's a very weird balance of a "finding your place in the world" story and "this is still kidnapping actually," and I don't think it would work in most fandoms, but since Girl Genius canon is a perpetual balance of heartwarming and "wow that is somehow worse than a war crime" already, I think it worked out really well, and I'm still very proud of it.

Also I suffered over the accents in this. But it worked!

Summary:

Faustus Heterodyne wants civilians for his newly built town. What the civilians want is generally different.

4: Jager Search - Girl Genius

Also written as a gift, this time for sparkagatha. It's the future, *vague handwave* everything is resolved, the OT3 are together and Klaus has accepted that he can leave Agatha alone and the revenants are being cured, happily ever after.

...except that some of the "wild" jagers are still missing. So Agatha sets out to find them.

Not much to say really; I can see spots where I'd write it differently if I wrote it now, but that's mostly things like "would have slightly changed the characterization," not big issues, and overall it still holds up very well for being... close to eight years old.

Summary:

Most of the detached jägers heard of the Heterodyne's return and came home, but a few are still missing. Agatha learns this, and decides to fix it.

5: Didn't Dream This - Death Note

Oh if I wrote this now tumblr would annihilate me. ~Problematic~ yay!

I'm not sure I'd say this is a good fic--if I was writing it now I'd write it so differently that it just would be a different fic--but I was clearly working out something about sexuality and relationships and the stuff (not) in my head that I've ended up labeling "being aro."

Basically: Mello and Matt are straight, and they decide to be together anyway. I'm glad I wrote it, partly because I know I wouldn't think or dare to write it now.

Summary:

Mello doesn't want to die alone. Solutions can exist without working out the way anyone wants. (Psychologically intimate interaction is really a better description than romance.)

[late-to-the-magnus-archives]

Blood and sand - Chapter Fourteen

Okay, so this already wasn’t great. Luke didn’t want Parker stuck in this place. Luke didn’t want to be stuck in this place. Of course that left another possibility—one that stung, and made his eyes water. “Could you let Parker go, if you gave him back to me, so he’d go free?”

“No.”

Ah. “Why not?” said Luke, very tiny.

“He is a lever, little human,” said Hastur.

A lever? For what? That made no sense. Luke wiped his eyes.

Written for the @malevolentmadnessmixup. Art by @aktrashpanda.

>>>>READ ON AO3 OR BELOW<<<<

----------

Chapter Fourteen: Hastur

For once, Hastur was visible immediately. Usually, he pretended not to be here, allowing Luke to wander and take in the stained glass before appearing, dramatically, from the dark. Not this time. Hastur sat upon his throne beneath the upside-down rendition of a city that no longer was, waiting.

This was different from other times. Maybe it was the way Hastur sat, his gold robe blinding against his black throne, his many limbs splayed and spread artistically as some kind of regal cape. Maybe it was in the sparking of his crown, the way it seemed to cut into the very air. Maybe it was the way he raised one enormous hand and beckoned Luke closer.

"Will you walk into my parlour?" said a spider to a fly, Luke remembered, a quote from some textbook a few years ago.

Well. Hastur hadn’t eaten him yet. Luke approached.

The Dancers stood, dappled and strangely shadowed beneath the blazing stained-glass windows, forming two sharp, golden rows for him to walk between. He swallowed.

Hastur waited.

The last steps cost him. Luke trembled, fighting back all the old feelings of being in trouble, of failing expectations, because that wasn’t the case here, he knew he’d done nothing wrong, he’d gone above and beyond—

“Little human,” said Hastur. “Come closer.”

Oh, boy.

Luke did.

Hastur picked him up.

It wasn’t the first time. It was still startling, to be gripped by something so heavy and strong, like all the muscle in the world compressed into one dark tube. The raw power of this god was still frightening on the same level that wild storms and oceans were, like a train heading right for him; yet Luke chose to believe Hastur would not hurt him. Luke took a breath. “Is everything all right?”

“First,” said Hastur, and healed him.

It was flawless. The bacteria was purged from his system, and the lingering sickness. Instantly, he felt good, clean, relieved, as if his blood had been flushed with cool water. “You can heal?” Luke gasped.

“Yes, little human,” said Hastur (and amused surely meant Luke was not in trouble).

“You’re like me!” Luke said.

Hastur laughed. That awful chuckle, so dark and wicked. “No,” he said. “You are human; all of you can, to some extent, call upon external forces to create magic. Some of you—rare, and usually due to something other than human in your blood—can also call upon your own reserves to make magic, though it is limited. I am a god, little human. To me, different magics are the same as different notes in a scale. I merely sing them, and so I wield power.”

That took a moment to process. “Oh,” Luke said.

“It seems, however, that you have more than one primary gift,” said Hastur, lifting him closer to the mask. “In fact, it could be the primary, and your healing abilities feed from it.”

Luke was lost. “What do you mean?”

“Child. You show a skill for fleshcrafting.”

Luke knew at once this was what he’d done to John, though he’d never heard the term in his life. “Fleshcrafting?”

“Very rare,” Hastur mumbled as if to himself, and the tip of one tentacle brushed Luke’s sweaty hair from his forehead. “I have known humans who could do this, but not often; and I have never, ever seen a feat such as what you did last night.”

Last night? He’d been unconscious that long? “I… I didn’t do much.”

“On the contrary. You not only healed Arthur Lester,” and the disgust as he said that name was palpable, “but you also untangled John—a thing I was unable to do—and provided him a home so he did not return to the Dark World. You did so using the bodies of the dead. None of them were complete; none of them should work together. Yet, you made them do so, and he is whole.” A pause. “As whole as he can be, all things considered.”

Hastur hadn't been able to do that?

It wasn't a power-thing. Luke had a memory—vague—of untangling a ball of yarn for his mother, his tiny fingers able to get at knots adult hands simply could not.

Luke had to ask. He had to. “Is John the piece you’re missing?”

That pleased rumble rose. “Was it that obvious?”

Sarcasm, Luke thought. Ah-ha. “Yes. He speaks with your voice.”

“Do you know, little human,” said Hastur, “that I did not know he was here?”

Luke stared at him. “You knew he was close, though. Was he that well-hidden in Arthur?”

“Oh, not at all,” said Hastur, his many limbs sliding over one another, gently undulating. “I’ve paid very little attention to who fights at my behest of late. It seemed… pointless. They’d all eventually die, so why know their names or faces? I haven’t been watching.”

Hadn’t been watching? Hadn’t been watching? They’d been fighting and dying for him, and he hadn’t been watching?

This was not normal. This sounded like melancholia—depression like grief—and Luke didn’t know how to heal it. “Oh,” he said in a small voice. “So… I found him. Can I have Parker back?”

“Sweet little human. No,” said Hastur. “You have not convinced him to rejoin me.”

“Wouldn’t he… already want to do that?” said Luke.

Instead of answering, Hastur stroked his hair again. “So rare,” he murmured. “I think I will keep you, after all.”

Which could mean whatever arrangement Dennis had with Hastur, or Oscar had with Lilith, and Luke didn’t know what that really meant. “I… I’m not here for a job, sir.”

Hastur laughed darkly. “It would be your life, rather than a mere career.”

Luke wriggled a little. This was… a lot. “I… sir, that’s not why I’m here.”

“And if I gave you your brother in payment?” said Hastur as casually as anything.

Luke went stiff as a board.

He wanted that. He wanted that with everything in his soul. He wanted that so badly that he almost shouted yes right away, and even two months ago, he would have, but…

But.

He had to think. He was no child, no knee-jerk kid who’d just throw himself into something without question. He swallowed. “If you gave me Parker back, could we leave?”

“No.”

Okay, so this already wasn’t great. Luke didn’t want Parker stuck in this place. Luke didn’t want to be stuck in this place. Of course that left another possibility—one that stung, and made his eyes water. “Could you let Parker go, if you gave him back to me, so he’d go free?”

“No.”

Ah. “Why not?” said Luke, very tiny.

“He is a lever, little human,” said Hastur.

A lever? For what? That made no sense. Luke wiped his eyes.

Parker was on offer right now, without having to finish the games. Parker… could be trapped here. Surrounded by horror. Unable to go and help people the way he always had.

Crying was stupid. It wouldn’t help. Luke still couldn’t seem to stop.

Hastur wiped away his tears, waiting while his breath hitched, silent, weirdly hungry for a reply.

Think, Luke bid himself. Think! And it hit him: Parker wouldn’t take this deal. At the very least, Parker always kept his word, and Luke had promised to help Arthur all the way to the end of the Games. Luke wiped his face again. “I have to continue. I have to keep going.”

“You seem to think you have some choice here, little human,” said Hastur, which might have been a threat, but it didn’t feel like one. It felt more like testing the waters. It felt more like Hastur was so happy not to be bored (or depressed, or depressed and bored) that this conversation was tasty to him.

“I gave my word,” said Luke. “Parker wouldn’t abandon his partner, and I won’t, either.”

Hastur went still. “Arthur Lester.” He said the name like it tasted terrible.

“Yes,” said Luke. “He’s kept his word to me.”

“He’s an awful human being,” said Hastur.

“Why?”

“He kept my other half from me!” Hastur growled that, and the room rumbled.

Luke frowned. “But you said John needs to be convinced to rejoin you. That’s not Arthur’s choice. That’s John’s.”

“Don’t you see that you’ve fallen under his influence the same way my other half has?” Hastur warned, growling, and the mass of his limbs twisted and slid faster over and through itself.

This was so far out of Luke’s league. All he could do was stick to his guns, and try to retain honor. “I gave my word,” he said. “This is about me. About… about who I am.”

That had an impact. “And you keep your word,” Hastur finally said.

“Yes, I do.” Luke raised his chin.

Hastur gripped it, holding his face still. “Do you understand what you are choosing?”

Um… “Yes, sir.”

“Only one can win the Games.”

And no one had yet. “I know, sir.”

“You’re throwing away your life.”

No, no, damn it, no. “You can change it. It’s your rules! You could make it different,” said Luke.

A pause. Hastur went entirely still, a billowing ocean frozen as a portrait. “Not anymore.”

Luke stared. “Why not?”

“I… ensured the games would reach completion,” said Hastur slowly. “I ensured it with my own power, and sealed it with my blood. This arena is an extension of myself. Even if I die, the Games will continue, and only one can stand in the end. The winner will then have their wish, even if I am no longer here.”

Luke’s eyes went wider than they ever had. “You…” He looked. “You’re not sick,” he said in a small voice.

“My kind does not die from illness.” Hastur began moving again, very slowly. “I tire, little human. I tire very much.”

Luke's heart ached.

He'd thought the conversation was already too deep and terrible. This… this was like opening a closet and finding a dead body. “Don’t die,” Luke whispered.

“Be mine,” said Hastur. “I will keep you well. I will give to you your brother. You will be happy.”

It was tempting.

But Luke suddenly knew, deep in himself, in the secret, quiet place that would eventually be him grown, that he would not be enough.

He was new. He was weird. Hastur was fascinated for now, but that wouldn’t last. Luke could not preserve him.

He wracked his brain. There had to be another way. This couldn’t be happening.

Hastur waited, silent, brushing Luke’s hair away from his face.

Luke frowned, eyes narrowed, thinking hard. “You said the last one standing.”

“Yes.”

That was it! Luke looked up, and he smiled. “So they don’t have to be dead. Just the only one who’s standing.”

The King in Yellow startled. His whole being sort of went stiff, not quite a jump, but definitely a pause. “Death is implied.”

“You didn’t say dead or alive,” Luke pointed out.

Hastur’s sigh was heavy. “And you are intelligent, too.” He turned his head away, eyes glinting in thought behind his mask.

Luke waited. This was one of those times that interrupting would not help.

“Until this moment, little human, I would have insisted on death for victory,” Hastur said, low. “But what does it matter? You have pleased me. Moreso, you have revealed the presence of one I thought beyond my reach.”

“John,” said Luke.

“Yes. Therefore, here is my suggestion—a compromise, offered from respect.”

Luke swallowed. A god compromising seemed like a pretty big deal. “Yes, sir.”

“I will return you to the Games. If you can convince John to join me, this will all be moot, but in the far more likely scenario that he will refuse, you must win… even if it means no one else is dead,” Hastur rumbled, sounding deeply invested now. “Do so, and I will grant your wish. No further bloodshed be needed. If you are willing to do this, then I will give you your brother, and you will work for me, as intended. Your brother will be free to come and go as he pleases; but you will be mine.”

Wow.

So it wasn’t… the best deal. He’d still have to say goodbye to Parker. His imagined future (in another city, making magic, saving lives together) would never come to pass. But it was a compromise; and Parker would be alive, and free. And Luke had the feeling (possibly because of the way the Dancers shifted, whispering to one another) that compromises were not often made here. “Deal.”

“Good boy.” Hastur offered his enormous hand.

Luke shook it, his arm swallowed to the elbow.

A slight zap tickled his system, some kind of magical something. It wasn’t harmful; it wasn’t a curse. It was some kind of magical binding, and faded after a moment.

“Our deal is complete.” And at long last, Hastur put him down. “Good luck.”

Ominous. “Thank you, sir,” said Luke, and decided to leave before anything got weirder in this strange place, or Hastur changed his mind. He had the very bad feeling that Hastur did that more often than he did much else these days.

[chapter fifteen] [masterpost]

[duck-in-a-thrift-store]

Alright guys here's the first room closeup (+ headcanons/notes), by popular demand:

~Mike & Will's room~

(Plz don't judge my choice of wall art I pretty much just picked it bc it matched the wallpaper colors and there weren't a lot of good options)

Ok so design details

I know yall see that blue and yellow, and the green in the middle. All very intentional. The bed w/ the yellow blanket is Will's & the one w/ the blue blanket is Mike's. They sit on the rug when they're having their little heart-to-hearts that the rest of the party never seem to be a part of for "some reason"

Also, these boys wear a lot of fuckin stripes, so. Blue and yellow striped wallpaper? Green striped rug? Idk man it was screaming byler what can I say

And then there's a record player or whatever on the dresser between them, bc as we all know Will is a music guy and Mike lets Will do whatever he wants even if that means keeping him up listening to his favorite song all night bc he'd never forgive himself if Vecna somehow got Will bc Mike made him turn it off*

*So, to explain what that's all about: after his repeated failed attempts with Max, One went after Will next bc y'know, lots of trauma, easy target, etc (at least that's what the mf thought, I'm pretty sure Will lowkey has powers or smthn)

(This happened before the start of the au btw so it's just sort of background info, it might be mentioned but it won't be happening in present)

But anyway Will almost got Vecna'd and it was partially Mike's fault bc they got in a fight, Mike said smthn stupid and Will ran off, we know the drill (Mike still blames himself for it even tho they made up & Will forgave him and is fine)

Mike kinda lost his shit, honestly I'm thinking in his terror he pushed El too hard to save Will (when she was already doing her best obviously bc that's her brother) and that was part of why they broke up bc even El realized he cared more about Will than her- Mike is pretty much the only one who doesn't know yet lol

And they all survived obviously but now they're both kinda extra paranoid about it and even though they've moved far away and One hasn't followed them they still worry that some day he might track them down, so they fall into a (compulsive) habit of playing Will's favorite songs on repeat

(I'm not giving you his fav songs bc first of all I can't even decide my own fav song and also it just feels really presumptuous like that's too personal of a thing for me to decide for somebody else. I take music very seriously & very personally ok. Funnily enough tho I am listening to "should I stay or should I go" at this very moment)

Anywho, moving along

That desk by the door is mostly used for coming up with new campaigns they don't want the others to spoil (it's ok for their roommate to have insider knowledge that's not an unfair advantage or anything and besides it just can't be helped y'know? /s) no but they do collaborate sometimes and they work so well together as storytellers that the others find it lowkey unsettling (Dustin and Lucas are used to it tho)

>tw: vaguely suicidal themes?

Someone, not thinking I guess, makes an offhand joke about them being on the ground floor so they don't have to worry about Mike jumping out the window, and Will, who somehow hadn't ever actually heard the whole "quarry story," asks what that's supposed to mean and then they very awkwardly have to explain and he's basically like "oh my god what the hell that's not fucking funny why would you joke about that" and for a while after learning about it he's extra conscious of any self-deprecating/self-sacrificing type shit Mike says

Also they have "crazy together" written somewhere in the room no one else will see it. It's uncertain where, or whose idea it was, or why they did it, but they did. Probably to sort of make the room feel more like it was claimed as *theirs* after having to move to a new house far away from familiarity, and as a reminder to always be there for each other when times are tough

[nel-world]

EXT. UNIVERSITY PARK - DAY

A vibrant green space in the heart of the city, filled with students studying, playing frisbee, and enjoying the nice weather.

ANITA, 20s, a caffeine-fueled art student with a quirky sense of style, rushes through at a jog. She's precariously balancing too many bags, books, and a to-go coffee.

Up ahead, BILL, 20s, an aspiring actor/filmmaker with an easygoing charisma, walks in the opposite direction, headphones on.

Anita bumps into Bill, scattering her belongings. Her student ID falls to the ground. Bill stoops down to pick it up as Anita hurriedly gathers her things.

BILL Hey, you dropped—

But Anita is already rushing off, unaware she's lost her ID. Bill examines the photo, intrigued.

EXT. OUTSIDE UNIVERSITY HALL - LATER

Bill lingers outside, clutching Anita's ID card. Students pour out of the building. Anita emerges, head down, avoiding eye contact.

INT. PARK - DAY

BILL Anita?

ANITA (checks her purse) Oh wait, thanks for finding the card.

BILL I'm Bill. I take classes at a studio close by.

ANITA (relaxing a bit) Yeah, I think I've seen you around…

BILL Listen, crazy question—do you know where Jane's Carousel is? I wanted to get some pictures, but I'm lost.

ANITA Sure, it's not far. I could… show you? If you want?

BILL (smiling) Sure, I'd like that.

EXT. BRIDGE - DAY (Both sitting on a bench.)

BILL Any plans for later?

ANITA I'm planning to watch a movie with my friends.

BILL Which movie are you going to watch?

ANITA Avengers. I love movies; I like watching them.

BILL I love movies too. What's your favorite film?

ANITA No, I won't answer that.

BILL That's an easy question.

ANITA No, I don't want to be judged.

BILL What? I promise I won't judge you.

Anita shows a poster on her phone.

ANITA Dear John is my favorite movie.

BILL Are you kidding? Are you serious?

ANITA What? I love that movie. Maybe you should ask yourself why you seem to be criticizing a film that lots of women love.

BILL (SARCASTIC TONE) Actually, it's not bad. I love it. I would love to watch Dear John again.

EXT. TRAIN STATION - DAY

Anita and Bill walk towards the train.

ANITA I take the train here.

BILL Cool, see you later.

Bill watches Anita board the train.

EXT. NYC PARK - DAY

ANITA Where did you get that hat from?

BILL You don't like this hat?

ANITA It's funny-looking. Maybe it will look better another way. Hold this.

Anita adjusts the hat. Bill looks at himself on his phone camera.

ANITA Better now.

cut to

GIRL (Grinning) If you could only eat one food forever, what would it be?

BOY (Quickly) Pizza. No contest.

GIRL (Laughing) What if it had pineapple?

BOY (Horrified) That’s a crime against humanity.

Anita notices something in Bill's hair.

ANITA You've got a ladybug in your hair!

Bill tries to brush it off.

ANITA Wait, wait! It's a sign of good luck! Make a wish and then blow it away.

Bill closes his eyes and silently makes a wish.

ANITA Hey, what did you wish for?

BILL If I told you, it wouldn't come true.

ANITA Come on, tell me!

BILL Okay, fine. (takes a deep breath) I wish I get the funding for a project I'm working on.

ANITA Wow, I would love to watch that. What's it about?

BILL It's about…

EXT. STREET - DAY

Anita and Bill stroll down the street and come across an old brick-like building. Anita playfully smirks.

ANITA You know what would be fun? Let's go inside and take a look around.

BILL You mean, inside there?

ANITA This place has a certain magic to it, don't you think?

ANITA You should write something; we can shoot a YouTube reel. Something bold, something that grabs the audience.

BILL I haven't written anything good in a while…

ANITA Well, time's ticking. Think of something. How about this? I'm a real estate agent, you're a potential buyer—annoying, but with potential.

BILL (unsure) Sure?

ANITA Let's improvise a scene but with some music in the background.

Anita, with a smirk, plays a song on her phone. She starts dancing, they dance together.

//

EXT. NEIGHBORHOOD SPORTS FIELD - DAY

Boy and girl play baseball with friends, joking and supporting each other.

GIRL (Breathless) I did it!

BOY (Proudly) You sure did. Amazing!

EXT. BASEBALL STADIUM - DAY

The boy passionately explains baseball to the girl, and they share laughs and moments of understanding.

Bill and Anita continue their day together, sharing dreams and fears, creating an undeniable bond. INT. LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

Boy and girl watch a classic sports match, getting excited together.

GIRL (Laughing) I get why you love this—it’s like being part of something bigger.

BOY (Smiling) Exactly. It’s about the journey.

//

Anita is sitting in front of a computer, editing a scene from a Hindi movie. Bill is beside her, looking at the screen, a bit puzzled.

BILL So, what's going on here?

ANITA This is a Hindi film I'm doing ADR and subtitles for. The dialogue is a bit tricky to translate.

BILL (curious) Can I help? I don't know Hindi, but I can try with the technical stuff.

ANITA (smiling) Sure! Actually, I need to sync the subtitles with the dialogue. It’s just tedious timing work. If you want to take over, I'll handle the translations.

Bill takes the mouse and begins adjusting the subtitles.

BILL Alright, so when she says… “Mujhe tumse pyaar hai”—that means…?

ANITA (laughs) That means “I love you.”

BILL Oh, okay! Romantic scene… Got it.

They work together, syncing the dialogue and subtitles. Anita is impressed by how quickly Bill catches on.

ANITA You’re pretty good at this. Maybe you’ve found your new calling—subtitle guru!

BILL (laughing) Or maybe it’s just because I have the best teacher.

They share a smile and continue working, enjoying each other’s company.

INT. SMALL STUDIO - LATE AFTERNOON

Anita and Bill are sitting in front of the computer. Anita is focused on a new scene where a Hindi actor angrily shouts at another character. Bill watches intently, trying to follow along.

BILL (listening closely) So… what's he saying now?

ANITA (translating) He's saying, "Tumhari himmat kaise hui?" — which means, "How dare you?"

BILL (nodding, amused) Got it. Looks intense.

ANITA Yeah, it's a dramatic confrontation. We need to time the subtitles to match the pace of the dialogue. It’s important to capture the intensity.

BILL (playfully) I think I can handle that. I’ve got the pacing down from watching soap operas with my grandma.

Anita laughs, appreciating his enthusiasm. Bill clicks through the timeline, making adjustments to the subtitle cues.

ANITA Not bad, Bill. You're getting the hang of it.

BILL (smirking) Well, if this acting thing doesn’t work out, maybe I’ll switch to subtitling Hindi dramas.

ANITA (grinning) Or we could make our own drama.

BILL (playfully dramatic) "And you, how dare you suggest such a thing!"

They both laugh and continue their work, clearly enjoying the moment.

INT. SMALL STUDIO - NIGHT

The room is dimly lit, the only light coming from the computer screen. They’re working on an emotional scene where a mother bids farewell to her son.

BILL (curious) What’s she saying now?

ANITA (softly) She’s saying, "Mera beta, mujhe mat chhodo," which means, "My son, don’t leave me."

Bill adjusts the subtitle, his face reflecting the emotion of the scene.

BILL Wow… that’s heavy. I didn’t realize subtitling could be this… moving.

ANITA (nodding) Yeah, it’s not just about words. It’s about the emotion behind them. We have to convey that in another language.

Bill pauses, thinking.

BILL (thoughtfully) Kind of like acting, right? Finding the truth in the lines.

ANITA (smiling) Exactly. You get it.

They share a moment of understanding, their bond deepening as they continue their work.

INT. SMALL STUDIO - DAY

Anita is focused on a new scene where a character speaks in rapid-fire Hindi, while Bill tries to keep up.

BILL (laughing) Whoa, slow down! What’s going on here?

ANITA (chuckling) He’s complaining about everything — the food, the weather, the traffic… classic Mumbai rant.

BILL (teasing) Sounds like he could fit right in here in New York.

ANITA (laughing) True! The challenge here is to capture the humor without losing the cultural references.

BILL (nodding) Okay, so we keep the essence but find equivalents that make sense in English.

ANITA (impressed) Exactly! You’re a quick learner.

BILL (smiling) Only because you’re a great teacher.

They continue, brainstorming English phrases that match the humor of the original dialogue, clearly enjoying the creative challenge.

INT. SMALL STUDIO - EVENING

Anita and Bill are working on a scene involving a romantic dance number. The music plays softly in the background as they watch the screen.

BILL (curious) So, what’s the story here?

ANITA (grinning) She’s confessing her love, but in a very poetic way. It's like, "Tumhare bina, zindagi ek adhoori kitaab jaisi hai," which means, "Without you, life is like an incomplete book."

BILL (smiling) That’s beautiful. How do we keep that poetry in the subtitles?

ANITA (thoughtfully) We have to choose words that capture the feeling, not just the literal meaning. Maybe… "Without you, life is an unfinished story."

BILL (nodding) Yeah, that works. Keeps the romance alive.

Anita makes the changes, glancing at Bill with appreciation.

ANITA You know, I think you’re really getting the hang of this.

BILL (grinning) Maybe we’re just a good team.

They share a smile, continuing their work with a newfound rhythm and connection.

INT. DANCE STUDIO - DAY

Anita leads a dance class, counting out beats as her STUDENTS follow along. Though skilled, she seems distracted, glancing at her phone. One of her STUDENTS, JESSICA, 20s, outgoing, notices Anita's wandering focus.

JESSICA Everything okay, Anita? You seem…elsewhere today.

Anita forces a reassuring smile, pocketing her phone.

ANITA Just some stuff on my mind, but I'm good. Let's take it from the top!

As class resumes, Anita tries to push whatever's distracting her aside. But we sense she's holding something back…

INT. AUDITION ROOM - DAY

Bill performs a dramatic monologue for a STERN CASTING DIRECTOR. Though talented, he struggles to fully inhabit the emotional depth of the scene.

CASTING DIRECTOR Ok, let's take it again from "But I love her…" Really dig into those underlying emotions. Don't just say the words.

Bill nods, fueled by quiet determination. As he resets, his mind drifts to Anita…

EXT. CENTRAL PARK - DAY

/////

INT. SMALL COFFEE SHOP - MORNING

They discuss starting a business together, sharing ideas and excitement for their future.

GIRL (Passionately) Let’s dive in and see where it takes us.

BOY (Determined) Let’s do it.

INT. EMPTY SHOP SPACE - AFTERNOON

NICK You’ve been quiet today. Everything okay?

JENNA Yeah, I’m fine. Actually, there’s something I’ve been thinking about. An idea I wanted to run by you.

Nick raises an eyebrow, curious.

NICK Oh? Go ahead.

JENNA You know how we both love music? I’ve been dreaming of opening a café—a place where people can relax, have coffee, and listen to live music. Not just any café, though. A community spot for local artists, a place where people feel at home..

Nick listens, intrigued but cautious.

NICK A music café… That’s a big step. Have you thought about the costs, the planning… everything?

JENNA (nods) I know it’s a lot, but I think we could make it work.

Nick leans in, still a bit hesitant.

NICK It’s a big commitment. We’d have to go all in. Are you sure?

JENNA Absolutely. If we don’t try, we’ll always wonder "what if?" I think it’s worth the risk.

Nick searches her face, then smiles as the idea takes hold.

NICK You know what? You’re right. Let’s do it. Let’s build the best music café this city has ever seen.

Jenna beams and grabs his hand.

JENNA I knew you’d get it! This is going to be amazing!

The camera pulls back, capturing their shared excitement.

NICK (grinning) Guess we should start with a name. How about “Nick and Jenna’s Awesome Café?”

JENNA (teasing) Yeah, no. But we’ll figure it out. First, let’s find a place and get started.

They begin excitedly discussing plans as the camera pulls back, leaving them in the warm, bustling diner.

INT. JENNA'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - EVENING

Nick and Jenna sit at a small table, papers, notebooks, and a laptop spread out before them. A large whiteboard stands against the wall, filled with sketches, lists, and ideas for their music café.

NICK (playfully serious) Okay, so we’ve got a name to figure out, a location to scout, and about a million other things to do.

JENNA (excitedly) Right! I’ve been thinking about some potential spots. There’s this little corner space on 5th Avenue that I think could be perfect.

Nick nods, scribbling notes.

NICK That sounds promising. We should look into the lease costs, permits, and renovation expenses. We’ll need to set a budget for all of that.

Jenna leans over and taps the whiteboard.

JENNA And we need a business plan. We should figure out our target audience, the type of music we want to feature, and how we’ll market ourselves. We need to make this place a magnet for music lovers.

NICK (nodding) Right. What about our menu? Coffee, light bites… Maybe even themed nights with different types of music?

JENNA (smiling) Exactly! And I was thinking about partnering with local bakeries for fresh pastries. That way, we support other small businesses too.

Nick grins, his enthusiasm growing.

NICK Nice! And we could also host open mic nights for local talent. Make it a real community hub.

JENNA (excited) Yes! We could even do workshops—like songwriting classes or music production tutorials. Make it a place where people not only enjoy music but also learn and grow.

NICK And maybe live-stream some of the performances. Reach a bigger audience.

Jenna’s eyes light up at the idea.

JENNA That’s brilliant! I love it. We could build a social media following that way, get people excited even before we open.

Nick nods, jotting everything down.

NICK Okay, so we need to put all of this into a formal business plan—budget projections, marketing strategy, funding sources. Do you know anyone who could help us with that?

JENNA (thinking) I have a friend who’s an accountant. I could ask for some advice on the financials.

NICK Great. And I’ll start looking into potential investors. Maybe we can get some local sponsors or a small business loan.

They pause, looking at the whiteboard, which is now filled with notes and plans. There’s a shared sense of determination and excitement between them.

JENNA (grinning) I can’t believe we’re really doing this.

NICK (smiling) Me neither. But it’s going to be incredible.

JENNA (pumping a fist in the air) To Nick and Jenna’s… well, something café. We’ll figure out the name later.

EXT. PARK BENCH - DAY

INT. STUDIO - DAY They visualize their future business in a new space, feeling excited about the possibilities.

Bill and Anita are surrounded by scattered papers, their BUSINESS PLAN for the musical is in disarray.

BILL (annoyed) Where is Section 3? The pages marked with red need to go in the "Urgent" folder, and the ones marked in blue go in "Follow-up."

ANITA (frustrated) Sorry about the mess. It's been a bit chaotic.

BILL (tightly controlled) I usually keep things organized. Every step needs its place.

ANITA (raising an eyebrow) Are you implying that I'm the one creating the chaos here?

BILL (defensive) No, I just think if we kept everything in the right folders, we wouldn't be wasting time looking for it.

ANITA (mocking) Oh, so you want me to be your personal filing assistant now?

She starts gathering the papers, her irritation evident.

BILL (sighing, softer) I'm sorry. Let me help you…

He reaches to assist her, tension still hanging in the air.

Bill joins Anita in organizing the papers, their movements becoming more coordinated as they work together.

NT. MUSIC CAFE - DAY

Bill is excitedly flipping through his sketches and notes, filled with ideas for their new music cafe concept. Anita sits across from him, looking skeptical.

BILL (grinning) I’ve been working on some ideas for the music cafe. I think you’re going to love them. Imagine props, LED screens — we make a real splash, something unforgettable!

ANITA (firmly) I don’t think the cafe needs all these props, Bill. They don’t fit the vibe. It’s about creating a space that feels real and intimate.

BILL (frustrated) I’m just trying to make it stand out! You’re so focused on keeping it simple that you’re missing the chance to make a real impact.

ANITA (raising her voice) This isn't about making an impact with flashy gimmicks! It’s about the experience, about staying true to the music, to the story we want to tell.

BILL (defensive) I’m giving everything to this. I’ve mapped out the whole concept, thought about every detail. Maybe if you weren’t so stuck on your vision, you’d see the bigger picture. I’m trying to bring something fresh, something people will talk about.

ANITA (voice trembling) I liked some of your ideas, like incorporating more local artists, but you don’t get to decide what’s fresh or exciting for me. This cafe is personal. I’ve been dreaming about this for years, and it feels like you’re just looking for your big break.

BILL (shouting) Maybe I am trying to make something of myself! I want this to be more than just another quiet, low-key spot. I want it to be bold, to get noticed. If you can’t handle that, maybe we’re not even on the same page!

ANITA (steady, but hurt) Maybe we’re not. I thought we were partners, but now it feels like you’re more interested in your own spotlight than what we’re building together.

BILL (angry) My own spotlight? I’m trying to make this place a success, but if you can’t see that, maybe this whole partnership was a mistake!

ANITA (tears in her eyes) Maybe it was. I wanted us to create something special together, but if it’s going to be like this, maybe we’re better off on our own.

BILL (staring, hard) Fine. If that’s how you feel, then maybe we should just call it quits right here.

cut to

INT. MUSIC CAFE - DAY

Nick and Anita sit at a corner table in their music cafe, surrounded by sketches, business plans, and notes. There is tension in the air, but Nick is determined to set things right.

NICK (taking a deep breath) Let’s start fresh. I’ve been thinking… you know how there are places where people can go to write down their thoughts and pin them on the wall anonymously? It’s become really popular. Maybe we can create something similar here, but with a music twist.

ANITA (frowning) Yeah, I’ve seen those. People sharing their secrets for everyone to see. What does that have to do with the cafe?

NICK (excited) Think about it. A space where people can come in, listen to live music, and also share their stories anonymously. It’s a way to build a community, to create a sense of connection and emotional honesty.

ANITA (skeptical) So, you want people to come in, have coffee, and air out their personal stories on our walls?

NICK (defending) No, it’s more than that. It’s about giving people a voice, a place to express themselves through music and words. We could have nights where people read their stories, followed by live performances that reflect those emotions.

ANITA (firmly) Nick, this is starting to feel like another one of your big ideas to stand out. We don’t need to turn this into an emotional therapy session. The cafe is supposed to be about music, about creating a space for local artists to perform.

NICK (conceding) I get it. I just… I wanted to find a way to make it special, something different. But maybe I was missing the point.

Anita softens slightly, seeing the sincerity in his eyes.

ANITA (gently) I know you’re trying to make it work, but sometimes simple is better. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel to make this place great. It’s about the music, the people, and the vibe we create here.

NICK (sighing) You’re right. I’ve been overthinking it. I just didn’t want to mess this up, especially now.

ANITA (curious) Now? What do you mean?

NICK (confessing) I’ve been going through a rough patch. My rent’s overdue, my boss is furious, and my dad’s health is declining. I was putting everything into this project, hoping it might solve all my problems.

Anita’s expression shifts from frustration to empathy.

ANITA (softly) Why didn’t you tell me? We’re supposed to be a team.

NICK (emotionally) I didn’t want you to see me as weak. I wanted to be strong for us, but I’ve made mistakes. I just thought if I could make this perfect, it might fix everything.

ANITA (touching his hand) You don’t have to be perfect, Nick. We just need to be honest with each other.

Nick nods, then reaches for a stack of papers and hands them to Anita.

NICK I’ve been up all night, reworking the business plan, focusing on what really matters. I stripped out the flashy ideas and kept it simple. I even reached out to a friend who’s a marketing expert, and he’s agreed to help us promote the cafe for free.

Anita looks through the papers, touched by his effort.

ANITA (surprised) You did all this… for us?

NICK (earnestly) Yes. I believe in what we’re building here. Please, let’s give this another shot. Together.

Anita smiles, a sense of hope returning.

ANITA (smiling) Okay. Let’s give it another shot. Together.

NICK (grinning) Together. I promise.

cut to

BILL (softly) Anita… can we talk?

Anita looks up, her expression guarded, but she nods slightly.

BILL (sincerely) I’m sorry. I got carried away. I didn’t mean to push my ideas on you like that… or make it feel like I wasn’t respecting your vision.

Anita stays silent for a moment, then sighs, her shoulders relaxing a little.

ANITA (calmly) I know you want this place to be special. I do too. But it has to be something we both believe in, something that feels right for both of us.

BILL (nodding) You’re right. I let my own excitement get in the way of what we’re building together. I see that now. I don’t want to lose what we have — our partnership, our friendship.

He pauses, then continues with a softer tone.

BILL And I do believe in what you’re doing, in the story you want to tell with this cafe. Can we try again? Find a way to blend both our visions?

Anita’s expression softens. She takes a moment, then gives a small smile.

ANITA (softly) Okay. Let’s start over. But this time, let’s really listen to each other.

Bill smiles, relieved, and takes a seat across from her.

BILL (smiling) Deal. No more LED screens… unless you change your mind.

Anita chuckles, the tension easing between them.

ANITA (laughing lightly) Don’t push your luck.

INT. MUSIC CAFE - DAY

Anita and Bill sit at a small table in their music cafe, the atmosphere heavy with disappointment. The rejection letter from the bank is lying open on the table between them.

BILL (sighing deeply) Well, that didn’t go as planned.

Anita leans back in her chair, her arms crossed, frustration and concern etched across her face.

ANITA (sternly) We put everything into that plan. I thought we covered all the bases.

BILL (defensive) I know, but they said our projections were too optimistic. Maybe they’re right. Maybe we were a little too ambitious.

Anita shakes her head, her expression hardening.

ANITA (angrily) Too ambitious? Bill, we’re trying to create something different, something that’s going to stand out. Of course, we’re going to aim high.

BILL (softly) I get that, but without this loan, we don’t have the funds to cover the renovations, the equipment… everything we need to open.

Anita looks down, trying to contain her frustration.

ANITA (exhaling) So, what do we do now? Just give up?

BILL (quickly) No, not at all. I’m not saying we give up. Maybe we just need to rethink our approach. Cut back on some of the initial costs, find a cheaper location, or scale down the launch.

ANITA (firmly) Bill, I don’t want to start by cutting corners. That’s not the point of this place. If we’re going to do it, we have to do it right.

Bill nods, understanding but still looking troubled.

BILL (softly) I know, but without the loan… I don’t see how we’re going to pull it off. We don’t have enough savings to make it happen on our own.

Anita looks at the rejection letter again, a mix of determination and frustration in her eyes.

ANITA (determined) Then we find another way. Crowdfunding, investors, even asking friends and family. We can’t let one rejection stop us.

Bill smiles slightly, appreciating her resolve.

BILL (encouragingly) You’re right. We’ve come too far to turn back now. We just need to get creative, find people who believe in what we’re doing as much as we do.

Anita nods, her determination growing.

ANITA (grinning) Exactly. We need to make them see what we see—a place where people come together, where music and stories are shared, where something real happens.

Bill reaches out, taking her hand.

BILL (smiling) Together, right?

ANITA (smiling back) Together.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

ANITA I just wanted to talk about something important.

BILL Can we talk about it tomorrow? I just really need to work on something.

ANITA Sure.

BILL Are you sure you’re sure?

ANITA I’m sure. Talk to you later…

EXR. PARK - DAY

ANITA Surprise!

BILL You scared me.

ANITA Sorry, couldn't resist. I Knew you would be here.What are you working on? 13. BILL Just working on a scene.

ANITA Can I see?

BILL Sure.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

ANITA (CONT’D) I need to talk…

BILL I have been rehearsing all day. I have been up since four this morning. I have been trying…

ANITA I don’t know how to get through to you anymore. You keep shutting me out.

BILL Sorry, I have been busy.

INT. LIVING ROOM - DAY

A few weeks later…

ANITA I got an offer to teach full-time in Chicago. 14. BILL Amazing!

ANITA (sad) Yeah.

BILL Am I missing something?

ANITA They said that they want me to be over there in the next few weeks.

BILL Look, I have friends that do long distance and they're fine. We are gonna be fine.

ANITA I just don't want to go.

A few days later, Bill calls Anita.

INT. BILL'S APARTMENT - NIGHT

BILL Hey, how's it going?

ANITA (on the phone) I just finished watching a reel I made.

BILL Congratulations! When can I see it?

ANITA I will send the link.

BILL Actually, I have to go. Can I call you later?

ANITA Yeah, sure.

[na-ta-sh-aa]

Aww how beautiful it is to read about Beer boy and Sugar again, I missed them so much🥹 this piece was really perfect, I loved how you highlighted how special and deep the love between Beer Boy and Sugar is, they are so precious!🥹🫶🏼

"So..." Jake replied, picking up his drink and chugging it before signaling to Penny for two more. When he turned back, he had a smug little smile on his face that let Bradley know he was about to get annoyed again. "I'm assuming by the way your wife looks and how fucking pussy whipped you are that she has good taste in lingerie?"

“Bradley sputtered, almost knocking his bottle off the high top. "Jesus fucking Christ, Hangman. What the hell kind of question is that?" He could feel heat rising in his cheeks at the memory of you prancing around the bedroom last weekend in a lacy tie dye bra and matching boy shorts. Everything you wore was sexy.”

This part was so funny, how both Jake and Bradley didn't seem to like the idea of ​​meeting up for a beer and how Jake immediately found a way to make conversation with Bradley. Not to mention Bradley's reaction, pure art!😂

“Bradley raked his fingers through his hair, squeezing his eyes shut against the mental image of you and Jessica in a cute little fitting room, laughing together. "God damn it, Hangman!"

I bet Bradley will be thinking about Sugar in lingerie until he sees her again!

“You and Jessica were crammed into a fitting room together, trying not to laugh at the enormous stacks of cute things to try on. Your pile was on the left side of the decorative bench, and hers was on the right. You knew that Jessica Reed happened to collect lingerie in every color imaginable, but she was on a quest to find some unique things to take on her honeymoon. And you were on a quest to wow your husband with something more than a bra and boy shorts for once.”

Ooh I missed Jessica and Sugar so much! I love that they went shopping together, I will never stop loving their friendship!

“Not that he complained. Not that he ever complained. Bradley went absolutely feral for you in your damn work clothes and loafers. He about lost his mind when you wore his ratty, old tie dye tee shirt to bed. He often sounded like he was going to need CPR when you put on his bathrobe and nothing else. It was hard to contain your smile when you just knew that something in this fitting room was going to blow his mind to the point that he would be rendered speechless.”

I bet Bradley will lose his mind over whatever Sugar buys, I love how they both are completely in love with each other!🥹

“Jessica whispered, "You'll look beautiful in anything, Advanced Calculus. I can promise you that." When you kind of shrugged in response, she said, "Do you want me to wait in line for my own fitting room so you can have more privacy?"

Jessica is so sweet🥹

"Let me guess... your wife sent you photos?" Jake asked, clearly amused.”

Bradley can't be subtle when it comes to Sugar. I love how Jake immediately understood what it was all about😂

“Jessica smiled. "Yes, I understand. And I hope you realize that you just described a man who is desperately in love with you, not just how you look. Sounds like the kind of man you should spoil a little bit." She tugged gently on the chemise and added, "This is a far cry from a tee shirt, but you won't know how you feel about it until you try it on."

"I'm obsessed," Jessica said, bouncing excitedly as she clapped her hands together. "Should I take one last round of photos for you to send to Bradley?"

Aww I love how Jessica is literally Sugar's Cheerleader, she was so sweet and supportive!

“It was a good thing Jake was staring at his own phone in amazement, because Bradley was pretty sure he was drooling and incapable of formulating a sentence. He had already written back to you, begging you to buy the pink thing. Telling you he needed it. Letting you know he wanted to peel is slowly off of your body in bed later. In fact, the last thing he sent was 'Buy everything in that whole fucking store, money is no object'. And he meant every word.”

Bradley's reactions are literally one better than the other, I love them! But most of all I love how much he loves Sugar and how he always shows it🥹

"Since when does your wife have tattoos?"

“Those words snapped Bradley out of his lust filled stupor, and his brown eyes bore into Jake's green ones. How did he know about your titty tattoos? When his gaze drifted back to his phone, he turned the screen toward Bradley with a grin. Apparently you had taken a photo of Jessica, in which your reflection was visible in the fitting room mirror. You were wearing a bra, and you were as covered up as you would be for a beach day, but Bradley loathed the idea of Jake having any sort of access to those tattoos.”

"Hey!" Jake complained as Bradley snatched the phone and deleted the photo. "What the fuck, Bradshaw? I wanted that picture of Jessica! You could have just cropped it."

Bradley and Jake together are so funny😂

"Hell yes," he murmured, closing the distance to your lips and kissing you hard. "Did you buy that pink thing? And the black one?"

“His hands wound around your waist possessively, and he got even more excited as you tucked the bags behind your back and whispered, "There's only one way to find out."

I loved reading this, it was so fun and sexy! I missed Beer Boy and Sugar and Jake and Jessica so much, it was so nice to read about them again! Like I said, Jessica and Sugar's friendship is something I've loved since they first met and helped each other out and I love being able to read and find out more about them. I also liked how Bradley always shows his love for Sugar in every possible way and I also liked how Sugar had the courage to try experimenting with new lingerie for Bradley. Special mention to Jake and Bradley, they never stop making me laugh the way they tease and make fun of each other. As usual the piece was spectacularly written, really beautiful to read, I loved it sooo much!✨💗💗💗

Sugar and Lace | Bradley Bradshaw x Reader

Summary: Bradley had a hot wife. He went wild for you in your work clothes and his worn out shirts. You didn't need any bells and whistles to look sexy, and you never would. But now that he knew what you looked like in a little lace, he needed to have that version of you, too.

Warnings: Fluff, adult language, drinking

Length: 3000 words

Pairing: Beer Boy and Sugar! Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x Female Reader (former fuckboy college student Bradley)

This is a one-shot to accompany my fics Old Habits Die Hard and Right Girl, Wrong Time but it can be read on its own! Check out my masterlist

Bradley looked at Jake over his beer, and Jake looked right back at him. The Hard Deck was virtually empty this early on a Saturday in the middle of the blazing summer heatwave, leaving the two of them very much alone together with their drinks.

"So..." Bradley said, tracing a line through the condensation on his half empty bottle. It wasn't that he disliked Jake. Not really. But he didn't know how many times he could be coerced into hanging out with him for the sake of you having a 'girls day'. It wasn't like he could complain about work to the person who annoyed the shit out of him at work yesterday.

"So..." Jake replied, picking up his drink and chugging it before signaling to Penny for two more. When he turned back, he had a smug little smile on his face that let Bradley know he was about to get annoyed again. "I'm assuming by the way your wife looks and how fucking pussy whipped you are that she has good taste in lingerie?"

Bradley sputtered, almost knocking his bottle off the high top. "Jesus fucking Christ, Hangman. What the hell kind of question is that?" He could feel heat rising in his cheeks at the memory of you prancing around the bedroom last weekend in a lacy tie dye bra and matching boy shorts. Everything you wore was sexy.

"That's obviously what they are out shopping for," Jake drawled, handing the empties to Penny as she dropped off fresh beers. Bradley waved two fingers in a half-hearted salute and then glared at Jake as he added, "Jessica specifically asked your wife to go with her. She told me she's picking out some things for the honeymoon, and you and I both know what that means. They are trying on lingerie." His smirk was back. "Together."

Bradley swallowed hard, digging his fist into his thigh. His teeth were clenched as he said, "Stop picturing my wife in lingerie."

All he got was a jovial laugh in response. "Tell me right now to my face that you're not picturing both of them wearing something tight, cropped and lacy, and I'll stop."

Bradley raked his fingers through his hair, squeezing his eyes shut against the mental image of you and Jessica in a cute little fitting room, laughing together. "God damn it, Hangman!"

--------------------------------

You and Jessica were crammed into a fitting room together, trying not to laugh at the enormous stacks of cute things to try on. Your pile was on the left side of the decorative bench, and hers was on the right. You knew that Jessica Reed happened to collect lingerie in every color imaginable, but she was on a quest to find some unique things to take on her honeymoon. And you were on a quest to wow your husband with something more than a bra and boy shorts for once. 

Not that he complained. Not that he ever complained. Bradley went absolutely feral for you in your damn work clothes and loafers. He about lost his mind when you wore his ratty, old tie dye tee shirt to bed. He often sounded like he was going to need CPR when you put on his bathrobe and nothing else. It was hard to contain your smile when you just knew that something in this fitting room was going to blow his mind to the point that he would be rendered speechless.

"Try something on," Jessica suggested gently, and you took a step closer to your pile. "Then you'll get a better idea of what you like." 

There was red, green, black, white and pink fabric. There were nightgowns, thongs, bralettes and stockings. When you reached your hand out, you hesitated, confidence wavering. This seemed a lot more challenging than solving a linear algebra matrix.

Jessica whispered, "You'll look beautiful in anything, Advanced Calculus. I can promise you that." When you kind of shrugged in response, she said, "Do you want me to wait in line for my own fitting room so you can have more privacy?"

The two of you already agreed to help each other make selections, and the last thing you wanted was to keep opening the door so everyone else could see you wearing this stuff. "No. It's not that. I just... don't really own anything like this. I mean, I have a few things, but some of this is elaborate." You glanced at her over your shoulder and winced. "And this was supposed to be a shopping trip for you! For your honeymoon! Not for me."

She shushed you and then reached into your pile and pulled out a fairly innocuous looking nightie in a soft champagne color. "Start with this. Then you'll see how hot you look, and it'll be a gateway drug to you starting your own collection that will rival mine."

"I've seen your closet," you muttered, taking the hanger from her and holding the garment up in front of your body. It was pretty. The color even complimented your hair. It was a far cry from what you usually wore to bed, but you'd give it a shot.

When you started to undress, Jessica turned around and played with her phone, which you did appreciate. All of your bumps and lumps would be on display soon enough anyway, but at least you'd have a minute to straighten yourself out. The fabric was cool and slick against your skin, and you shivered as it settled high on your thighs. When you looked in the mirror and turned, you were pleasantly surprised with the result.

"It's not bad," you said, and she looked up and gasped, green eyes wide.

"It's perfect!"

"I wouldn't go that far," you muttered, smoothing your hands along your sides.

"Well, I would. And I'm sure Bradley would, too. Do you want me to take a picture on your phone?" she asked, and you nodded while she posed you with one hand on your hip. "Like I said, perfect," she muttered as she took the photo and then set your phone down again. "Try on something else."

"Okay," you whispered, reaching blindly into your pile and pulling out a black lace corset top.

Jessica jumped up and down and clapped her hands. "I love that one. I picked one up to try it on, too."

"I don't know about this," you said, holding it up in front of the nightie. "Not sure how Beer Boy is going to like it."

"You won't know until you try it on."

With those words of wisdom, you changed from the nightie to the corset, and your immediate thought was how cute this would look under your sweaters and tweed when you were at work. And it would feel amazing. It was snug and sexy, and somehow you felt like you could kick even more ass at work if you were wearing this thing.

"What the hell?" you whispered, and Jessica turned to look at you, clapping her hands once again. "I feel like I have super powers."

"Because you do! Look at you! Please let me take another picture of you to send to Bradley."

This time you posed yourself and turned so your tattoos were visible through the lace cutout on the side. Then you stood there and admired yourself before saying, "I'm definitely buying this. Catch me wearing it to work under my cardigans in the fall."

Jessica started digging into her own pile now as you changed from the corset into a bodysuit, but when she met your eyes in the mirror, she looked like she was going to freak out.

"What?" you asked. "The bodysuit looks that bad?"

She shook her head, and pressed her lips together before almost shouting, "When were you going to tell me you have a math tattoo?"

"Oh," you replied, not sure you'd ever heard her voice reach that octave before. "Euler's Identity? I've had it since I was nineteen."

"I love how you embrace your inner nerd," she said as if she was in awe of you, and you started laughing which made her laugh. "Now send those pictures to your husband and let that man worship you."

--------------------------------

Bradley had just buried his face in his hands while Jake laughed when his phone went off. You hadn't even bothered to inform him that your little 'girls day outing' was a quest to make sure Jake enjoyed his honeymoon with Jessica. Honestly, Bradley kind of hoped the other man was correct in his assessment that you'd be shopping for something for yourself, too. Not that you needed it. Holy shit, you still looked like the girl he fell in love with over a decade ago whenever you wore his old Grateful Dead shirt or his robe around the house.

But now he wanted something special, too. Why should Jake get to have all the fun when it came to having his partner all wrapped up in a pretty package that was specifically meant to be removed?

"Sugar," he grunted when he saw that you'd texted him. Jake was rambling about something across the table, but Bradley couldn't hear him. He could no longer hear anything. He couldn't process thoughts or form words. All he could do was stare at the two photos you'd sent to him. "Oh, fuck."

In the first one, you were wearing a shimmery light gold colored thing that looked soft. Like maybe almost as soft as your skin. His heart hammered up into his ears as he examined every inch of it on your curves. Your nipples were pebbled against the fabric, and he could practically feel them between his lips. When he swiped to look at the second one, he abruptly stood from his stool with his phone gripped tight in his hand, eyes bugging out.

"Let me guess... your wife sent you photos?" Jake asked, clearly amused.

Instead of verbally responding, Bradley made sure his phone was tipped away from Jake as he zoomed in for a closer look. Holy hell. Your tits were being pushed up in the sexiest black lace he had ever seen. It was sinful, and now he was imagining you wearing it under one of your tweed blazers while giving a lecture. He swallowed hard, realizing he could see the tiniest bit of your tattoos through the little cutout on the side, and he actually whimpered.

"Yeah... she definitely sent you photos," Jake murmured as his own phone chimed. "Oh, Jess just sent me five."

"How did you get five?" Bradley complained, swiping back and forth, desperately looking for more. "I only got two!" 

It was then that he noticed you texted him after you sent the pictures.

What do you think, Beer Boy?

Bradley laughed a bit maniacally. What did he think about the lingerie? Ha! He could barely think at all! He paced back and forth a bit, sweating as he wrote back.

You look fucking hot as hell, Sugar. If you don't bring that black top home, I think you'll break my heart.

Bradley cringed, because now Jake was the one who was whimpering. "They're sharing a fitting room," he whispered, and Bradley's eyes went wide with the realization that Jessica must have taken the photos for you. Then his eyes narrowed as he reached for Jake's phone.

"You better not be able to see Sugar in any of the pictures!"

-------------------------------

You and Jessica were wearing matching fluffy robes and sorting through everything you'd already tried on.

"You have to get that thing," you told her, pointing to the garters and stockings. "It fits you like a glove."

She nodded and added it to her 'yes' pile. "And you have to get the thong and bustier," she replied.

"I'm already buying four things," you reminded her. The bustier was nice, and your breasts looked good in it, but you didn't love the color very much. Besides, there was one last thing you hadn't tried on for fear of looking or feeling ridiculous, but there was a part of your brain that just knew your husband would love it.

"Missed one!" Jessica said, pulling on the bright pink fabric like she could read your mind. Always the best cheerleader, she held it up in front of your body and nodded. "It's bold, but I think you can pull it off."

You took it from her, but looked at yourself skeptically in the mirror. "I don't know... it's going to look bad. Like I'm trying too hard. I don't know why I even picked it up."

But you did know. Bradley was attracted to you in that dumb tie dye shirt like you were some sort of exotic bird whenever you put it on. All of the bright colors swirled into something that just lured him right to you. Part of it was nostalgia, sure, but you felt like there was something more as well.

"Actually, I do know why I picked it up," you told Jessica, holding the chemise closer to yourself. "Bradley really likes it when I wear his old shirt that I kind of held hostage for ten years. It's vibrant and bright, and I think this is the sort of thing he might enjoy?" You pursed your lips and sighed. "But, maybe I'm wrong, because he also just seems to like me how I am. No frills, you know? He's always been that way."

Jessica smiled. "Yes, I understand. And I hope you realize that you just described a man who is desperately in love with you, not just how you look. Sounds like the kind of man you should spoil a little bit." She tugged gently on the chemise and added, "This is a far cry from a tee shirt, but you won't know how you feel about it until you try it on."

"You're right."

Once you were out of the robe, you pulled the stretchy lace over your body, and gaped at the deep neckline as Jessica tied the satin ribbons around the back of your neck. You hadn't noticed before, but there were some yellow and orange threads woven in, making delicate swirls in the fabric. Almost like a different kind of tie dye. It actually looked stunning on you, and as you turned from side to side, you already knew you had to have it.

"I'm obsessed," Jessica said, bouncing excitedly as she clapped her hands together. "Should I take one last round of photos for you to send to Bradley?"

-------------------------------

Bradley was lightheaded. He sweat through his shirt, and he had his forehead cradled in his hand as he opened three photos of you wearing something so bright and pink and sexy, he wanted to lick it off of you. Everything was covered up, but barely. In the one shot, he could almost see your ass. In another, he could definitely see your pert nipples. In the other one, he could make out part of your titty tattoos.

It was a good thing Jake was staring at his own phone in amazement, because Bradley was pretty sure he was drooling and incapable of formulating a sentence. He had already written back to you, begging you to buy the pink thing. Telling you he needed it. Letting you know he wanted to peel is slowly off of your body in bed later. In fact, the last thing he sent was 'Buy everything in that whole fucking store, money is no object'. And he meant every word. 

Bradley had been crazy about you for so long, and most of the appeal came from how smart you are and the fact that you weren't fussy. You let him dote on you in your work outfits. You wore his clothing around the house. You didn't need all the bells and whistles to be sexy, and you never would.

But now that he knew exactly what you looked like in black satin and colorful lace, he needed to have that version of you, too. He needed it.

"Since when does your wife have tattoos?"

Those words snapped Bradley out of his lust filled stupor, and his brown eyes bore into Jake's green ones. How did he know about your titty tattoos? When his gaze drifted back to his phone, he turned the screen toward Bradley with a grin. Apparently you had taken a photo of Jessica, in which your reflection was visible in the fitting room mirror. You were wearing a bra, and you were as covered up as you would be for a beach day, but Bradley loathed the idea of Jake having any sort of access to those tattoos.

"Hey!" Jake complained as Bradley snatched the phone and deleted the photo. "What the fuck, Bradshaw? I wanted that picture of Jessica! You could have just cropped it."

"Hey, boys!"

Bradley turned in time to toss Jake's phone aside as Jessica headed through the nearly empty bar with you following behind her. There were two enormous shopping bags in your hands, and you had a smile on your face as you asked, "Ready to go home, Beer Boy?"

"Hell yes," he murmured, closing the distance to your lips and kissing you hard. "Did you buy that pink thing? And the black one?"

His hands wound around your waist possessively, and he got even more excited as you tucked the bags behind your back and whispered, "There's only one way to find out."

Bradley started guiding you to the door. "Yeah. We're going home. Right now." He ran his nose along your cheek and gave you one more sweet kiss before shouting over his shoulder, "Thanks for the beers, Bagman. Oh, and Jessica, I need you to crop your photos better next time you take my wife shopping."

---------------------------

I love Beer Boy for making Sugar feel so good about herself every day. She's a badass, and he knows it. I wrote this as a little wedding treat for @je-suis-prest-rachel Congratulations, Rachel! And thanks to @beyondthesefourwalls

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[jaeellec]

Episode 1: THE COLORS OF THE FALSE KING

Synopsis: Starting ten years before current day, the independent New World kingdom of Auberon is happy and flourishing...until something is discovered one winter morning.

Word count: ~12k

CW: su!cide and violence

I love to go all-out so episode includes visual references, soundtrack (track and timestamps indicated by brackets), and links. But feel free to ignore the soundtrack and read as usual! It serves as notes for me and anyone who wants more immersion~

Also, I watch the dub so One Piece characters sound and speak like their English versions in my mind and are written to match!

Read full episode on Wattpad or below the cut!

───── ⋆⋅☾⋅⋆ ─────

Main (OC) players (sorry I didn't have time to get full-colors busts of everyone!):

Espen, Capital of Auberon and the town Eventide refs (Disclaimer: these town images are not my art):

Thane Home visual ref (Disclaimer: Images not mine):

Canon Character Fits (Chopper is wearing a cute lil axolotl costume and Kid Pirates are default):

(Disclaimer: The only outfit art that is mine is Luffy and the two sketches)

───── ⋆⋅☾⋅⋆ ─────

{bg: Her & the Sea - CLANN (0:00-0:15/3:43-end)}

Deep teal waves gently jumped at the base of a black cliff, and a soft snow fell only for each flake to be forever lost to the dark sea. But atop the cliff, the snow thrived and thickly gathered in the large backyard and coated its rose bushes, dead trees, and ornate Victorian-style home. {end}

A young girl smirked and cleared her throat with a small, focused growl into the cold as she readied her two wooden swords to attack her enemies: 3 almost comically built snowmen lined up in front of one of the many whitened rose bushes. The frozen foes never stood a chance when she charged, her aim to take their heads. Though playing as any child would in a backyard, it couldn't be denied there was actual skill somewhere underneath.

She was quick as she popped off the heads to the left and to the right, grunting out with each strike. And just as quick, she spun back to center, using both of her swords to scissor and sever the head of her carrot-nosed final victim.

The head landed back to the snow from whence it came with a heavy thud - a silly sight, really. But it meant victory for the girl. With a big grin, she cheered at her triumph and pranced and spun around with her little wooden swords waving in the air and cape wisping around her.

"Come on, Astraea!" called out her bundled-up older brother. The poor boy was hugging himself and shivering. "It's cold - can we please go inside already? I'm tired of watching this snowman slaughter you call a game."

"My training isn't a game, Terrence!" the girl retorted and thrust a sword in his direction. "You go inside. I told mom I don't need you to watch me anyway," she lowered her weapon and gave a sigh. "I don't know why she's always so scared I'm gonna go over the cliff."

"I just might throw you over myself!" Terrence pouted with eyes cut to the rose bushes. His crossed arms were more from annoyance than trying to keep warm at this point, but something in roses caught his attention - something that replaced his scowl with a smirk. "Hope all your stupid training has paid off. You ready for a real fight? There's a monster in the roses." Terrence's confident and mischievous eyes glanced back at his sister.

"No there isn't!"

"There is, too! I can see it. And your little wooden sticks are no match for its vicious teeth!"

In her confusion, Astraea tried to not let any fear show as she looked back to her beheaded practice buddies. There was no mistake about it - from behind the center snowman, rustling was coming from the rose bush.

"He'll get you," came Terrence's amused warning.

But the stubborn girl gave an irate exhale into the cold and tightened the grip on her little wooden dual swords. She squinted at the bush with the middle snowman in the foreground, bravely focusing on what she was sure to be a lie.

Until...

Again, came a rustle.

In a split instant, the snowman suddenly burst as the monster lurched towards her with a mighty growl, scooping her up and disarming her while her scream turned into laughter.

In the arms of her father, she was spun around and tossed into the air. The man was still playfully growling and roaring when she fell back into his hands. Gently, he placed his giggling daughter back on her feet and brushed the snow from his shoulder with a smile from the fun. "Were you scared?"

"Nah-ah! Not once!" the grinning girl annoyed her brother.

"She's lying!"

"No, I'm not, Terrence! I was standing my ground and ready to fight!"

"You little baby, you were ready to cry and run!"

Astraea's overwrought retort was to quickly scoop up a handful of snow and force it at her off-guard brother with a Haki-hardened arm and a grunt to power the shot. The sudden strike to his shoulder caused him to stumble backwards and slip in the snow while his sister laughed in delight.

"Dad!" Terrence whined, "Do something about her! She needs to be kenneled!"

"Astraea don't do...that. Not to your brother, at least if you don't want your mother and I to suspend your training," Rae warned his contemptuous daughter and made his way over to his son to kindly help him up. "On your feet, Terry. You're not hurt, are you, bud?"

"Maybe just my pride, dad..."

Astraea hurried up to the two, eager to cause more trouble and get back to her training. "Dad's out here, so you don't have to watch me anymore! Why don't you go read a book by the fire?!" She delivered the lovely idea in a mocking manner.

"Great! I've only been trying to do that for the past hour!" Terrence grabbed a fistful of snow that remained on his shoulder and chunked it at his sister in retaliation.

The girl squealed out in playful surprise.

From inside the warm home in her cozy, pastel, peacock-themed tearoom, Marika sat at a window and looked down at her family as they started up a snowball fight with a face full of peace and compassion. But that turned to curiosity when she heard knocking coming from the front door.

Back in the yard, Terrence was determined as his sister had been during her training, and he had a snowball ready, aimed, and almost fired when something on the sea in the distance caught his attention. "Pirates...?"

Together, the girl and her father lowered their guard and turned to see.

"Looks like," Rae smiled as he rid his hands and arms of snow. "I don't think they'll be bothering us, though - they're just passing by."

"They better be..." Terrence quietly said, but the topic sparked up something exciting in Rae.

"Would you two like to hear the story of Gol D. Roger again? I haven't told it in so long!"

"Nah," the two casually chorused, and Rea's eager expression fell.

"But...you two used to love it...Every night before bed you wanted to hear it! And I did the Pirate King voice so well..."

Terrence shrugged, "Mom's giant boar story has always been more fun."

"Are you kidding? That one?!" Of course, little Astraea was going to be antagonistic. "Mom has way cooler stories than that one! No one even actually got eaten - it's so dumb."

The boy was something beyond incredulous.

"Are you aware of how demented you are??"

The girl threw down her snowballs in protest, "I'm too little to know what that word means!"

"Maybe if you put your stupid little swords down and picked up a book-"

It was then a teasing and heavily real-world Scottish accented and playful voice boomed from behind the three, "What's with all this patter?! Too cauld for this shite!"

They turned to see a mountain of a man wearing a broad smile and a well-decorated uniform strolling alongside sweet Marika.

"Elliott!!" Astraea beamed and ran towards him with outstretched arms, giggling all along the way.

"There's my lass!" He was jovial as he scooped her up, and the moment she was in his arms, the girl was excitedly jabbing a finger out to the sea.

"Mom, Elliott! Look! Pirates!"

"Oh..." Marika tried to find the enthusiasm and the words. "How very...um..."

Elliott grinned. "Don't you worry pretty mind, Marika! They don't seem have course set for this way, and even if they did, I bet this little mad lass could take 'em! I've been well. Just look at what became of those snowmen; those are quick, clean cuts right there!"

"Yeah, quick and clean! I'll protect you, mom!" The little menace declared in delight and determination while her father and brother approached. "Not like Terrence is gonna do it." She just had to quickly quip.

"Astraea," Rae made a point to warn his daughter again before he greeted his comrade as he put a comforting arm around Terrence. "Afternoon, Elliott! Always good to see you. What brings you over on this fine wintry day?"

"Gatherin' up the lot. King's called a meetin' - and it's an important one, Rae. Details will be shared and sorted out when we get there, but something amazin' has been discovered."

"Like what?!" Astraea just had to know. "Did someone find the One Piece?! Catch a castle ghost? Or a dragon??" Rae and Elliott grinned at the girl's wild imagination. All those exciting thoughts urged her free from Elliott's arms, and she was tugging on the sleeve of her father as she begged, "If it's a dragon, will you please bring it home, daddy?? Please?! I promise I won't feed Terrence to it! Cross my heart!"

"It's not a dragon, but it is super-secret!" Elliott knelt beside the girl and put a hand on her shoulder settle her. "Yer da can tell you all about it when he gets home tonight. Why don't we go play with Seamus so he can get changed right quick, aye?"

"Seamus!!" The girl wasted no time in forgetting about her dragon and made a mad dash for the house.

"I'll go tack up Cosmos for you, father," Terrence contrasted his sister with the dutiful declaration and made his exit to the stables.

Elliott rose with a friendly and fond smile, "Those two...Terrence is becoming a fine young lad. And your little Essie..." Gentle frozen flakes fell over the three headless snowmen. "She's as feisty as ever."

───── ⋆⋅☾⋅⋆ ─────

In front of the fine home, other knights watched from horseback with humor as little Astraea tried as she might to get in the saddle of the massive draft horse. The gentle giant was patient with her throughout all her failed attempts. Grunting out in effort as she was latched to the side of the saddle, the girl struggled to pull herself up; but her little strength gave out and she found herself on the cold, hard ground while some of the knights gave warm, hearty laughs. Though some were content with keeping quiet.

They were all nicely dressed in the same casual winter uniforms. The only difference was the individual family crests that delicately adorned the shoulders of each man. Some select men even carried bright crimson banners that bore a bear sigil - that of the royal family, no doubt.

"Give it another go!" one of the men kindly encouraged her, "Wouldn't be Rae's daughter if you didn't!"

"You got it, kiddo!" came the words of another. But with or without uplifting cheers, backing down was never an option for the girl, much to Seamus' dismay. His saddle jerked as she jumped back onto the side of it with one mighty leap - more entertainment for the idle order.

"How goes your training, darling Astraea?" asked one of the quiet knights. He had dark hair and matching dark eyes, a very nice face with a rather charming smile.

"It's good!" The girl put on a mask of enthusiasm through the fight against gravity, though it was cracking in her tone. "Elliott says I'm almost strong enough to be a knight."

"My, my. What will our enemies do with you in our ranks?"

"They better run!" she was able to push through and crawl up a little further, still grunting out all the way. "I'm gonna be Captain of the Guard! I'll be giving you orders someday, Sir Alerick!"

While the other knights chortled or exchanged comical glances, there was something unreadable about Alerick's expression.

He gave a small chuckle. "Won't that be the day? I certainly believe it."

"You mad little lass!" came Elliott's jest as his giant hands took hold and placed her in the saddle, "You trynna to replace me?!"

"I almost had it!"

"Almost," Elliott winked and gave poor Seamus a much-deserved pat on the neck.

"You should be careful, dear," Marika's comment to her daughter was as gentle as it was useless, so she turned her attention and gave a warm greeting to those who waited in the cold, "Afternoon, good sir knights. Isn't the snow just lovely? I adore how it sparkles."

"Know how to turn any grey day bright and sunny, don't you, Marika?" One said with a pleasant smile.

"Always good to see you!" Concurred another. "We should get the kids together again soon! I know how much Terrence adores my Lily."

Marika gave that sweet smile of hers, "Of course! Sooner rather than later. I'll talk to Rae tonight about arrangements!" she said and kindly turned to the Captain of the Guard. "Oh, Elliott, will you tell Stormy I said 'hello' when you arrive home, tonight?"

"Sure, I will! My will be happy to hear from ya! Was just tellin' Caleb and Alerick how she's goin' mad in the last few weeks!"

"Any day now, right?"

"Any day now! All three of 'em will be here."

"Goodness! And I thought my two were a handful! Well....one of them is."

Though she had just been seated in the saddle, little Astraea was already on her feet struggling to balance on it, her balancing arms wavering at her sides and her little cape swaying behind her. "Father!" she called out to him as she tried to keep herself steady. He was just coming out of the front door in his causal uniform, a crest of two briars forming a loose 'x' in front of a rose on his shoulders. "Make me fly again!"

"Alright, Essie," Rae couldn't help but grin. "One last time before I go."

The girl leapt from the saddle with faith and again she found herself laughing in her father's hands as he held her high and spun, "Whoooo!" He made the playful noise before tossing her into the sky just as he had done in the backyard, and she was laughing when she came back down from his strong hands and placed back on solid ground. "Might just have to get you a pair of wings for your birthday," Rae teased.

"Oh my, it is coming up..." Marika brushed her fingers through her daughter's hair, "Almost ten years old already...My sweet girl."

"Sweet??" Terrence trotted up on Cosmos. "Mother, she's a menace," he added as he dismounted and gave the reins to his father.

"Thank you, Terrence," Rae was pleased and patted his boy's shoulder with a smile, and with a horse now in hand of his last knight, Elliott hopped into Seamus' saddle.

"Best be gettin' ta Primus Keep, Rae! King's waitin'!" the man was enthusiastic as he pulled at the reins and commanded the shifting horse forward into a swift trot.

The order followed suit.

Turning his gaze from Elliott to loving wife, Rae placed his free hand on the small of her back and pulled her in close, "I must go now," his words of farewell were bittersweet, but he added some sugar with a kiss. "I'll return to your arms tonight. I love you."

"And I you, darling."

"Aw, sick!!" Astraea shouted out at the sight of affection, disgust on her face and disdain in her voice.

Marika couldn't help but give a little giggle, "You'll fall in love someday, too, you know."

"No, I-shut up, mom!!"

"Watch it, Astraea," Rae once again warned his daughter, though this time there was some playfulness to his tone as he moved to hug his son. "Try and keep the peace while I'm gone. I'll see you, tonight, Terry."

"Of course, father."

{bg: Overtaken (Epic Choir Mix) - Carameii (0:00-1:25)}

Rae placed a gentle kiss onto his daughter's forehead, "Stay out of trouble," he gave the gentle reminder before mounting Cosmos. The knight kicked at his horse's flanks, catching up with Elliott in a swift gallop and falling at his place in the front of the line by the captains' side.

With a wondrous grin and bright eyes, the girl took off after the trotting group. Marika put an arm around Terrence's shoulder; the two were happy to stay put on the front steps as they watched the departure.

"I love you, daddy!"

"I love you, too, Astraea!" Rae looked over his shoulder as he slowed the canter to a trot, "Watch the moon - I'll be home when it's at its highest in the sky!"

With that same look on her face, the girl stopped in her tracks and watched the knights ride away.

_

{0:19} Beneath a cloudy pastel sky, the order ambled their steeds across a stretching a spanning bridge over the dark sea. At the other end was a grand gate to the city of the keep - it was open and decorated with torches and draped in crimson banners embroidered with magnificent bear crests, the same the knights paraded around on horseback. Gate guards happily waved to greet the order as they passed into the city.

{0:28} Snow still covered the ground, but the fall had ceased and at last made way for the sun as the heart of the capital flourished. Many stopped the hustle and bustle of their work or busy lives to look in awe at the group of knights as they rode through the streets. Children were awestruck with fantasies spinning around in their heads. Some of the civilians smiled and waved, and many of the knights happily returned the favor as they neared the entrance to a regal white castle.

{0:38} Two grand doors were pulled open to reveal their meeting room that sported the same crimson bear banners. The knights entered in a single-file line, and each began to their seats in an orderly yet friendly fashion - talking, smiling, and even displaying a bit of playfulness before business was to begin. {1:19} Last through the doors was the King himself - a strong and majestic man, regally dressed in a mix of light armor and fine draped fabrics with a golden wreath crown atop his head. He sat at the head of the table beside Rae with his advisor standing behind him on his left and Elliott on his right. {end}

The king zealously looked around the table to one of his gallant knights. It was as if his majesty was sorting through all the words, trying to string the perfect ones together that would fit such a fantastic occasion.

And then finally, he began.

"My loyal knights," he was regal as he rose. "I do apologize for such a sudden calling of a meeting, especially on a frigid day while you were warm with your families, no doubt; but what has been uncovered today in our very own capital city simply cannot wait."

On cue, two servants entered and placed a small, velvet-draped cube on the table in front of the King and bowed to immediately take their leave. Once the doors were sealed behind them, the King continued.

"There is a boy and his brother who dwell in this kingdom. Both quite brilliant - prodigies, even. One has a gift for science and invention while the other has a gift for the arts. Connor and Rowan Burns - some of you know them well with all the good work they do around the Keep. Rowan happens to most enjoy nature as the subject for his work. As such, he spends much time surrounded by the nature he so loves drawing and foraging. On his most recent outing, the boy discovered this."

The King removed the drapery to reveal a glass box with golden trim. Inside was a fruit black as a brewing storm cloud with a yellow, jagged stem that twisted all around. It was adorned with the distinct trademark swirls everyone knew.

A devil fruit.

Upon the reveal, the knights whispered amongst themselves while Alerick was unfazed and poker-faced as he keenly observed the fruit before him.

"A discovery indeed!" The King beamed, and the room fell silent once more. "Once the fruit was delivered to me, I thought of perhaps having a tournament for it. Fighting? Jousting? The whole kingdom could participate!" He lifted his arms up at the vision. "Anyone who wished could have a chance! But power such as this...it's come to our kingdom for a reason, and I would see it harnessed by someone trustworthy - someone deserving. Therefore, on the suggestion of my brilliant advisor," the man behind the King took a subtle bow. "I have called you all here to grant this fruit to one of you, my most brave and loyal knights. And together, we shall decide who will take the bite of the--"

"Storm-Storm fruit," the name came from Alerick's lips, and all the order turned to him in unison and shock. After all, he had just cut off the sentence of the King himself. Though that meant nothing to him, and on this day, he would say as he pleased. "Type: paramecia. It's a very powerful and peculiar fruit that grants the user control of the sky itself. The very weather and humidity in the air at your fingertips to do your bidding," the knights exchanged glances at the mention of the power capable from the very thing in front of them - the very fruit one of them would sink their teeth into. "Water droplets forged to weapons, tornados as spinning soldiers, cyclones to reign supreme...As you put it, your majesty, a discovery indeed," his dark eyes narrowed. "And, oh, how I've waited for it. But you intend for Raemond Ryker Thane to have it, don't you?"

Rae was immediately on guard, and the King's demeanor shifted as well, his tone now stern instead of jubilant. "As I said, I intend for us to decide together."

"But you will all choose Raemond...won't you?" The man's eyes glanced at all his fellow knights. "He is the pinnacle of what it means to be a knight, after all. The very essence of valor, loyalty, and bravery. He's got everything going for him, don't you think? Even a family to still love from that exotic little wife of his."

All the order was appalled as they hummed with chatter. Elliott uncomfortably shifted as he tightened his fist around his spear, and a troubled Rae turned to the King, who once again rose and silenced the room with the raise of a hand.

His Grace was a patient and just man.

"Sir Alerick, I understand any frustration and pain you may still harbor. The loss of Genevieve in the raid was by far the most grievous in the kingdom. I am open to having a private meeting if yo-"

"It wasn't just Genevieve," His solemn gaze rested on the King as he rose to match his highness. "It was Caroline. Little Frances. My unborn James. All gone. All because you, Orson Aurelus Ferus, are not fit to be King." The King was beyond thunderstruck at the boldness - the very words that Alerick would continue to spew. "Perhaps it's time for a new king," Alerick was alarmingly casual as he addressed the order. "Shall we choose another while were all gathered? Truth be told, I don't even think that son of his has what it takes. Is this the best the name Ferus has to offer? Even with that fantastic, fabled lineage, I say the family has run its course when it comes to the throne...

Perhaps...the one who gets the fruit shall be crowned king."

Rae slammed a fist on the table amidst the clamoring from others, angrily leaning forward in his seat. "Alerick!" He spat the name like it was venom. "You've always been outspoken, but this is crossing the line. What is this madness? This treason?!"

Intense eyes locked between the King and the man who would be one.

"It donnae matter, Rae.... Alerick Casimir," Elliott took a step forward and pointed the tip of his spear to the disgraced knight. The rest of the knights were all sullen faces and reaching for their swords. All except for one who eagerly sat in his seat with subtle a smirk to the show that was unfolding, "I am placin' you under arrest for treason. I'm sure ye know the sentence for such a crime."

"Death?" The question was arrogant, sinister even.

There was a surreal moment of silence and tension amongst the men caught in the calm before the storm.

And then...

Like lightning, Alerick drew his sword and cut the throats two knights that sat on either side of him. Just as quick, he was on the table barreling towards the King as all men moved to attack. His majesty took a step back and raised an arm in protective reflex as Alerick's wrathful sword swung down upon him with a mighty cry. Metal rang out as Raemond and the would-be king slayer found themselves clashing blades.

"Elliott!!" Rae shouted to give the order that was already being carried out. The mountain of a man was guarding and escorting the King to safety with haste as the other knights were still charging Alerick, swords drawn and voices booming. "You're no king!" Rae spat through their locked blades. "You will never know the power of the throne or the love of the people! None shall bend the knee!"

From behind, the bloodied blade of a sword mercilessly tore through Rae's chest and slowly withdrew. He gasped and clutched at his chest, struggling and heaving to breathe as a single line of blood leaked from the corner of his lips and he collapsed down onto one knee.

"Oopsie-daisy," Alerick grinned as he looked down on Rae from his place high on mighty on the table, and Rae collapsed down as if a worshiper to a god. "Spoke too soon, Rae. Good work, Felix."

It was the King's advisor.

Felix felt no wrong nor remorse. Even as Rae rasped and choked with eyes full of disbelief, the former advisor simply wiped the blood from his blade.

"Dietrich," Alerick turned to look past the charging men who were dangerously close to only address the one standing silently and risen from his original seat. "It's your turn."

Obediently, Dietrich pressed out a palm to face the storming knights and the others to those fleeing with the king. A strange burst of energy radiated out, and the men soon found themselves locked in place, frozen in time itself. In triumph and ignoring the blades that had nearly made it to his throat, Alerick looked back down to Rae.

"Like Dietrich's power? We've been keeping it a secret. He's going to be my new Captain of the Guard...Once I'm on the throne, of course."

Felix slid the pristine sword back into its sheath and casually opened the little glass display containing the fruit and tossed it up to Alerick. The catch was a clean one, and Alerick relished the sight of the fruit finally in his grasp.

Still clutching at his overflowing wound, Rae struggled and fought to stand, using his sword as a crutch and the will to stop what was about to happen as a desperate drive.

But it wasn't enough.

Again and again, he could only collapse back to his knees. All that willpower, and he still couldn't pull himself to his feet. All that rage, and yet he couldn't waste his time or breath on any words that would make no difference anyway.

And at long last...

Alerick sank his teeth into the Devil Fruit.

With that single bite, he had all the power he could ever want coursing through him. Thunder rolled through his bones, his blood became a ceaseless and unforgiving rain, and it was as if there were bolts of lightning that flashed in his eyes. He was now a living cyclone, but still not yet a king.

Not yet.

He gave a pleasured sigh from the feeling of such power. "This was going to be yours I believe," Alerick threw the rest of the fruit at Rea. "I apologize. You can have my leftovers...And I'll take yours. Don't worry Rae, your family will be taken care of. Especially lovely Marika."

"You--!!"

"I think I'll even take your sword," Alerick ignored Rae in favor of adding more insult to injury. "It is quite nice, and you won't be needing it. In fact, I can just order someone to retrieve it for me, since I will be King and such. Watch this, you're going to love it! Dietrich," He called out to his loyal follower. "Unfreeze them, will you? I should like to play around with my new abilities - I think it'll be quite fun to see what I can do, don't you?"

Dietrich smirked. "Certainly, Your Grace."

Everyone that was released from the time spell suddenly stumbled back into action, and though Rae couldn't stand, he could still fight to his last breath and hope the best for the king he chose to serve. His bleeding hand shot from his chest so both grips could be on the hilt of his sword whose blade went black with Haki. As a final order, Rae looked to Orson and those who guarded him as they were just reaching the doors. "Protect the king!!"

Blood and water shot across the floor in a trail.

───── ⋆⋅☾⋅⋆ ─────

"I told you; I'm done with piano for the day!" Astraea protested from atop the foyer staircase to her mother at the bottom, who had ended the futile attempt in getting her daughter back in front of the keys. "And I'm already done with my stupid singing lessons tomorrow!"

"You know the deal, my love. If you want to train with Elliott, you have to study at least two arts. It is very important that you have a well-rounded and refined education."

"The only thing that ever needs to be well-rounded and refined is my fist!"

In the room over, Terrence was cozied up in a chair with a book in his hands. His eyes rolled from the captivating pages, as he was so cruelly pulled out of the story and into the unintelligible bickering - well, bickering on one end and calm, collected reasoning on the other that Marika would keep up.

"If you would like to cut your lesson short today, at least go ahead and take your bath."

Astraea's response was simply to start storm off without another word.

"And wash your hair!"

"I did wash it!" The aggravated girl stopped to grip the banisters and look down at her mother.

"When?"

"Couple months ago!"

A defeated sigh escaped Marika's lips as her daughter's fuming footsteps receded, "What is with that child...?" she quietly asked herself as she moved to the open archway of the room where Terrence had happily returned to his pages. He dared not let his eyes leave them this time, even as he quipped.

"Oh, mother, just set the little beast free. She can wander around the forest or the beaches - feed on fish and rock."

"Terrence!" Even her scolding was soft and sweet, further betrayed by a tickled grin.

_

Upstairs, the little troublemaker padded down the hallway and bypassed the door for her bath to one that was of more interest - her father's office.

It was a grand room sporting dark wood, a fireplace, fine desk, so many model ships - all happily held in bottles while one larger model rest atop the mantle. The study was lit by two large windows with a gorgeous display of a knife collection mounted between them.

Of course, that's what the mischievous girl was here for. She rolled out the luxurious chair from the desk for the sole purpose of standing on it to admire the collection of blades.

_

"So...Lily's father suggested a meet-up again soon," Marika's signature sweet smile was something a little more playful this time. "I'll have to talk to your father about it, but how does end of the week sound?"

Terrence's eyes ceased scanning the words as he thought for a moment. "...How about tomorrow?"

There was a moment of pause as Marika pondered.

"Why don't you help me get dinner started?" her expression was tender. After all, her children were growing up so fast. "And we can talk about it."

The boy was suddenly eager to put his book down, "Certainly, mother!"

He was quick to join her side, and just as they moved to head for the kitchen to carry out their cozy plans, a deafening thunder roll shook the whole house, leaving the two looking up in fear.

_

The shaking threw Astraea off balance as she scrambled to stay balanced in the trembling and rolling chair. She fell forward and caught herself on the narrow windowpane that was over the backyard. When she looked up, she could see the dark sea madly roaring and a furious wind that churned sickening storm clouds.

_

"A storm...?" Terrence and his mother exchanged puzzled glances. Before either could give any further thought, an explanation, or an answer, another deafening blast rang out and Marika's scream along with it as the front door was reduced to flying splinters.

_

Astraea's head whipped into the direction of the commotion with a gasp and cautious eyes.

_

"Knock, knock," came a familiar voice accompanied by slow footsteps.

Marika's motherly instincts took over, and she pushed Terrence behind her, shielding him from the approaching intruder. Her breathing was only becoming more labored - chest rapidly rising and falling in fear.

"Sir Alerick..." It was like she had to choke his name out. Then a shaky swallow. "What brings you back to our home?"

"What's with the fright, my darling Lady Marika?" The King's crown was cooked on his head. After all, it was fit for a king, not for him. "The meeting ended early, and I thought I'd stop by. Well...invade, really."

As if on cue, Dietrich entered the home holding the same velvet-draped box that had been presented at the meeting. Though now a liquid dropped from it.

Frozen in fear, the pair could only move wide eyes. On the other side of the doorless frame, they could see a carriage that awaited them.

"You're speechless - it's completely understandable, my love," Alerick brought their eyes back to him. "Proposals are always such an emotional occasion. Especially when they come so prettily packaged with the title of Queen."

With the reality of the words sinking in, the two only found themselves more paralyzed.

Even as he moved in closer.

"All you have to do is say yes," Alerick told her and Dietrich looked down to the box in twisted excitement as he got a handful of velvet - raring for the reveal. Alerick's cue was getting close, "And I think you'll find you won't be able to res-"

A feral war cry came from such a small girl as she ran at him with hardened arms and a blade from her father's study. He didn't know where she came from, but even with her element of surprise, he was still faster. It was nothing for him to snatch wrist and hold her in place so mean.

Dietrich looked at the girl in distaste for a moment ruined, and Marika choked out a sob as Alerick began to tighten his grip on her daughter's wrist. Tighter and tighter and tighter still...Her whimpers of pain or what could happen to her little bones didn't matter to him, he wanted that blade to fall from her fingers to the floor and that's exactly what he got.

"Elliott lied to you - you're nowhere near ready to be a knight," Alerick so cruelly said to the child. "You can't coat weapons. You can barely demonstrate the basics. Such a pity. I was so looking forward to our new Captain of the Guard." He looked down at her, taking pleasure in her wide fearful eyes. "Well go on, girl. Give me some hope. Fight back."

And she did fight back, just with a demand. "Why do you have my father's sword?!"

Marika and Terrence hadn't even noticed, but Astraea was right. What was in the Usurper's scabbard belonged to Rae. But now in his possession, Alerick took hold of the hilt.

"I have so much more than just his sword."

Taking that as his cue, Dietrich yanked the velvet.

Hearts dropped and wet eyes widened in that split second.

Until it was finally fully uncovered.

{bg: Hito no Dokuro ni Tee Dasuna - One Piece OST (0:00-0:28)}

Astraea's violet eyes grew fearful and swam with tears. But the tears wouldn't fall, and fear gave way to rage, and from the rage awakened a brutal, bright burst of supreme power...

3 YEARS LATER

A bleak snowy slush fell over a colorless kingdom, cold and quiet beneath those sickening storm clouds that eclipsed the sun. Crimson bear banners had fallen to see dark grey vortexes rise and tyrannize. Truth be told, the new banners did compliment the current dreariness of the kingdom.

Content as a cyclone over vast warm waters, Alerick thrived upon the throne as he looked at his approaching audience led by a man that looked strikingly similar to the fallen king. Behind the true heir was Terrence and two other teenage boys on either side of him. One had short auburn hair paired with easy hazel eyes and the other had wild, curly black hair and bright green eyes. All three stopped and patiently waited in silence with hands respectfully behind their backs as the Ferus boy fell gallantly into place by the Usurper's side. {fade out end at 0:28}

"See that?" Alerick asked the man beside him with a casual gesture to his audience. "Still just so very well behaved, aren't they? What gentlemen! This is exactly why you're all still around. Well?" He switched up his tone from spirited to annoyed and urged. "Speak."

"Your Grace," Terrence gave a subtle bow of his head. "Gratitude for taking time out of such a day to grant us audience."

"But, of course, Terrence, my boy." There was a certain smoothness to the Usurper's tone. A happiness, or perhaps a charm. "How could I turn my favorite stepchild down on this joyous occasion?"

"I'm hoping you'll say that when I speak with you on an important matter...It's of mother."

"Ah! My good queen. I haven't seen her today...As is typical given the...Well, you know. You were there," he practically jested. "Permanently seared into your mind, I'm sure! So, tell me. What can I do for sweet Marika?"

"The sun, Your Grace."

Alerick raised an eyebrow.

"I'm afraid mother isn't handling today very well. It's worse than usual, Your Grace. She barely slept at all last night, she refuses to eat or even speak. The last few months have been long, cold, and so drearily grey. If you would part your clouds and gift her some sun, just a little bit of kind warmth, I'm sure the sentiment would bring your good queen some sense of peace."

"Part my precious clouds?" Alerick seemed equally playful and offended, and the man that stood next to him lightly leaned in.

"If I may, Your Grace..."

"Let's hear it, Lecius."

"The Kingdom of Auberon hasn't seen sun in several months...If you would allow rays to breach today of all days, the people here consider it a good omen. Heaven smiling down on your day, so to speak."

"Ahh," Alerick smiled. "You're brighter than your poor bastard king of a father ever was. May his soul rest in or out of peace. I just might have to promote you from my sworn sword to my advisor. If only Felix wasn't so good at his job..." Alas, he turned back to his audience. "I'll consider it. I assume that's why you're here, too, Rowan? Sunless times spoiling your plants?"

The boy with the black curly hair opened his mouth to speak, but the moment he took that breath, Alerick cut him off.

"Oh, do shut up, I've already said I'll consider it. And you, Connor?" The King's enthusiasm further plummeted when he addressed the other boy. "Something with your gadgets or mad science or what have you? Don't tell me they're solar-powered."

"Oh, not at all, sire! I'm just here for support!" Connor harshly hit Terrence's back in what was supposed to be a supportive pat.

"Well, boys. You have your answer. Off with you." He made a shooing motion with both ring-heavy hands, and the three followed the order, taking leave with a quick and respectful bow. When the three were gone, Alerick turned to his sworn sword. "Good heavens, Lecius, I almost forgot to ask how your mother is faring today! I've just been thinking so much of my dragon pit. Such a shame the renovations couldn't be complete for my anniversary."

"My deepest condolences, Your Grace."

───── ⋆⋅☾⋅⋆ ─────

"It's unforgivable," Terrence was heated but hushed as the three boys strolled down the castle breezeway adjacent to the dying royal gardens. "That arrogant bastard. Seated on the throne while the rightful heir stands next to it as a loyal lapdog."

"Careful, Terry," Rowan urgently muttered. "These walls have ears."

"I wouldn't say such things if I didn't think it was safe to do so."

With not a single soul nearby, the three took pause beneath the grey in the breezeway arch that was the garden entrance.

"Maybe Lecius will finally snap and slice his throat," Connor seemed to agree they were in the clear for brazenly honest words, but Terrence shook his head.

"You know Lecius is smarter than that...More disciplined. You remember what happened the last time anyone tried anything...And now even once-abundant seaprism stone is hard to get our hands on...Besides, Lecius wants to set nothing into motion until his poor mother passes. Because...If it fails..."

"That damn chokehold he has on us all..."

"Loved one against loved one..." Rowan sadly added. "What about Elliott? Has anyone heard from him? Perhaps he's planning something given that Alerick wouldn't dare hurt Stormy? Right...? She was such good friends with him and Genevieve...they all grew up together."

"No..." Terrence was thoughtful. "Elliott got the easy out. I know it pains him, but I'm sure he's put this all behind him and is just focusing on his family now. And I would ask or expect nothing more of him. Let the man have his peace, and let's see this conversation put to rest."

Connor titled his head. "So, that's it, then? That's what three years has amounted to? Let's just keep waiting around until Lecius' mother is out of harms way in her grave or Astraea gets stronger? The corpses I get on my table are more proactive."

"You leave your twisted hobbies and my sister out of this!" Terrence warned under his breath. "I know she can get grand and brazen with her words, but she's just a girl."

"She has the Colors, Terry. She's a Conqueror."

"She blames me for all of this..." Rowan was dejected, but above all else, the boy bore guilt. "If I hadn't found that damned fruit none of this-"

"Not another word," Terrence cut him off with softly-spoken but stern words. "I promise Astraea does not blame you. She is angry. She is hurt. But all of that is directed at our King."

But before another word could be said, beautiful beams broke through the clouds and cast warmth onto their skin. All three turned to look at the clearing sky, and Terrence was still nothing short of spiteful.

"And what a merciful king he is..."

───── ⋆⋅☾⋅⋆ ─────

The golden sun atop the gray shone through an ornate window of Astraea's chambers, softly filling the room alongside a gentle crackling fire and a small singing voice.

"It's always summer...under the sea...I know, I know...oh, oh, oh..." Seated at the vanity, Astraea looked down and fidget with ribbons as her mother lovingly brushed through her long locks. They had grown with her through the unforgiving years. "The birds have scales...and the fish take wing. I know, I know...oh, oh, oh...The rain is dry, and the snow falls up...I know, I know..." The girl raised her sad eyes to the mirror and looked past herself at her mother, and that was when she realized, "Oh, look, mother, the sun came out!"

No response.

"Mother...?"

Still nothing, and Astraea thought for a moment.

"Will you tell me again about the Flower Capital...? About the samurai? The stories of the kappa and strange creatures were always so much fun!"

Marika only brushed though the locks in silence, weakly but with so much love.

"Mother, please say something...You haven't spoken all day, and I-"

"Your hair..." Marika finally spoke. Her voice sounded small, so defeated. "I'm glad you let it grow...I hope you know how so very special it is - It's just like his but gifted my waves." Marika gently played with the locks between her fingers as she brushed them and cherished fond memories of her lost love. "You got the best of both of us...Two perfect little pieces from us each that will live on through you...It's beautiful."

Those sad eyes filled with concern as she kept them on her mother in the mirror. "Are you alright, mother...? I can have Rowan bring tea...Whatever you need."

"Worry not, darling...I've just grown quite tired..." Slowly, Marika placed the brush back onto the vanity and rose, "I think I'll rest for a while...Save my strength," She turned to her daughter, took her face in her hands, and the two locked eyes, "Maybe then I can be as strong as you."

"But you don't need to be strong, mother. You've got me to protect you."

At last, the slightest bit of a smile tugged at the corners of Marika's lips, "Of course, darling. My strong, beautiful girl," her fingers lightly brushed Astraea's bangs to the side. "Remember, I'll always love you." Marika placed a kiss on the girl's forehead and then took her leave without another word. The girl watched as her mother departed. Once the door close, she kept her eyes on it for just a moment before turning to face herself in the mirror.

───── ⋆⋅☾⋅⋆ ─────

The dark silhouette of the castle and quiet capital coldly rested under a black, moonless night sky.

Astraea lay in bed with a grave face fixed on the massive clouds that drifted outside her grand bedroom window. But on this night, the capital would be blessed with another welcomed glimpse of the sky and even the shimmering moon itself was shyly unveiled.

At the beautiful surprise of a sight, the girl gave an elated gasp. "The moon!" she happily exclaimed to herself as she scrambled to her knees in bed, positioned for prayers to the silver light. "Hi daddy..." She so softly started. "I miss you so much...Do you remember? On that day...? Before you left, you told me to watch the moon, and you would be home when it was high in the sky...Mother and Terrence say you're happy in heaven now, but I think that's where you went - to moon and never back...I wish..." her little whispering voice began to quiver, but she quickly steadied herself - she had to.

{bg: Maya's Tears - One Piece OST (0:00-0:23)}

"I wish I could have gotten that pair of wings, so maybe I could fly to you. But...Even if I can't see you, I hope you're still watching down on me...I hope you get to see me make everything right. This isn't the part where life keeps me down. I'll get back up. I'll be the very, very, very strongest - I promise I will, daddy. I'll always fight for what you believed in...

And I'll win."

{end at 0:23 and fade into next ost}

{bg: Remember - Brunuhville (this is the non-vocal version - very important}

_

Terrence sat in front of a fire in the castle's library. A book was open in his lap, but his eyes were fixed on the flames. Even when the slight of the moon shone into the room.

_

Despite the snow and freezing cold, Marika wore nothing but an open white nightgown cinched just under her chest by three ties and exposed the rest of her bare body in nothing but a pair of white panties. The gown whipped where the wind willed as she slowly walked atop one of the castle walls. Cold tears streamed down her blank face and her lips shivered.

At last, she stopped at a spot on the wall-walk and slowly stepped up onto parapet. She looked down below to the impossible drop into the dark she knew ended in snow-covered cobble. But her face showed no sign of fear - in fact it remained blank.

The good queen looked to the sky for some final beauty as the clouds moved for the moon, and she closed her eyes as she gave her last breath to the cold. Her arms raised out to her sides and she leaned forward into a fall.

Marika saw nothing but him.

Her love.

His arms opened for her welcomed embrace at long last. As she fell, she only got closer to him - closer to peace.

{1:17} Until finally there were reunited.

Three guards at their post not far away snapped their heads around when they heard a sickening thud (inaudible) behind them. Their eyes went wide at the source of the noise.

_

A pair of other guards strolling down the halls of the castle saw the others below running from their post. The moment one of them caught a glimpse of the reason, they two were full speed.

_

Cozied up in the lab, Connor seemed to be stringing a guitar and waiting on test results while Rowan played with his plants, full sketchbook open and a curious sample under a microscope. Their attention was soon torn from hobby to hurried guards that tore into the room.

One was catching his breath while the other was frantically explaining through huffs.

The half-brothers weren't even fully up to speed when Connor was pulling out a pocket-sized transponder snail and Rowan was rushing to grab any rope, which he quickly handed off to one of the guards as Connor began a call.

_

Alerick was quite enjoying himself at a late-night feast celebrating three years on the throne. He was seated and all smiles at a full dining table, and two massive, monstrous bears adorned in gold and jewels were chained to the wall behind him - gods of war reduced to party décor.

The Usurper had just raised a glass of whiskey to his lips when those loyal to him quickly and discreetly informed him of the misfortune.

The warm fire that blazed in the banquet hall and all the welcome company could do nothing for the cold expression that washed over his face. He muttered an order (inaudible), and gestured with the fingers that held the glass for it to be carried out. The guards hurried to take their leave, and he calmly took another sip.

_

Terrence was still fixed on the fire when the door behind him burst open. Startled, he turned to see a guard rushing up, urging him (inaudible) from his chair and forced the rope from Rowan and his own sword into the boy's hands.

_

Astraea hadn't moved when her door burst open and, she whipped around to see Terrence hurrying to her. He yanked her to her feet and was quickly but sternly explaining something to her (inaudible) as he tied the rope around the bed post and threw the window open. Harshly, he shoved her towards it and urged her out.

She went from confused to scared when guards swarmed the room, and Terrence gave one final shove before he moved to be her shield from the storming guards.

The last thing she saw on her way out was her brother hold his ground with a readied sword as they came for him.

In nothing but her nightgown, her bare feet dropped into the snow.

And she ran.

But it didn't take long for yet another pair guards patrolling this side of the castle on horseback to spot her. Through the stinging tears and labored breaths, she fled from two pursuers through the freezing night, winding through narrow alleys and stumbling over railing to lose them.

She made it to the backend beach, but they had caught up with her when she struggled through the sand. As they closed in, one communicated on a portable transponder snail while the other guard reached for the fleeing girl, his hand mere inches away from her. But just before he could get a fistful of her hair, he abruptly stopped, and blood went flying into the crisp night. {2:18}

The second man was still speaking into the transponder snail when his face turned to horror, and his report became nothing but a scream (inaudible) as Elliott rode at him on an untacked Seamus with a black warhammer raised and readied for the enemy's head.

Elliott leapt from his horse and quickly got the girl into one of the few boats that were beached. He rowed as fast as he could while the girl could only stare at Seamus left behind with the two other aimlessly trotting horses and at the distant castle that got lost in the black moonless sky.

Storm clouds were rolling in.

{2:33} When dawn broke, she was curled up on the bottom of the boat. Her eyes looked to Elliott, and he could only offer the same. He was winded, pouring sweat, and rowing slower.

Without a word, she closed her eyes.

Night fell once more and they were blessed with calm waters but cursed with a dense fog. The girl hadn't moved since dawn, and Elliott looked down at her in pity as he gently rowed. But his attention was torn from her by a small approaching ship from behind.

One man aboard pointed and shouted commands (inaudible), and soon cannon fire tore through the night and towards them. {2:57} Astraea awoke to Elliott throwing himself over her as one cannon ball hit him directly in his Haki-coated back. The two went down with the splintered rowboat.

The men on the ship looked out into the dark waters for any sign of life, though none would come. Once satisfied, the one who ordered the canon fire nodded and the small ship began its departure.

The fog turned out to be a blessing in disguise for the pair. After swimming a distance Elliott sure was safe, they surfaced. But that wasn't the end of it, they would have to swim until they reached land. She broke free from Elliott's protective hold to swim on her own, and they struggled and paddled into the deep dark waters, fighting to keep their heads above the roughening waves before going under again. {end}

Exhausted and shivering, the two resurfaced with a final, deep and desperate gasp. At last, land was within reach, the pier was the answer to their prayers. Elliott hoisted the girl up onto the frozen wharf. She messily tumbled, but quickly gathered herself to grab the massive man's forearm in a futile attempt to pull him up to join her. Desperately, she tugged, pulled, and grunted until he was able to crawl up with the help she had to offer. Instantly, he was flat on his back, huffing and panting, a well-deserved rest for what he had just gone through to protect the girl.

She was in not much better of state, as she was on her knees and folded over herself facing towards the land while trying to catch her breath. Whimpers and the cold escaped her trembling lips as she peered into the darkness before them where a rundown harbor town waited to be their new home.

{bg: Le Retour Triomphal - Shiro SAGISU}

PRESENT DAY

That same image of the town erupted in bright sunlight, colors, confetti, and cheers. It was clearly cleaner and expanded, hosting merry masses and a sea of happy faces. Underneath lines of strung pirate flags and lovely string lights, people hurried from one booth to another - each one offering games, prizes, or delectable dishes. Some carried around cotton candy or sparklers as they excitedly explored all the festival had to offer.

{0:18} A petite cloaked figure approached a fruit stand from the seaside harbor path. Well, cloak was a generous word for the beige cloth fashioned into something like a cloak. The wearer pushed the hood far back enough to free thick strands of raven hair and full lips as she leisurely took her time to browse the sweet selections. She seemed enough at peace until she was pulled out of her choosing by overhearing two very ecstatic nearby boys with their little wooden swords and homemade pirate costumes, wide eyes to the harbor.

"Whoa, cool! Look at that one!" one child pointed at a massive ship as it pulled into port.

"That's Liberal Hind! X Drake's ship!" the other excitedly responded. "Awesome!! He's actually here!"

"The Fire Tank Pirates are already here, too! I saw them walking around! Is that the Straw Hats in the distance?! So cool!!"

A bit perplexed, the girl pushed her hood back even further to reveal a full familiar face - though now all grown up. She glanced from the children to the harbor to find it beyond bustling with onlooking civilian crowds and unloading pirate crews alike. So many peculiar ships she had never seen while others were incoming on the horizon.

Just then, an eclipsing ship drifted directly in front, blocking her view of harbor and ocean and casting a massive shadow over the crowds and street. This one she knew - the Stay Tuned. And while the boys swooned with starry eyes over the Sea Roar, she sneered.

"Oh shit...that's today?" the girl asked herself and looked into the town with dismay to find festive decorations aplenty, booths, more crowds, and the most damming all the evidence: pirate flags. "Oh shit...that's today."

{0:51} Without hesitation, she grabbed a peach from the fruit stand and took off into town.

"Hey!! Carmen!" the shopkeeper called after her.

"Sorry, Cal! You know I'm good for it!" she threw her hood back on before sinking her teeth into the peach and disappearing into the crowd as some heads turned after her.

_

{1:00} From aboard the Thousand Sunny, Chopper was on Franky's shoulders as the helmsman sailed the Sunny to the harbor town on the horizon.

"Hello, New World!!!" the little reindeer couldn't help but happily exclaim. Relaxed and eyes closed, Robin took a sip of her drink, and interrupted from his nap, Zoro lightly opened his one eye.

"Our first stop here! Or rather, our first vacation~" Eternal pose in hand, Nami jumped up from sunning in her lawn chair and hurried to the side of the ship, "I can't wait to see what it's like!"

"I'll be by your side come what may, Nami-sweet~" Sanji playfully sang and hurried after her.

The captain stood on the lion head with a broad smile and sight set to the fest - to the future. Wind played in his hair and seagulls soared as his dreams. This was it.

This was the New World.

_

{1:15} Standing proudly on the bow of their ships at sea, Eustass "Captain" Kid and the Mad Monk Urouge held grins to the horizon.

_

{1:19} "Straw Hats, huh?" Law could see the ship and others ahead in the not-so-far distance. "Eustass and Urouge, too. And looks like there are plenty more already at port," he side-eyed his limited crew. "I can't believe I let you guys talk me into taking a break and coming here."

"But Captain! We missed you!" Bepo was first to speak, gathered with the rest of the crew behind Law on deck. "And you really do deserve this! You've been working hard for almost two months now!"

Penguin nodded. "A well-earned time of rest. Plus, the timing was perfect with your birthday!"

"Well, almost perfect..." After those words, Sachi would be the first to break - he could hardly contain his excitement. "And we wanna see the cabaret girls!!

"Yeah!" Penguin shamelessly admitted, hands on his friend's shoulders. The two earned a death-glare from the Surgeon of Death, "We wanted to see you too though, captain!"

"Would you two knock it off?!"

_

{1:30} Carmen still hurried through the packed-out streets of her usually peaceful hometown, her teeth still anchoring the peach to her lips as she made her way further into the sea of spectators.

"Where's the pizza stand?!" a pink-haired woman that Carmen had, at a distance, passed by demanded.

"We're looking for it, Captain!" a large man tried to placate her.

The voice from another crew mate came far from the left. "Over here, Captain!"

Swiftly turning a corner, the girl passed by tall, stout, and well-built man that was occupied at one of the booths with an array of reptiles on display. From his wanted poster, she knew to be Red Flag himself, X Drake. Though his wanted poster did him no justice, and his stature made her tear the peach from her teeth and up-and-down as she kept her pace. "Good lord..." said to herself with her mouth full before setting herself straight and running down past the part of the street lined with horse-drawn carriages.

_

"Careful, Chiffon," Bege held the hand of his 6-month pregnant wife as she stepped into one.

"I got it, honey," she sweetly assured her dear husband who turned back to his two men, Vito and Gotti. "You two wait for us here."

_

Peach back between her teeth and running full speed, Carmen arrived the town square. It was festively decorated with a stunning sun and moon themed stage, even more decadent and exotic booths, a traditional renaissance band tuning their instruments, and brightly colored tents set up.

She sped past a man with long blonde hair, a single black cat mink crewmate at his side. Repulsion on his face from the sight, the blonde man immediately shuffled and suspended cards in the air before him. "A little thief, I imagine."

"You're doing a reading to see if she stole the peach?"

"No...I'm trying to figure out why the cards advised I come here in the first place."

"Perhaps fate just wants you to have fun for once, Captain," the Magician couldn't help but wryly suggest.

_

At last, Carmen reached her destination - one of the big, bright tents with one of her beautifully dressed but impatient man waiting for her outside.

The man gave a dramatic gasp, "There you are!!" his relieved exclamation came with him tearing the peach from her teeth.

"Sorry, Tracey," she threw her hood back as she chewed. "I forgot."

"You forgot?" it almost sounded like disbelief was caught in his throat, and she flatly gave her defense.

"I was drunk every time they talked about it!"

"They've been talking about it for months!!"

"I've been drunk for years."

"I would rip my hair out if it wasn't already done!" Tracey yanked one half of the tent entrance open.

"You do look stunning, really, Tracey. So festive!"

He wouldn't be sweetened by her compliments or pretty smile.

"Get in, Songbird! Victor said your hair and makeup need to be perfect by the time the fireworks go off."

{1:59} With the best timing in all of the New World, shrill whistles of fireworks soaring into the air sounded out. In unison, Tracey shot Carmen a death glare and threw the peach at her bicep, and she curled her lips in, violet eyes on him in a mix of remorseful and amused as she tried to make herself smaller.

{2:05} Sparkling and mixing into the sky with the confetti and clouds as they whistled upwards, the fireworks burst in air. {end}

Title shot~!

{Next Episode Preview: ALL THE STARS}

Read the next episode here!

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(Disclaimer: The song Astraea is singing when her mother is brushing her hair is "It's Always Summer Under the Sea (Shireen's Song)" - Game of Thrones Soundtrack, Season 3)