#ten faced is a scar song to me but i could never do anything with it in fear of syscourse

[thecoolerliauditore]

Could you talk about Scar and his relationships?

I don't. Think I can I'll be honest. Scar is one of the guys I fully admit I do not comprehend. I am not a Scar guy I cannot tell you anything about Scar that I know isn't completely wrong. I can try but this is like. yeah read at your own risk.

Him being incomprehensible to me actually, in a way, adds to my overall read of 3L. I think Grian, like me, doesn't understand Scar or his intentions and that adds so much to 3L's overall themes of trust. Scar's deadliness is both constantly overestimated and underestimated by those around him -- e.g. Martyn and Ren being on high alert about everything he does vs Scott slotting him into being Grian's soon-to-be-dead-husband like he does with himself and Jimmy or Cleo and Bdubs. He's treated as either like. a complete monster or a bumbling fool, neither of which he actually is.

Grian, over time, does get more of a sense of who Scar is (definitely at least more than the other players) but even then it's underlined with a distinct acknowledgement he doesn't Get Scar.

And I think, in a way, Scar also doesn't get Scar. He does things very impulsively and adapts into whatever character others have assigned him, but unlike Etho who adapts entirely, he distorts it to suit himself -- such as, before the siege of Dogwarts, he IS a threat but he's a threat because he's serving as a distraction for Grian, not because of any danger emitting from himself alone. Grian expects him to betray him, and he does, but for Grian's sake instead of his own.

I'm a big fan of Grian/Scar being parallels to Scott/Pearl so a lot of the same things apply -- Scar is a glitch in the matrix for Grian's survivalist attitude towards the game. Grian can't comprehend Scar, so he abandons him, leading to Scar donning a cloak and being villainized by the whole server while Grian sits back. It's no wonder then why he's one of the only ppl in DL who isn't ever afraid of Pearl and even helps her get back at Scott (the self harm metaphors that apply to Scott/Pearl also apply to DL Scar/Grian for me).

I'll be honest I routinely forget that the cheating b plot in DL existed idk why it's just the one part that keeps slipping my mind, but I don't really know how to interpret Scar being upset there because he's never read to me as particularly in love with Grian or performatively "married" like Impdubs or the Box Boys. I think it's like. Just being abandoned once again but. shrugs. I do think it's fun comparing how Scar reacts to Grian actually cheating on him vs what Scott and Cleo do at the start of the season.

Despite really liking the Clockers POV of Limlife I really don't have much to say about Scar's role in that. It felt to me as if the "loose canon" label he came with pretty much dictated how Cleo and Bdubs treated him. I also read the whole family thing as just them being silly and roleplaying so that might play some part in it.

Secret Life's finale is peak cinema to me I just feel like it bookends Scar's character so well. Letting go of the attachment to Grian, winning on his lonesome and both teaming up and fighting against Pearl, his parallel. It almost feels more like Scar overcoming himself than anything else. Also him not dying at the end is hilarious and so very on brand (I have a short animatic in my head but idk if the moments passed to make it at this point).

[trippinsorrows]

dos oruguitas + au

authors note: just a short, random thing i came up with heavily based upon this ask as well as some others! it's just a 'what if' thing based off the two main characters from 'looking through your eyes'

words: 1.7k

warnings: angst and fluff

song inspo: dos oruguitas by sebastián yatra

Loving her was never the problem. That was easy. An almost second nature thing that Roman happened to stumble upon out of nowhere. The same way he serendipitously stumbled upon her. Young. Beautiful. So full of life. He found his initial interest rooted in her art, pieces that so beautifully depicted her home, a small village off of Isla Mujeres, tucked away from the busy hustle and bustle of the island. 

Never was he one to gravitate to art, anything remotely close to the arts. But hers��.it always called to him, the same way her soft giggle seemed to travel across the room and land his eyes on her, her smile so beautiful and focused on someone other than him, an ounce of jealousy arriving at this lack of being on the receiving end of an angel. Ten seconds of knowing her existence, and he was already spellbound. 

That’s what she did to him. What she’s always done to him.

Her hand moves up his bare chest. Soft, full lips that he could kiss until the end of time press against his pectoral muscle. Laying here in bed with her, both naked and exhausted from lovemaking, there is no dilemma. No internal struggle. It’s just him. It’s just her. The world outside is a separate entity that doesn’t exist when she’s in his arms like this.

In her, he’s found a respite from the chaotic, violent life he’s lived. Almost forty years worth of trauma, of blood, sweat, and tears. And all it takes is a smile and laugh to almost instantly wash away the pain, strip away scars he always thought were permanent. 

“What are you thinking about?”

So much and yet nothing. He’d love to clear his brain, to store away the forever recycling to-do list he walks around with as the head of the table. Would love to be able to enjoy the break he’s found in being with her these past few months. But, he can’t, he can’t because as beautiful as the time spent with her has been, it’s coming to an end that he can’t allow himself to think too much about.

He’ll back out. Find some sort of reason to either delay or avoid the inevitable. And it’s selfish. A selfish thing to do because her mother was right. 

He doesn’t deserve her.

She’s too good for him. Too pure for his world. He’ll stomp out her light eventually and leave her with that same gaping hole created in him so long ago. Roman doesn’t want that for her. Can’t bear the thought of desecrating her innocence.

“Nothing.” To lie to her is painful, but to tell her the truth is an almost unbearable thought.

She lifts her head, chin on his chest, eyes focused on him, the moonlight seeping through the window highlighting the light brown of her irises. “Liar. I can hear you.”

There’s a tug in Roman’s chest. So well. In such a short time, she’s learned him so well. The same way he’s learned her. Learned her likes. Her dislikes. The spots that make her scream his name a little louder, spots to touch that make her nails dig a little deeper in his back. The same way she’s learned him, knowing when he’s come to visit her with the weight of the world. A weight she selflessly strives to help him carry, always encouraging him to talk with her, to lay with her, to find comfort in her arms as much as she finds in his. 

“Nothing.” He strokes her back, another tidbit he’s learned she enjoys. Touch. She enjoys his touch. Craves it. Almost as much as he craves the feel of her body against his. “You worry too much about me.”

It’s said with a lightness reserved for only her, but a truth nonetheless. He sees it, the furrow of her brow, the way she reaches to stroke his face, kissing his nose as she murmurs something in Spanish.

Spanish….

It brings on a memory. A few weeks back. She’d asked for him to take her to another part of her home country, a place where they could be together without the fear of being spotted. Without her overprotective brother and anxious mother finding out about their continued courting.

Well, to her knowledge, it was still a secret. But, Roman knows better. Every word spoken by her mother dripping with an aching truth he can’t think too much about, as he opts to lean deeper into the memory.

A local artist singing a song in his native language, Solana leaned back into his protective embrace, that breathtaking smile on her happy face as she translates for him. 

“Ay, oruguitas. Don’t you hold on too tight. Both of you know, it’s your time to grow…..”

He hums against her, kissing her cheek and asking, “what is that?”

Her smile deepens as she turns to look at him. “Butterflies.”

Roman says nothing at first, but it’s a fitting thing. An accurate description of just whatever this is he feels when he’s with her. “Butterflies….”

She nods, turning her focus back to the artist while he focuses more on the art in his arms. “It’s about two people falling in love but eventually having to let each other go.” Her smile gradually dims, and Roman is ready to move heaven and earth to bring it back. She turns into him, hands planted on his chest. “Roman….promise me we’ll stay together.” Her eyes lift to his, pleading and emotional. “I don’t care what anyone says about us. Not my mother. Not my brother. I–I love you, and—and I’m going to be with you. I’ll do whatever it takes. I’ll move back to America with you.”

His deep voice is thick with emotion he’s grateful the other patrons are not privy to, much too invested in the performance on stage versus the one happening in the back of the crowd. “This is your home, Solana.”

She shakes her head, lifting her hand to his chest, placing it over his heart. “My home is here. With you.” He shuts his eyes, so torn, feeling so deeply in only a way she can cause him to feel. “Promise me, Roman.”

The second repeating is firmer, more desperate, her need undeniable. It matches his own.

It’s all so complicated. Her family’s hatred of him, of who he is and what he does. His family’s mounting pressure to marry, to create an heir to carry on his legacy, to marry someone who is within the Bloodline allies. 

Solana is not.

She would never get his family’s approval, most definitely not his parents or the elders. 

The same way he’ll never have hers.

And yet, the words come out of his mouth without hesitation.

“I promise.” Never has he broken a vow, failed to live up to a promise, but there’s something in the pit of his stomach that makes him feel like that streak has just been broken with two words. It’s dulled, just ever so slightly as he lowers his lips to her. “I love you, Solana…..”

The memory is bittersweet, representing both the cementing of their love and the beginning stages of their damnation. 

Her mother’s words circle back around, creating a new kind of memory, a warning he would be wise to heed to. 

A prayer.

“I risked so much to take my children from hell, and yet you want to drag her back down there with you.” Her voice shakes with a conviction he admires to some extent, despite the cruel words she throws his way. “I’ve always prayed she would never end up with a man like her father. And yet here you are, somehow worse.”

He would never admit it, never confess the slap of pain that brings. Roman knows he’s a monster, knows he’s far from a saint, but he would never raise his hand to a woman or child the way Solana told him her family was abused.

He’s killed men for less than that.

“You're no good for my daughter, and you know it. Only heartache and pain awaits her by being with you. And it’s even worse now because you’ve made her fall in love with you.” Nina, a still beautiful woman who he sees Solana in, moves closer, hugging her shawl closer around her body. “If you love my daughter the way you claim to, let her go. Please.” She continues, twisting that jagged knife deeper. “What life awaits her with you? Hmm? She’ll never be safe. Your enemies will always go after her first and whatever family you two decide to make. She doesn’t deserve that, and you know it.”

He does know it. 

He still does.

Solana shifts next to him, moving up to kiss his cheek, her fingers caressing his beard. “Well, I’m here to listen when you’re ready, papi.” His eyes shut, and she laughs already knowing the reaction the term will evoke from him. 

“You call me that again, and I’m gonna remind you why you started in the first place.” Roman already knows how she’ll respond, the brief look of bashfulness followed by a mischievous smile as she goads him.

And sure enough, Solana ghosts her lips over his, her hand moving up to his shoulder as she anchors her body over his. “Papi…..”

All resolve is broken as he kisses her, passionate and strong, just as the overwhelming love he has for her. 

If only that was enough. If only it could withstand the countless impenetrable barriers between them. But, it’s not. He’s not sure what could, but right now, staring into her beautiful eyes, hearing her equally beautiful moans as he makes sweet love to her, he doesn’t care.

That is for tomorrow. A different day. Not now. 

Not tonight. Tonight he’ll just hold her. He’ll hold her and love her. Love her until the love becomes not enough, until the weight of reality cripples him to the point where has no point but to let her go. 

Because as he said, loving her was never the problem.

Loving her enough to leave her…..that’s the problem.

Dos Oruguitas

[seeingivy]

the party scene

roommate eren x f!reader 

you and eren won’t dance 

**find the series masterlist here

content warning: drinking, hitch and marlowe being annoying, someone gets pushed into a pool, marco getting clowned for his halloween costume, toilet humor 

an: ok yall. here’s the chapter. heheheheheh. and you should listen to the song, when you get to it. for vibes of course. to many anon who guessed correctly, hundreds of kisses. not my fav roommates chapters me thinks (but also it seems like everyone else has different fav chapters than I expected so)

previous part linked here

- 

“What are you going to be for the party?” 

You can literally see Eren’s ears perk up, breaking his concentration from the dinner he was cooking on the stove. You tried to make ravioli for dinner. Key word, tried. He didn’t let you stand there for longer than two minutes because he didn’t want you to “burn the apartment down.” 

You put foil in the microwave one time and suddenly he thinks you’re some arsonist. 

“The party on Friday? You’re going, peaches?” 

“Yeah. Jean invited me. Kind of being a wingwoman for him and bringing my classmate Marco, who I’m like ninety percent sure he has a crush on.” 

Eren turns his face back to the pan, dishing the food around on the plate. You get up occasionally, grabbing things you know he’ll need before he asks for them. Setting the dishes, grabbing the salt (because this man doesn’t know how to season), the Yerba Mate Eren claims to hate but drinks anyways. 

“Hitch and I are going as Anakin and Padme. From Star Wars. Apparently, Marlowe loves that crap and she never gave him the time of day for it. She thinks it’ll make him real mad if we show up like that.” 

“You should put a braid in your hair. You know, like from the second movie.” 

“Ew. I’m going as the third movie look.” 

“Good. He’s hotter in that movie anyways.” 

He flashes you a smile as he dishes out the food, lifting the plates and setting them on the table. You join him with the drinks, the two of you sitting right next to each other. 

It was getting easier. Eren was your friend. Maybe even your best friend. You’d still get the occasional heart pounding, flustered cheesk whenever he walked past you or said something that made your heart flutter, but other than that, you were making progress. You can live with a heart flutter here and there. 

“What are you going to be?” 

“Jean wants to do some basic angel/devil thing for the party. I’ve got a white dress and he apparently has a halo already so it should be fine.” 

“Have you ever been to a party?” 

“Yeah. Not really my thing though, but I don’t mind helping Jean. It can be fun with friends. Dancing, letting loose and all that.” 

“Hm. Save a dance for me, peaches?” 

“I’m not riding up on you, Eren. That’s weird.” 

He drops his fork, an exasperated expression spreading across his face. The vein in his forehead is prominent and you always enjoy when it shows up because you know you’ve won. He’s just that easy to aggravate. 

“Who said anything about you riding up on me? I didn’t mean it like that. That’s like…perverted. You could expect that type of shit from Jean or something but-” 

You place your hand against his forearm, laughing in his face. He stops immediately at the sight of your laughter, glaring at you. 

“You’re so easy to piss off, Eren. I’ll save you a dance, okay? A normal one.” 

He holds his hand out, gesturing for you to shake.

“Deal?” 

“Deal, Ren.” 

 - 

“Hey.” 

“Hi Ren.” 

He steps into the bathroom, standing directly behind you as you finish doing your makeup for the party. Jean was supposed to be here in thirty minutes and the two of you were going to go pick up Marco. Meaning, you were going to have to deal with their awkward pining for the ten minute drive to the party. 

“Can you help me with something?” 

“Sure. What’s up?” 

“Can you help me draw the scar?” 

“Oh, yeah. Show me the picture.” 

He hands you his phone as you inspect the picture, the scar starting before the eyebrow and breaking just underneath the left eye. He sits on top of the toilet seat, his ankles crossed over each other. 

“Ah. Hitch gave me this to use. For the scar.” 

He hands you a tube of lipstick, which you slide open and swatch against the back of your hand. Too glittery for a scar.

“Do you mind if I use mine? Hers is kind of glittery and it’ll look kinda weird?” 

“Yeah, sure.” 

You bend over, digging through your bag to find the one tube of red lipstick you own, that Pieck forced you to buy for her wedding. You can’t show up to my wedding in lip gloss, that’s an atrocity. You find the tube at the end of the drawer, walking over to where Eren was sitting. 

As you amble over, you realize that the toilet seat is way too low and you can’t properly reach Eren’s face to reach. You were towering over him, his long legs sprawled across the floor of the bathroom. 

“Why are these toilet seats so low? I can’t even get the right angle.” 

“Levi. Kenny told me he hates having his feet dangle over certain toilets so he makes sure to get the shortest ones when picking his apartments. As if Levi’s going to come shit in our toilet at some point.” 

You nod, trying your best to lean over and indent the mark over Eren’s face. Out of all the angles you try, not one of them works - your head is blocking the light, your hands are in a weird position, you’re all up in his space. 

“Just sit on my knee. If it’s easier.” 

He splits his legs, tapping on the top of his thigh for you to sit. You nod, setting both of your legs on each side of his one as you lightly perch on top of his leg. 

“That’s hovering. Not sitting, Y/N. It’s fine.” 

You sigh, pressing your full weight against Eren as you lean back over for the phone and check the picture. As you slide over reaching for it, Eren puts his hands on your waist, holding you from falling off of his knee. 

“Thanks Ren. Just wanted to check again before I started.” 

You focus on the picture, the light shining against your face as you check where the scar was exactly on your eyes. Eren locks his fingers together behind your waist, pulling you closer so you can get a better look. 

“Okay. I think I’ve got it down.” 

You cradle the side of his face in your hands as you start drawing the scar on, trying to be as gentle as possible. Trying to avoid the fact that you’re basically straddling him right now. You can feel his cheeks warming under your touch and you try your hardest not to let the smile spread across your face. At least it’s not just you. 

“What’s so funny?” 

“Nothing Ren. You’re just blushing, that’s all.” 

“You’d blush if you were in my position too.” 

You shake your head, pressing your fingers against his lips so you can stop him from moving. You’re only halfway through the scar and if he talks again you’re going to smudge it. 

“Since when do you wear red lipstick?” 

“I don’t. Pieck made me buy it for her wedding. It’s for special occasions.” 

You lean back, cupping his face in your hands as you glean your eyes over the scar. You compare it to the picture and figure it's semi accurate, giving him a smile to signal you’re done. You slide off of his legs, beckoning him to join you in the mirror. You watch him lean forward, eyeing your work. 

“Thanks.” 

“No problem.” 

“Can I try?” 

“Try what?” 

“Doing makeup on you.” 

You pause, dropping your lipstick tube back into the box. 

“I don’t have a scar for my costume.” 

“I know. But you must have something left to do. You just looked so focused, like you were face painting, and I just wanted to try.” 

“Um, okay. You can take this glitter. You basically just dip your finger in it and swipe it against my eyelids. And then along the collarbone too, because it's body glitter.” 

He nods, taking the white glitter into his hands. He inspects the box first, turning it over and over again, holding it up against the light, smelling it. 

“Do you need to do a police inspection on the box? It’s just glitter.” 

“Shut up. I was just checking if it was okay to use.” 

“It’s obviously okay to use if I’m giving it to you. I’ve used it before.” 

He rolls his eyes, learning down. He sets his hands on both sides of your face, angling your face to inspect you this time. 

“You’re short.” 

“Thank you, Captain Obvious.” 

“Do you always have to give me attitude?” 

“Pretty much.” 

“Sit on the counter. It’ll be easier for me to do if we’re closer to the same level.” 

You brace your palms against the counter, trying to push yourself onto the counter. You clearly misestimated how tall the counter was because you barely hit the back of the top, stumbling in the air. 

“Okay, Humpty Dumpty. Let me help you.” 

He reaches down, securing his hands around your waist to lift you up to the counter. You can feel your cheeks burning at the sensation, unable to look him in the eyes. 

Right. Because it was getting easier, because he was becoming your friend. But there were still moments like this. Ones where you can feel your cheeks burning, your heart pounding, your fingers shaking. 

You hate that he still makes you feel this way. 

“Okay, widen your stance.” 

“What?” 

“Open your legs.” 

“Ew. You’re so vulgar, Eren.” 

“Well, I said to widen your stance and you gave me that stupid look on your face. It’s your fault.” 

You roll your eyes, parting your legs. He steps in between the space, leaning close to your face with the glitter still in his hands. 

“So, the eyelids and collarbones?” 

“Yeah. You can just use your fingers. You wash your hands after you pee, right?” 

“Of course not.” 

“What?” 

“It’s better for the environment. If I just wait until I have to poop, I can just save water by washing my hands once. You should try it.” he says, his voice dripping with sarcasm. 

“As if. Girls don’t poop.” 

“Yes, they do.” 

“No, they don’t.” 

“There’s no way girls don’t poop.” 

“Ask your mom. Or Mikasa. They’ll tell you the same thing.” 

“Okay, stop fucking around. We’re running late.”

“You started it with your stupid toilet humor.”

“Shut up. Your attitude is going to kill me one day.” 

“That’s a promise, Yeager.” 

He rolls his eyes, a small smile spread across his face as he dips his thumb into the glitter. He cups the side of your face and you flutter your eyes shut, his fingers gentle against your eyes. You can hear him laughing and you squint your eyes, glaring at him as you open them. 

“What’s so funny?” 

“Nothing Y/N. You’re just blushing, that’s all.” he responds, his tone mocking. 

“Did you do this just to prove a point? It looks like finger painting, my ass.” 

“Close your eyes. I’m not done yet.” 

You shut your eyes again, Eren sliding the last bit of glitter along your eyes. You open your eyes to find him staring at you, his eyes wide. 

“What did you do? Don’t tell me there’s glitter on my forehead.” 

“No, it just looks pretty, that’s all.” 

You look down, focusing on his hands as he dips into the glitter again. Stupid fucking hands and voice and smell and hair and soft cheeks. You can literally feel your heartbeat all the way in your stomach and he’s barely even touching you. 

He uses his hands to tilt your face up, lightly pressing the glitter against the exposed parts of your neck. You feel your body shiver, instantly remembering the last time you and Eren were like this. Pressed up in the bathroom, with him kissing your neck. He presses his hand to your shoulder, his eyes washing over in concern at you shivering. 

“You okay?” 

“Yeah, sorry. Got a weird sense of deja vu, that’s all.” 

He nods, finishing off the last of the glitter. When he’s done, he locks his hands across your waist again, lightly setting you back down on the counter as you both stand there. You’re both staring at each other, neither one of you talking first. 

Right. Because what are you supposed to say after that? Oh, sorry, I was just thinking of your lips on my neck, my bad.

The doorbell rings and Eren gives you a soft smile before squeezing your shoulder and leaving. You can hear Hitch in the doorway and you try to ignore the way your entire body is steaming. 

  -

“What are you even supposed to be, Marco?” 

“I’m a space cowboy, Y/N!”

“You’re holding a glittery gun and wearing a flannel. You look like a kid who got lost at Party City and picked the closest thing you could find. You don’t even have a cowboy hat.” 

“Ignore her, Marco. I think you look great.” 

You watch Marco’s cheeks turn a bright pink, awkwardly stuttering to respond to Jean. Great. They’re going to do this whole oblivious idiots thing all night. 

Marco slides into the front as you and Jean walk to the other side, unlocking the car. 

“Ignore her, Marco. I think you look great.” you say, mocking Jean’s high pitched voice. 

He rolls his eyes, lightly shoving you as you settle into the seat behind him. They’re both talking animatedly, forgetting you were even sitting in the back. You unlock your phone, playing Wordscapes as they go on in the background. 

- 

Eren’s eyes were trained on your figure, as Jean and Marco were spinning you around on the dance floor with them for a better part of the last forty-five minutes. He’s been waiting, staring at you, anticipating when you’ll look at him. 

You’re driving him crazy. Today, especially. Soft glitters, a willowy white dress, that stupid flowery perfume you wore during the concert. He even likes the stupid halo you have on your head. 

He wants to touch you. Press his hands against yours, drag you out and leave with you so he was the only one who could see you like this, your stupid eyes glittering in the light. 

He hates that you can still make him feel this way. 

He sees you leave, waving off Jean and Marco who were still left on the dance floor. Marco’s wearing your halo and you have the glittery gun Marco was holding. 

He’s still watching you. Shamelessly. You weave around people talking, wait to walk forward so you don’t get in the way of pictures, compliment strangers on their costumes. 

“What are you staring at?”

“Nothing, Hitch.” 

She’s been annoyed for a better part of the last hour, not that he’s been paying much attention to it. Marlowe still hasn’t shown up. 

He doesn’t mind the guy. He doesn’t quite understand why Marlowe and Hitch have to play these games - circling around each other, making each other jealous, making up. He figures a part of it is the chase, but he’s always found that part the most agonizing. He’d catch you if he could. He’s been waiting long enough. He’d make you feel good right here and right now. 

He watches you leave the room, leaving the heat of the room to the patio outside. 

“Mind if I leave? Just call me when he’s here, okay?” 

Hitch nods and Eren basically bolts out the door, ready to follow you where you went. But before he can, Jean all but falls right off the dance floor, piled on the floor in front of him. He can see Marco’s hand under him, dragging them both up by their arms. He can tell Jean’s already too far gone and that he has to deal with this first. Then you. 

-

Your feet hurt. Like a bitch. You made the wrong choice of wearing your Doc Martens to the party. You had figured you wouldn’t be moving much, just sticking to the walls and talking to whoever you knew there. But no, of course Jean’s nervous ass had to drag you onto the dance floor with Marco, the three of you spinning in circles. 

You had made your safe escape, sitting outside on the patio. You had been watching the wind whistle through the trees in the dead of night, watching the lights in the pool change colors. They had been changing every minute - switching from purple, to red, to green. There were a few stars glittering out, barely sparkling in the sky. 

“Anyone sitting here?” 

You look up to find a guy with black hair and pale green eyes kneeling down, crossing his legs next to yours. 

“No. Well you are, now.” 

He smiles, the two of you sitting in silence. You watch people swerve around the pool, girls holding hands, people leaning against the chairs, everyone nursing drinks in their hands. 

“I’ve never seen you around here.” 

“Yeah. I don’t really come to these things, I just came here with my friend Jean.” 

He nods, leaning down to feel the temperature of the water. 

“Do you want to play twenty questions?” 

You hike your knees against your chest, tangling your fingers together across. 

“Sure.” 

“Your name is…?” 

“Y/N. Yours?” 

“Marlowe.” 

Right. Hitch’s Marlowe. The guy she was trying to make jealous, the reason Eren was seeing her and not you. Well, not exactly. He said you two were just a mistake but you could have convinced him if she wasn’t in the picture. Semantics. He taps your shoulder and you forget that it’s your turn. 

“You play a sport, Marlowe?” 

“Water Polo.” 

You nod, lightly turning your head to the side. This is wrong. Surely Hitch wouldn’t be the happiest that you were sitting with Marlowe and not her. You can hear the party getting louder behind you and you swear you can hear her screaming in there somewhere. 

“Seeing anyone, Y/N?” 

“Uh, no. You?” 

“Not exactly, Y/N.” 

“I have this friend, I think you’d like her. Her name is-” 

“Hitch?” 

You pause, swallowing as you turn your face to look at him. He’s sitting way too close, an all-knowing look plastered on his face. 

“Yeah.” 

“Thanks for the suggestion. I’m okay, for now. It’s your turn to ask.” 

“Um, okay. Why don’t you want to see Hitch?” 

“Because I’m talking to you.” 

He untangles his legs and stands up, holding out his hand for you to follow. You press your hand into his and he pulls you up, not letting go of your hand as the two of you stand. The party is getting even louder, the sound of voices drowning out the sound of the music. You’re positive you can hear her now. 

“My turn. Do you know a guy named Eren? Plays soccer, green eyes?” 

“Uh, no. Never heard of him.” 

He nods, squinting his eyes at you. He must know Eren’s your roommate. Maybe he’s found out their together and he’s trying to get you to admit it. You let go of his hand, the two of you standing awkwardly by the pool. 

You can’t really tell what he’s getting at, but every part of him irks you out. He’s perfect for Hitch. 

“My turn, Marlowe. Are we done now?” 

“That’s barely even twenty. But fine, one more question.” 

You teeter on the balls of your feet, ready to take off the second he asks his stupid question. He turns to the side, eyeing the window, before asking. 

“When was the last time someone kissed you?” 

Before you can respond, Marlowe crashes into the pool, with Eren suddenly standing at your side. Eren just pushed Marlowe into the fucking pool. You can hear the sound of footsteps behind you - Hitch, Jean, and Marco at your sides. 

Jean and Marco - well wasted beyond their minds - swing their arms around you, slurring as they ask you if you’re okay. Hitch on the other hand is pissed. At Eren. 

“What the hell is your problem, Eren?” 

“Him, Hitch. He was pissing me off.” 

“This wasn’t what I meant when I asked you for help with this Eren. And your stupid roommate wasn’t helping the case either.” 

You feel your eyes widen, as you make eye contact with Hitch, awkwardly crossing your arms across each other. You turn back to Jean, who still isn’t paying attention, instead playing rock paper scissors with Marco on the floor. 

“You want to be with Marlowe so bad, Hitch? Go ahead and join him.” 

He leans over, lightly pushing Hitch into the pool where Marlowe was still watching. He turns to you and ou can tell he’s pissed - that stupid vein on his forehead is showing again. But not in the good way. 

“We’re leaving, Y/N.” 

He grabs the edge of your wrist, dragging you towards the door as you shake on his hand. 

“I drove here with Marco and Jean, Eren. And they’re way too drunk to drive home now.” 

You both turn back, leaning over Marco and Jean. Jean’s way too out of it, but Marco looks up, smiling at the two of you. 

“You guys are so cute. I love your Anakin and Padme costume.” 

Right. Because he took your halo and you took the glittery gun because he kept hitting Jean with it. Eren turns to you, shaking your hand again. 

“Armin will come get them. You and I are leaving. Now.” 

“But how will he even find them? And what about Marco’s car?” 

Eren turns around fully, stopping in the center of the door. He’s pissed, at you now, and you can lightly hear Marlowe and Hitch arguing in the background. 

“You can hear them right? Knowing them, they’re going to walk up in a few seconds and start arguing with you and me. And if he says some shit again, I’m going to do worse than just push him into a fucking pool. You and I are leaving.” 

He tangles his fingers around your wrist again, his touch still gentle, as the two of you file out of the party, making it back to the apartment. 

 - 

Eren doesn’t say anything to you as you walk to the car, when you drive home, or even when you stare at him from the confines of your kitchen. He can tell by the look in your eyes that you’re waiting. For an explanation. 

But he can’t do that can he? Tell you that the reason he pushed Marlowe in the pull and argued with Hitch is because he can’t stand the thought of him being with you? He can see the entire scene in his head, like he has been for the past hour, his anger burning every time he does. 

“Jean, get the fuck up. You too, Marco.” 

They both stand up, half leaning on each other. Totally gone. 

“Eren. Marlowe’s here.” 

He turns to find Hitch at his side, her face scrunched up in anger. Eren waves off Marco and Jean, pushing them towards the kitchen where (he hopes) they’ll find water and sober up a little. There’s no way he’s letting them drive you home, that’s for sure. 

“Where?” 

“With your stupid roommate outside. What is she doing?” 

Eren turns his neck to find you, where he was just about to join you, sitting by the side of the pool. He can see Marlowe sitting next to you, leaning way too close for his liking. He turns back around, pressing his hands against Hitch’s shoulders. 

“Get him to leave. Now.” 

“How the hell am I supposed to do that?” 

He drags Hitch out by the arm, the two of them leaning their necks so they can hear what you and Marlowe are talking about. 

“Seeing anyone, Y/N?” 

That’s enough. Eren moves forward, not exactly sure what he’s going to do, but Hitch stops him, pulling him back by the wrist. 

“What are you doing, Hitch?” 

Hitch digs her fingers into Eren’s wrist, turning to glare at him. 

“What the fuck is she doing?” 

“He asked her the question, Hitch. Shut the fuck up.” 

He’s getting angrier. He can feel it - burning hot, red anger. Because why the fuck is Marlowe talking to you? Asking you if you’re alone? Why are you talking to him when you know he’s here? And why the fuck is Hitch pissed at you like Marlowe’s not the one all over you right now? Don’t you know he’s been waiting for that dance you promised him all night? 

“Not exactly, Y/N.” 

“I have this friend I think you’d like. Her name is-” 

“Hitch?” 

He turns back, his turn to glare at Hitch. 

“See, Hitch. It’s fucking Marlowe. Now go and stop him.” 

“How the fuck am I supposed to stop him? And I have no interest in chasing him.” 

“Get mad. Argue and then kiss and makeup. I don’t give a fuck. Just get him to stop fucking talking to her. Now.” 

“I already told you. I’m not chasing him.”

“This isn’t fucking about you. Do something now or I’ll call the deal off now. I’ve already done more than enough and you can’t do one thing for me?” 

“Why do you even care?” 

He turns his neck again, to find you and Marlowe standing, his hand in yours. He can’t stand it. Your hand in his. Because he doesn’t deserve you. No one does. Because he can’t treat you right and Eren can. He’d praise the ground you walk on if you let him. 

He hears the last question and he can’t take it anymore.

“When was the last time you were kissed?” 

So he does the only thing he can think of. Push Marlowe in the pool. Drag you out of the party, where Hitch and Marlowe and Jean or Marco or anyone can’t talk to you. See you. He hates it. Being possessive, getting jealous. He knows you’re not his. But he can’t fucking stand it. It makes his skin fucking burn thinking of an asshole like Marlowe even touching you, let alone kissing you. 

“Earth to Ren?” 

He looks back up to find you staring at him, awkwardly brushing your hands against your forearms. Right. Because you’re still waiting for a fucking answer and he can’t tell you. Tell you that the thought of another man touching you drives him crazy, that the only person who could touch you right, make you feel good was him. 

“You’re doing that thing again. I can see the steam coming off of your head.” 

He deflates, leaning against the counter as he watches you. You’re moving from the side, pressing the glass of water in your hand to the dispenser in the kitchen. It’s pissing him off even more. The thought of someone seeing you like this - bedhead in the morning, focused when you’re doing your makeup, half asleep on the couch. He can’t fucking stand it. 

“So. Do you want to talk about it?” 

“No.” 

“Okay, Darth Vader. No need to growl at me.” 

Fuck. Everything is pissing him off. Everything. 

“Let’s think about something else, yeah? We don’t have to talk about it just….stop being so pissy.” 

You’re at his side, circling the glass of water in your hand. 

“Fine. The answer to the question. What was it?” 

“What question, Ren?” 

“The one Marlowe asked you. Before I pushed him in the pool.” 

When was the last time you were kissed? In the bathroom, when Eren had his lips pressed to your neck. 

“A real kiss, Y/N.” 

Eren Yeager, mind reader.

“Oh. Um. A while ago, maybe a year? It was back when I was dating Floch.” 

Eren turns his neck, his eyes flashing at you as you look at him. He looks less angry, his eyes more concerned than murderous like they were a few seconds ago. 

“I don’t even think I can remember. I don’t know - he never really liked that stuff. Affection, compliments, all that.” 

“Did you ask him to? Do that stuff?”

“At first, yeah. But he never did.” 

Now he’s even more pissed. Because an asshole wanting to kiss you, him doing it all wrong is infuriating enough. But the fact that you had to ask someone to do it? He’d literally drop on his fucking knees if you gave him the chance and you had to ask someone for it? 

Eren does the only thing he can. The only thing he knows how to do. He wraps his arms around you, tucking your face against his neck as he holds you. 

It was either this or kissing you, full on like he wanted to. But he can’t really do that. So hugging it is. He hears you murmur against his shoulder, your arms pressing against his back. 

“S’okay Eren. What are you so mad about?” 

“You said we didn’t have to talk about it. And no. It’s not.” 

“We don’t. But I think this is less about whatever happened and more about whatever just-” 

He tightens his grip on you, the pressure of his arms silencing you. 

“I’m mad because you should be kissed. Often. And by someone who knows how. Like they can’t get enough of you, like you’re the air they breathe, like you’re inventing kissing just by putting your lips together.”

Shit. He said too much. 

You stand in silence, staring at him as he finishes talking. Oh he messed up big time. 

He watches the smile spread across your face, your eyes still in the dim light of the kitchen. Stupid fucking glitter. He’s going to go into the bathroom and throw it out. 

“Didn’t realize you cared so much, Ren.” 

He doesn’t respond. 

“Why do you?” 

“Why do I what?” 

“Care so much, Eren?” 

You watch him constrict his fists again, his jaw clenched.

“Selfish reasons.” 

You walk up to the counter where he’s leaning over, lacing your arm through his. You push your hands into his fists, forcing him to stop clenching his hands so hard. You can tell his anger is dissipating, his shoulders slowly tensing as you touch him. 

“Selfish reasons?” 

“I don’t want to see you unhappy or anything. You’re like...my best friend right now. Is it so weird that I want you to be happy?” 

You smile, leaning your head against his shoulder. Fucking idiot. 

“No, Ren. It’s not weird.” 

You both stand like that for a while, your head pressed against his shoulder. He’s still tense, his heart pounding against your ear. 

“So I say all this nice shit to you and you have nothing to say back?” 

“Nope.” 

“Nothing at all.” 

You shake your head, watching him begrudingly smile at you as you two smile In the kitchen. You stand there for a while, the anger, awkwardness, wearing off. It’s just you two, standing in the light of your kitchen. 

“You promised me a dance. You never even gave me one, Ren.” 

“I’m not riding up on you, Y/N.” 

“I’m heartbroken.” 

You both laugh and Eren leans over, grabbing your phone from the side. He puts a song on - I Won’t Dance by Fred Astaire - and holds his hands out. You lean forward, knotting your hands behind his back as he presses his hands to your waist.

“You know Fred Astaire, Ren?” 

“Old timey shit. My parents love it.” 

You tangle your hands behind his neck, the two of you dancing in the dim light of your kitchen. 

You hate this. That you want to lick all his wounds, hold him till his anger goes away. That you want to dance like this in the kitchen with him, all the time. 

He hates this. That it’s this easy for you to fix it all for him. For you to make it better. That he wants to hold you, make you feel good every night. 

Do you love each other? 

- 

next part linked here

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[fiorella-a]

Hey! I'm new here, thank you!

Honkai Star Rail boys as... "Cupid's Chokehold" lyrics (+scenarios?? Headcannons?? Mini fic?? Idk)

Info:

-Gn! Reader

-Fluff

Welt:

"Not much of a girlfriend

I never seem to get a lot"

"And I know it sounds so old

But cupid got me in a chokehold

And I'm afraid I might give in"

"And we can be on the phone for three hours

Not sayin' one word"

>> Welt's type would be: mature and patient, that is until you came along. You're reckless and if somebody talked bad about anyone you cared about, you'd be pulling out your weapon in no time. Welt could only sigh at your behavior but can't do anything about it because, well, you're you and he loves you. His soft spot is barely noticeable unless you've known Welt for a while (ehem Himeko, ehem Dan Heng, ehem March) then you'd definitely notice his presence shift and facial expressions soften. When you went to Jarilo-VI with the three youngsters, Welt would message you from time to time;

"Hi, good afternoon. As soon as you arrive at a hotel please notify me and don't call unless i say so."

"Stay safe, darling."

Sampo:

"This is gonna sound like a bad joke

But momma I fell in love again

It's safe to say I have a new girlfriend"

"She's got a smile that would make the most senile

Annoying old man bite his tongue"

"Call it dumb call it luck call it love or whatever you call it but

Everywhere I go I keep her picture in my wallet like here"

>> When Sampo first revealed it to the trio (he told them first before rubbing it into Gepard's face <33) that he has a girlfriend, they LAUGHED to the point their stomach actually started hurting and Dan Heng had to walk out. When Sampo revealed it was you, they started to side eye him like– "y/n? The person that helped us here in the underground??" "THE Y/N?!" "😲😲❓" Long story short: they approved of the relationship but if they see you upset, they immediately blame it on Sampo.

With your golden heart reputation along with the trailblazer, it's no use for other people to hide such thankful and wonderful feelings whenever you help them. Sampo would be smiling like an idiot if he sees someone who's usually in a bad mood talk to you with smiles in their faces and that's something he'll brag about.

Whenever Sampo would be involved in a fight, you bet he looks at your picture first before going in like a beast to fight, he could only wish that you'll brag about him too <3

Luocha:

"And I know you heard the last song about the girls that didn't last long

But I promise this is on a whole new plane

I can tell by the way she says my name"

>> When you first met, you pronounced is name as 'Loo-cha' instead of 'lao-cha' and you thought he was gonna make you carry the coffin he always has (💀) but he laughed it off and taught you how to pronounce his name. When you guys finally established a relationship, you'll find out that he took your phone and changed his own contact name into: "Loocha my beloved."

(Your contact name in his phone would be your name but all scrambled up with 'my beloved' at the end)

Jing Yuan:

"She's got eyes comparable to sunrise"

"She's got porcelain skin of course she's a ten"

>> This pretty 'lil General loves every part of you, especially your face. Why you might ask? Whenever he lays his head on your lap while you're eating on the floor, he can see the shine of the sun reflect into your eyes as if you're the human embodiment of the sun itself. Your skin? He loves it. Every scar, every stretch mark, every wound, every bruise, every scar, it's a ten for him. He wishes to be by your side while you heal physically and mentally.

Dan Heng and/or Imbibitor Lunae:

"She's got the cutest laugh I ever heard"

"when I start to build my future she's the main component"

>> He melts whenever you laugh, giggle or chuckle! Doesn't matter if you laugh like a horse or smth, he just finds himself smiling at you– you look so genuine and peaceful that he finds himself affected by the energy you're radiating and he's not planning on leaving.

One night, when he was about to sleep he sees you go into his room and he feels the kiss you gave onto his forehead before whispering quietly to yourself, "I'll be here, making sure you're safe and peacefully sleeping with no nightmares." He had a hard time faking to be asleep– hell even trying to sleep! All he can think about is you both together in the future, making sure each other is safe and that no harm would ruin both of your bond.

Gepard:

"I know I'm young but if I had to choose her or the sun, I'd be one nocturnal son of a gun"

>> Absolutely loves your energy and personality. His sister, Serval once said, "What if Y/n's actually the descendant of the Sun God? They makes my 'lil Geppie warm and breaks the ice surrounding him!" She'd laugh at her own statement while Gepard would think about what she said, yes, your personality does seem so energetic and your eyes radiates of what looks and seems to be innocence. But he damn well knows that he'd rather have the ice on his heart melt rather than the ice on his planet melt, call him selfish but he's a fool inlove.

Blade:

"It's gonna be a long drive home but I know as soon as I arrive home

And I open the door take off my coat and throw my bag on the floor

She'll be back into my arms once more for sure"

>> Being a stellaron hunter is tiring, he wishes he could rest for all eternity but he can't. That was his mindset before you came, now it's all 'when I come home will they be in the shower? Or will they be on the couch, waiting for me?' Of course, you're on the couch and running back into his arms you go! You can tell him that he's all bloody and sweaty but he doesn't care, as long as you're willing to hug him, he has no problem changing the way he comes home.

Arlan:

"I love it when she calls my phone

She even got her very own ringtone"

>> Arlan has a default ringtone for everyone except Asta, Herta, and you. Whenever you call all you need is a second (maximum is 3 minutes) and he'll pick it up speaking with you using his gentle voice, you can almost feel his muscles relaxing at your voice.

Asta promised Arlan that she wouldn't tell his little secret but she spilled it to you by accident saying, "OH! Do you know Arlan memorized your ringtone? That's why he picks up so quickly!" You could only giggle at what she said.

Caelus:

"she even cooks me pancakes

And Alka Seltzer when my tummy aches

If that ain't love then I don't know what love is"

>> He Loves the way you care for him. It gives him a feeling of having a childhood or a feeling of once being young. If he gets sick, he always requests you to make him pancakes before taking his medicines and always waffles when he wakes up for breakfast. While you're cooking or feeding him, he looks at you with eyes full of love!

[sebastianstansqueen]

Lost In The Shadows Fourteen

A/N: This one is short, sorry, also have began writing my next series, my stuff about that will be up once i’m finished posting this story, hope you like it, If you want to be Tagged, either send an ask or comment on this or click on Taglist open.

Wordcount: 1,268

Warnings: Big Angst, Guns, Character Death, Drugs?, Some Domestic bliss, then obviously Brock, pregnacy, If forgot anything let me know please!

Masterlist // Series Masterlist // Taglist open// 

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Brock was pissed, it had been almost a year and there still had been no sign of Y/n nor James anywhere, and while Andy now seemingly was in control of her business, he couldn’t hold New York by the balls the way Y/n used to, so Brock turned his anger into an advantage. His substance had been selling like crazy around New York and it was only a matter of time when Y/n would find out he’d began spreading it on to her territory, and it was also only a matter of time for her to find out, he was so close to finding her and James, he just had to wait a little longer.

Meanwhile, Y/n and Bucky, had been living in Romania, Bucky’s memory had been coming back little by little. As for Y/n she was still the control freak as ever, still controlled what she could from a computer, halfway across the world, even with her patrooting stomach that made it annoyingly hard to use her computer. She rested her head against the couch cushion, with a sigh of slight irritation. Bucky came up from behind, telling from the way her face was scratched something was wrong. “What's going on?” He asked me to sit beside her. 

“First lil’ bean is driving me insane, they're moving a lot and I can barely see over my stomach, and work stuff, Brock is dealing on my streets, and he is still looking for me.” She stressed. 

“We’re fine and safe, shouldn’t that be all that matters?” He tilts his head. 

Y/n’s lips pulled up slightly. “If only it were that simple, I don’t just take care of only you I and our kids with what I do, I take care of my men’s families, I take care of all of the people in my territory, and if I let whatever shit get out, then look what happens, shure New York’s filled with druggies, and people on the stress, but when theres and out break it gets ten times worse for both populations.” She explained what other extra duties she had as a leader in the mob. “That’s why they respect me and fear me, because I could take it all away in a knight from someone, but I also made things better after Henry died, I helped a lot of people, get better, from pills and other crap.”

Bucky nodded, now understanding the importance of what she had done back home. “All I can say is don’t stress too much.” He put his hand over hers that was resting on her stomach, he smiled softly, she closed the laptop.

Bucky and Y/n both stood in the kitchen listening to music that fit both of their tastes, the made a meal fit for kings, or a mechanic and his pregnant mob boss wife. Bucky could tell the difference between now and the begging of their relationship, now she was comfortable enough to wear tank tops and really anything that showed any scar she’d gained in the past, sometimes, Bucky would ask about who she got each one, she could recite the story as if it happened yesterday, yet no emotion held in her voice, and then she’d acted as if she never said anything. He couldn’t understand how she did it.

As they both laid in bed, Bucky’s arms naturally found a way on Y/n. “If you stay relaxed, the sooner bean will be here, and the sooner bean is here, the sooner we get to make another little mean and another.” He smiled, as he held her closely to him. 

“I’ll try but no promises.” She smiled to herself, as her eyes closed, Bucky soon followed suit, shutting off the lamp that was on his night stand.

Bucky rolled around to find his wife once again in the night as he slept, but soon was awoken by the cold silky sheets. He shot up, looking around the room, finding no sign of her he got up to find her. 

Y/n paced in the office that used to be Bucky’s dads, when he was a kid. She spoke in a demanding harsh whisper, at whatever unfortunate soul. “We’ve got to figure this out, I-we can’t move places at the moment Andy.” She huffed, clearly her anxiety raised, along with anger. “Why? That’s not your business at the moment, I don’t know if he has the phone tapped. Throw him off or something. He can’t find us not right now, bye Andy.” She slumped into the chair behind the desk, sweat appearing on her forehead, her breath picked up slightly. 

Bucky came up, taking her hand in his. “It’s gonna be alright.”

“Brock knows where we are, and I don’t think that we can leave at the moment because I am nine months pregnant, and soon enough I could give birth.” Y/n explained. 

“He can’t access the island with anything other than a boat, we're fine.” Bucky reassured her. She nodded, knowing she could be overthinking this. “Let’s get back to bed.”

As a week passed, and then half of another, she started to think that she had been wrong. As they both had been getting ready for bed, the power cut out, Y/n and Bucky looked around in confusion as they stood in the bathroom, Y/n put her tooth brush back in the holder, and she moved into their room, Bucky was right with her. “Maybe a line went out.” 

“Nope, just me.” Y/n’s eyes whipped to the corner by the closet, Brock stood in the shadows, his hands in front of him with a pistol in one. Bucky tries to flick on the lights, when they turn on, they know someone else is there, all of them looking at each other, Brock’s jaw clenches visibly, when he finally takes in all of Y/n. “You could have had a good life with your husband and kid, why are you causing more trouble than it’s worth.” 

“Because you would kill more than you would ever help with whatever that shit is.” She hissed at him. 

Brock lifted his gun focusing on her chest, she had no way to defend herself, ironically the one time she didn’t carry her gun, so what else could she do but welcome death as an old friend hoping Bucky could at least leave. As the gun went off she prepared for the bullet, but it didn’t come so she opened her eyes looking around. “Get out!” She looked to where the voice came from, Bucky who was lying on the floor with a bullet in his chest and stomach. “Leave Y/n!” He said the best he could. 

Her leg’s moved before her mind, all she could see was Bucky there on the floor bleeding out, the pair of guards that stayed on the island met her down stairs. “Where’s Mr. Barnes?” One of them asked, she just shook her head. “Take her to the mainland. I’m going to go up there.”

The second guard came up to her, leading her out to the doc, she struggled to collect herself as they ran, when they got to the doc with a boat at the end, the guard helped Y/n on. “Y/n!” Brock Yelled form not too far from them. 

“Go, get to the Airport, and go home, or somewhere safe.” The guard told her, as he Started the boat before getting off quickly. The boat moved quickly on the water, Y/n waited to doc on the mainland, her face wet from tears as she docked and then got a taxi. She had no clue what was supposed to happen after this, she should have died.

When Y/n got on the first plane to New York, she immediately messaged Andy, wanting to have someone go back and get Bucky, maybe even they’d be able to save him. When she got back to New York, Andy had replied that he was right on it. As she took a private car back to her house, she felt empty like part of herself was missing. As she walked the path she had so many times, she slowly realized that this wasn’t home, at all. She walked into the house that gave her a pit in her stomach. Andy stood along with all of her men, all meant respect but she wanted to be alone, her jaw clenched, she still wore a nightgown that made her stomach stand out.  “Everyone except Andy, leave.” Her voice turned cold and stern. 

Andy stayed behind like told as all the other men filtered out. “See what you meant by you didn’t want to leave, now.” 

“Is he okay?” Her voice sounded desperate, and had a yearning interlaced. 

Andy’s shoulders tensed. “He, along with Brock and his men, weren’t there when they got to the island, Y/n, I’m sorry.”

She just nodded. “Go figure out what's next, I'm staying in New York, until this finishes up.” 

“What if-”

“I don’t care I’ll kill Brock Rumlow if that’s the last thing I do, even with my baby in my stomach, he killed my husband, I’m taking every part of his legacy possible, by the time this finishes, no one will even remember his name.” She spoke with passionate rage. “Go get me my information Andy.” She stood giving him a stern look, before he left.

[revnah1406]

ONE LAST DRINK, BROTHER...

⚠️CALL OF DUTY MW3 SPOILERS UNDER THE CUT!! ⚠️

I was so sad about Soap's death. And I wanted to write a small fic about how Sparrow would handle it. 🥺

Words: 1.546

Let's add a little more drama with this song😭

Sparrow's hands were still shaking. The fresh scars burned inside her, still hurting when she moved. They were deep, too deep.

She still had flashes, every time she closed her eyes she still had the vision of the mountain falling on top of her. Her brother's screams, the rocks, the sharp ice, the lack of oxygen, the blood. K2 was a shark that hunted her every night with nightmares and memories of the accident. When was the last time she was able to sleep? Maybe ten months ago, when she was in a fucking coma for weeks.

She believed she was ready to return, she had recovered from her injuries, she could walk, she had exercised. She was strong again. She thought she could go back to 141 and go back to what she was before. Oh birdie... how wrong you were...

Now there is a before and after. There always is. The Sparrow from before the accident on K2 is not the same as now. You don't think you're immortal anymore, do you? You have played arm wrestling with death and you have lost, only death has let you win, it wants to play with you a little more.

Hannah was brought out of her thoughts when the sound of a bottle being placed on the table was heard over that lonely dining hall at 3 in the morning.

She raised her head. Smiling but sleepy blue eyes looked at her.

"Being a bad lass and staying up late, birdie?"

Sparrow forced a smile.

"If it was up to me I would sleep for days but..."

Soap also placed two glasses on the table and sat next to her.

"But K2 doesn't let you sleep." Soap finished the sentence. Always with a small smile, it wasn't evil, nor was it trying to make fun of Sparrow. He did it so Sparrow would smile back at him.

And Sparrow did it. She returned the smile.

"Yeah... I never thought a bloody mountain could chase me that far. It doesn't even have fucking legs."

Soap chuckled.

"Well, Dr. Soap has come here to help you." He placed the bottle in front of Sparrow.

"Scotch?" Sparrow raised an eyebrow. "You think getting drunk will cure my trauma? Have you heard of therapy, Johnny?"

"Yeah, but this is cheaper." John winked at her as he opened the bottle. "And we all go to therapy and it doesn't help one bit."

He managed to get a laugh out of Hannah.

"You're just using me as an excuse to drink inside the base." Sparrow rolled her eyes but the smile didn't go away, even her hands stopped shaking.

"Hey, the boss does it all the time in his office and no one tells him anything. Even Ghost drinks with him from time to time." Soap poured the amber liquid into both glasses. "Besides, you're not going to deny your brother from another mother a drink, are you?"

Sparrow chuckled and shook her head.

"Every time I say no, you chase me like a fucking hawk."

"Because I have good eyesight! I know when you need a drink. And you always end up giving in."

He pushed one glass toward Hannah and raised the other.

"What do you want to toast?" Soap asked.

"Do you want to toast?" Sparrow raised her eyebrows.

"It's very sad to drink without toasting. Come on Sparrow, I know you'll think of something."

Sparrow thought for a moment and then raised the glass. She looked her friend in the eyes and smiled.

"For fucking K2 who couldn't kill me. And for our deaths to be the most unforgettable of all!"

"And may the Valkyries call our name when the time comes!"

They both clinked their glasses and downed the Scotch in one gulp. Sparrow scrunched up her face as the alcohol burned her throat, but the scars hurt less now.

"And?"

"What?" Sparrow looked at him, confused

"Do you still believe that Irish Whiskey is better than Scotch?" Soap raised his eyebrows.

Sparrow chuckled.

"I think I have to drink a little more to make up my mind." Sparrow poured herself and Soap some more.

John laughed.

"This Scotch is not just any Scotch, my friend."

They both toasted again and drank. There was a comfortable, calm silence.

"So you finally took the title." Soap spoke again after a while of drinking in silence.

"Title? What title?" Sparrow asked strangely.

"From the ugliest person in 141." Soap laughed.

Sparrow laughed too and stroked the scars on her face.

"Are you saying that because now my scars are bigger than yours?"

"Partly yes. But you know I'm bloody handsome."

Sparrow rolled her eyes.

"Whatever you say Mr. Humble."

Soap laughed again.

"Hey, do they hurt? The scars."

"Well, yes... it's something I'll have to learn to live with..." Sparrow stared into the glass.

"We learn to live with many things. And some we have to let go. As you often say, we have to cut the rope." Soap patted Sparrow's shoulder.

"Yes... cut the rope..."

________________

The wind chilled her hands. She didn't care, nothing could matter anymore. The clouds roared, spitting thunder, threatening a storm. But nothing mattered to her.

The grass was stirred and the waves crashed aggressively against the cliff. Scotland was crying. Just like her, although she had no tears left to cry.

Sparrow was sitting on a rock watching the angry sea. She was angry too. It had taken her months to return since his ashes were thrown away. She wasn't able to go back. But she had to do it.

She sighed and looked back. Amara, her girlfriend, was there waiting for her. Hannah had asked her for a moment alone with her friend, with her brother from another mother as he used to say. Amara hugged Hannah's coat, she was very cold. It broke her heart to see Hannah like this, so broken, so... Amara still remembered the day Hannah came home, how happy she was to see her girlfriend return home after so long, and how the world had changed when she fell to the ground. When Hannah dropped to her knees and started crying and screaming just a second after getting off her bike. Amara never really liked soldiers, 141 especially, but Soap was the exception. And she cried too.

Hannah was no longer the same. Amara knew it. As always, there is a before and after. For everything.

Amara smiled sadly waiting for Hannah to smile back but she never did. Instead, she turned her gaze to the sea.

She sighed and opened the backpack she had between her boots. She took out a Scotch and two glasses. The same old bottle from that night. She never touched it, she always said she would drink it at the right moment. Well, that moment has arrived, little bird. So she poured the liquid into the glasses and grabbed one. She didn't drink, she didn't like to drink without toasting. Drinking without toasting is too sad.

She played with the glass trying to think of what to say to him.

"I've tried to cut the rope... All these months I've tried." Sparrow's lower lip trembled. "But every time I tried to cut it, the knife gets caught in the threads and gets stuck."

She sobbed a little.

"Maybe because it's not time to cut it yet." She looked up at the waves again.

The wind froze her face.

"I'm going to find that son of a bitch, Johnny... And I'm going to make him pay for what he did." She nodded slightly a few times. "And after that, I'll be done, sarge. 141 won't need me anymore, and I won't need them either."

She took a breath and let it out shakily. The tears had already come, rolling down her cheeks and freezing halfway. The cold didn't matter to her, nothing mattered to her anymore.

"Rest for now. Just wait for me..." she looked at the glass. "C’mon. One last drink, brother."

She sighed again and raised the glass to toast.

"May the Valkyries welcome you and lead you though Odin's great battlefield. May they sing your name with love and fury. John "Soap" MacTavish. So that we might hear it rise from the depths of Valhalla and know that you've taken your rightful place at the table of kings, for a great man has fallen. A warrior. A sergeant. A friend. A brother." 

She clicked her glass with the one resting on the rock and drank the scotch in one gulp. As always, she scrunched up her face as she felt the alcohol burn her throat.

She put the glass next to the other and stood up. She looked at the sea a little longer when the sound of a hawk made her look away. She looked up, the bird was circling around her. Sparrow smiled, whistled, and the hawk responded.

"You're a little far from home my friend. Although maybe you found a new one here..." she looked at the horizon again "There's always a before and after."

Se grabbed the backpack and left with Amara. Leaving both glasses and the bottle there. Knowing that the rest of the 141 would return to have one last drink with him.

[zalrb]

So I. Saw your salt burn review, and you mentioned that you never feel quite convinced with movies about obsession, but is there any piece of media that you feel shows it very well?

I'm more inclined to believe obsession in novels because there's interiority. Like, the famous example would be Lolita (not a love story!)

Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth. Lo. Lee. Ta. She was Lo, plain Lo, in the morning, standing four feet ten in one sock. She was Lola in slacks. She was Dolly at school. She was Dolores on the dotted line. But in my arms she was always Lolita.

I looked and looked at her, and I knew, as clearly as I know that I will die, that I loved her more than anything I had ever seen or imagined on earth. She was only the dead-leaf echo of the nymphet from long ago - but I loved her, this Lolita, pale and polluted and big with another man's child. She could fade and wither - I didn't care. I would still go mad with tenderness at the mere sight of her face.

there's Simple Passion:

FROM SEPTEMBER last year, I did nothing else but wait for a man: for him to call me and come round to my place [...] In the course of conversation, the only subjects that escaped my indifference were those related to this  man, his work, the country he came from, and the places he’d been to. The person speaking to me had no idea that my sudden interest in their conversation had nothing to do with their description or even the subject itself, but with the fact that one day, ten years before I met him, A had been sent to Havana on an assignment and may have set foot in that very night club, the “Fiorendito,” which they were describing in minute detail, encouraged by my attentive listening

One afternoon when he was there, I burned the living-room carpet down to the weft by placing a boiling coffee pot on top of it. I didn’t care. Quite the contrary. I was happy every time I caught sight of the mark as I remembered that afternoon with him

Quite often I would write down on a sheet of paper the date, the time, and “he’s going to come,” along with other sentences, fears—that he might not come, that he might not feel the same desire for me.

even Harry and Malfoy's mutual obsession in the books

Harry, however, had never been less interested in Quidditch; he was rapidly becoming obsessed with Draco Malfoy.

You’re getting a bit obsessed with Malfoy, Harry. I mean, thinking about missing a match just to follow him.

“…everyone thinks he’s so smart, wonderful Potter with his scar and his broomstick -“

“You have told me this at least a dozen times already,” said Mr. Malfoy, with a quelling look at his son. 

“I’m fine!” said Harry, jumping up. The thought of what Draco Malfoy would say if he had to go to the hospital wing was torture. 

but kdramas do a pretty great job in portraying obsession

like in Something in the Rain, the lead's ex won't leave her alone and then we see the extent of his obsession with her because he has a bunch of nudes (not really nudes, because it's still a kdrama) of her saved in his computer and his phone and that's already showing how obsessed he is with her but what drives it home is how her boyfriend reacts to seeing the photos

and of course world of the married

and I think songs are good with obsession too

I don't care if it hurts, I wanna have control I want a perfect body, I want a perfect soul I want you to notice when I'm not around You're so fuckin' special, I wish I was special

High off her love, drunk from her hate It's like I'm huffin' paint and I love her, the more I suffer, I suffocate And right before I'm about to drown, she resuscitates me She fuckin' hates me, and I love it — "Wait! Where you going?" — "I'm leaving you!" — "No, you ain't!

[bedtimegiraffe]

Time to be the kind of music obsessed fan I want to see in the world and recommend some songs! These are focused on Aerin leaving, staying away way too long, and coming back.

Aerin Perspective:

Vibes: Laying in bed wistfully, writing in your diary

No one believes in me except for you I'm losing everything except for you I fail at everything I can't do anything I fail at everything I'd die for anything Oh, how can you still love me?

Vibe: Sitting and staring at someone you really like from across the room

Sometimes I'm so cynical and self-conscious And sometimes I see that I'm bringing him down I stand in the mirror, hands in empty pockets And wonder why he even wants me around

So what do you give to the boy who has everything Now that you need him more than you knew What do you do when you finally get to him And you see he's better off without you?

Vibe: (Added a full day after the other songs because I just found it but it's a great 'Well, time to go fight the end of the world for the person I love' song)

Is this who I was always supposed to be? If I had met you Before they tore down the swing set Before all the bad things happened Before I chose my armor Bеfore I tried to tell thеm somethin' was wrong

I'm runnin' back into the burning house For you, for me, for us, for everything

MC Perspective:

Vibes: Pacing your room having an argument with someone in your head that keeps making you angrier

Go ahead, say it You're leaving You'll just come back running Holding your scarred heart in hand It's all the same

Vibe: You heart breaks a little when you wake up in bed alone again

Said you'd never leave Whether wrong or right You're every other thought Always on my mind You know you're bad at love, bad at love Seems as if you can't get enough

Vibe: Pleading with someone having a bad time and trying not to seem frantic yourself

It's okay if you can't catch your breath You can take the oxygen straight out of my own chest I know exactly how the rule goes Put my mask on first No, I don't want to talk about myself Tell me where it hurts I just want to build you up, build you up 'Til you're good as new

Duet, Chapter 17 (you know the one)

Vibe: Swaying along with someone until you spontaneously start to ballroom dance

I don't need you to sell me on reasons to want you I don't need you to search for the proof that I should You don't have to convince me You don't have to be scared you're not enough 'Cause what we've got going is good

I never thought there'd be someone like you who would want me So I give you ten thousand reasons to not let me go But if you really see me If you like me for me and nothing else Well, that's all that I've wanted for longer than you could possibly know

Bonus

'Noncanon' but reunion I wish we had where Aerin goes 'Wow, you're also barely holding it together.'

Vibe: Watching someone smile in conversation when you know they're faking it

Brave face, talk so lightly, hide the truth Yeah I'm sick of losing soulmates So where do we begin? I can finally see you're as fucked up as me So how do we win? I won't take no for an answer

[silk-scarlet-ribbons]

Darling scar, Richard Siken ask, number 10 <3

dearest brittany <3

line ten: i want to tell you this story without having to confess anything.

-

this is arthur's sixteenth life.

"so you're telling me, we knew each other," arthur says, and he looks absolutely ridiculous with half of his eyebrow blown off, with a chip missing out of his left front tooth, with soot in his afternoon-sun hair.

"we knew each other." merlin says wryly. his bound tongue swells up, allergic reaction to the lie.

he knows arthur the way roots know the pliant embrace of the earth. he knows arthur the way leaves know their trees, grasping for dear life when the turn of the season approaches. he knows arthur the way distance knows fondness, because merlin has known many more years without arthur than arthur has known without merlin. forever is a concept for the tree, not for the leaves.

and every time, again, this song: do I know you?

arthur laughs. "think i'd remember a wonky-looking fellow like you. merlin." his name, on arthur's tongue, the same it's always been. the way it transcends birth and death and the spaces in between. when he speaks, the little gap in his teeth whistles, like he's chirping, like he's singing.

"you have a notoriously dismal memory," merlin says, and it's ever a battle not to say milord, my king. all those years ago, and merlin's never believed anything less than the wildfire tale of arthur and merlin and the way they shared the two sides of the same coin. how could they be, he thinks, when the head has never seen the tail, never known the tail?

"if i really were a king, as you say," arthur says, and grasps merlin's face between his sooty thumb and forefinger. familiar and sweet-smelling, like fresh hay, and he smiles twice as big to compensate for his chipped tooth. "i'd have you thrown in the stocks for that."

you did, merlin thinks, and through a smile that wobbles like an interrupted lake, he says, "you could try."

in short order (perhaps ten minutes), arthur will learn of merlin's magic, once more.

he will meet merlin with those black-smudged hands clasped around merlin's own, he will duck with him behind shipping crates on the harbor and smother merlin's murmured spells with his mouth, he will fashion merlin a ring from braided grass and hay, and,

he will die. this time, in a fire.

(their story will begin again when he meets a boy in the woods with mint leaves crowning his hair and clovers between his teeth and a stick gripped defensively in his knobby little fist. the first words of every chapter in their eternal book are, "do I know you?")

[megan-loves-surveys]

#51.

Name your top ten artists on Last.fm:

Ayumi Hamasaki

Girls Aloud

Blue

Five

Spice Girls

Britney Spears

Sugababes

Atomic Kitten

Little Mix

Namie Amuro

How many times have you listened to number one? 19,661

Is this your favourite band/artist? She is!!!

What got you into number one? I was curious about J-pop, so I looked up who were the most successful Japanese artists and Ayu's name kept popping up so I had to check her out.

Why the hell have you listened to them so much? Cos she's amazing, and has a HUGE discography that spans 25 years. So she has a lot of music to listen to xD

Favourite songs of number one: SCAR, Dearest, forgiveness, talkin' 2 myself, RAINBOW, criminal, rainy day, Voyage, In The Corner, INSPIRE, Marionette, HANABI, vogue, Duty, SEASONS etc.

Something you think you’d thoroughly enjoy doing with the band? Going shopping lol.

Favourite memory of the artist? I've never seen her live or anything, so I just have to say discovering her music.

How many times have you listened to number two? 18,403

What got you into them? I love girl groups and I saw the UK pop music magazines talking about them loads so I decided to check them out.

What makes you like them so much? Their discography is so strong and varied, they can sing and they're just so down to earth and fun.

Favourite songs? Untouchable, Girl Overboard, What You Crying For, I'm Falling, See The Day, Something New, Loving Is Easy, Hear Me Out, On A Round, History, Some Kind Of Miracle etc.

Favourite memory of artist? Seeing them at a showcase in 2006.

How many times have you listened to number three? 13,411

Would you pay thirty dollars to see them in concert? Definitely.

Favourite songs? Back Someday, Love RIP, Made For Loving You, Get Down, Break You Down, I Can, Elements, It's Alright, It's Alright, When Summer's Gone, Alive, Bounce, Make It Happen, Man Do, Gravity etc.

How many times have you listened to four? 11,822

Would you go fishing with them? No, lol.

Any particular emotions run through you when you listen? Just how much I love them!!!

What songs you like best? It's The Things You Do, Cold Sweat, It's Alright, That's What You Told Me, Don't You Want It, Lay All Your Lovin' On Me, Two Sides To Every Story, Human (The Five Remix), Battlestar, Don't Fight It Baby etc.

How many times have you listened to five? 10,826

What’s so intriguing about them? They were the first music act I ever liked, when I was 8.

Could you imagine them in a circus? Hahah, nah.

Favourite songs? Last Time Lover, Naked, Spice Up Your Life, Saturday Night Divas, Denying, If U Can't Dance, Love Thing, Goodbye, Take Me Home, Step To Me, Bumper To Bumper, Viva Forever etc.

How many times for six? 10,677

How many 3’s in a <3333333 would you give them and why? So many.

Favourite songs by them? Soda Pop, Born To Make You Happy, Til It's Gone, Work Bitch, The Hook Up, Unusual You, (You Drive Me) Crazy, Toy Soldier, Alien, Criminal, Circus, Piece Of Me, Bombastic Love, Passenger etc.

How many times for 7? 9,627

I hear 7 is a magical number, is this band magical? Sure.

What are some of your favorite songs? Caught In A Moment, Sometimes, Like The Weather, Every Heart Broken, Sunday Rain, Too Lost In You, About You Now, Overload, 2 Hearts, Disturbed, Conversation's Over, Ace Reject, Bruised etc.

How many times for eight? 7,879

Why do you like them? Cos their music is so cute and fun.

Favourite songs? The Tide Is High (Get The Feeling), Baby Don't U Hurt Me, Strangers, Tomorrow & Tonight, Nothing In The World, Anyone Who Had A Heart, Eternal Flame, Everything Goes Around, Don't You Know, Bye Now etc.

How many times for nine? 6,248

When did you discover them? When they won X Factor.

What are some songs you like? Motivate, Salute, Red Planet, More Than Words, Happiness, Wasabi, F.U., Power, Beep Beep, Private Show, Down & Dirty, Not A Pop Song, Notice, Love Me Like You, Turn Your Face, DNA, Lightning, About The Boy etc.

Poor ten, how many times you listened to them? 6,104

Why have them as number ten, where is the loveeee? I love her so much actually xD

Favourite songs? Sexy Girl, better days, '77~, IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU, KISS-AND-RIDE, LOVE 2000, Indy Lady, Fish, the SPEED STAR, Let's Do The Motion, PRIVATE, Leavin' For Las Vegas etc.

What are the poor artists from 11-20?

Adam Lambert

Rihanna

Koda Kumi

Lady Gaga

Liberty X

The Pussycat Dolls

Christina Aguilera

The Saturdays

Monrose

Najoua Belyzel

[freelancearsonist]

the only heaven i'll be sent to

➔ post-outbreak!Joel Miller x reader - 1.3k

➔ Joel finds a familiar face while out on a smuggling run.

➔ Rated PG for pure angst, one single kiss, and references to Joel's self-inflicted gun wound/self harm

➔ This reader insert character is: gender neutral, no pronouns or body description. Generally able-bodied but otherwise a blank slate.

➔ This is my submission for @wannab-urs Hozier Drabble Challenge! We're going more off the haunting siren song vibe than the actual lyrics, bear with me. i wrote this in one sitting while 🚬 and it's... kinda trippy. thank u to my love @fhatbhabie for betaing and @saradika-graphics for the dividers <3

Joel’s taken this route tens to hundreds of times and never seen anything out of the ordinary. It’s a predictable path. It’s quick, easy, and safe. Quiet, even, aside from the occasional infected. But they’re normally solitary and isolated–even the clusters are small enough that he has no trouble taking them out.

He starts letting his guard down, bit by bit. He gets comfortable, complacent. 

That’s when you show up.

He’s not paying attention to the crunch of fallen leaves and debris underneath his heavy boots as he walks. His rifle is slung over his shoulder and bounces off his broad shoulders slightly with each step he takes.

At this point, the towering old church is nothing but a landmark. It’s corroded just as everything else, mangled with the telltale rot and ruin of neglect. The bell tower looms high and casts a long, ominous shadow over the path he walks.

Joel’s taken this route tens to hundreds of times and never seen anything out of the ordinary–not until he notices the cloak-shrouded figure standing in the shadow of a church sign whose letters have long faded away.

The figure, so like a mirage, seems so ridiculously out of place that he actually hesitates. He blinks once, then twice, but it’s still there–a solid, corporeal being. Human.

Joel fumbles for his rifle, trains its sights expertly on the cloaked figure. His hands shake when something terrifyingly familiar sweeps through his gut–fear. Not the kind that he goes to sleep and wakes up with every day, but unadulterated terror. This is the kind of horror he felt on outbreak day, the gut-wrenching sort that makes him feel like he’s going to be sick.

He steadies the tremor in his hands and swallows the knot that’s formed in his throat. His voice is booming as he addresses the figure. “Don’t fucking move!”

He sees hands clench and unclench underneath the billowy cloak sleeves. If this was an infected, it would already be charging him–so there’s at least that much. But something tells him that whoever this is, they’re much more dangerous than any fungus head could ever dream to be.

“Lose the fuckin’ hood or I’m shooting!”

There’s a flicker of indecision that he can see in the twitch of fingers–and then those hands slowly rise to reveal the figure beneath the robe. He sees a glint of silver caught in sunlight as the hands move, but he doesn’t process it before he sees the face.

Your face.

His knees crack hard against the worn pavement, but he doesn’t feel it. He doesn’t feel anything at all, really. All he can do is watch, slack-jawed, as you approach with precise and effortless steps.

It’s like a bout of sleep paralysis; you look down and set a sharply cold palm on his stubbled cheek, and he can do nothing but limply sit there.

“You’ve aged beautifully, Joel,” you whisper–your voice is exactly as he remembers it. Sweet, mirthful.

You haven’t aged a day.

He feels the cool kiss of your engagement ring as your hand slides feather-light up the right side of his face, fingers dancing over the faded scar on his temple.

“Oh, Joel.” There’s something akin to reproach in your voice. “That really wasn’t necessary. You were always going to turn out okay.”

His throat bobs around a thick gulp–he wills his muscles to twitch, to move, to do anything.

You sense his total awe-struck surprise, and it makes you smile. God, how he’s missed that smile. 

“Come with me, baby.” 

Before he can respond in any shape or form, you turn in a flurry of billowing fabric and start up the slight incline to the chapel doors.

It feels like a bucket of ice water washes over his nerves as he watches your retreating form–everything tingles.

He moves on autopilot, without really processing it. One moment he’s kneeling on cracked pavement, and the next he’s squeezing through the barely-there gap in the doors that fallen beams have created.

It doesn’t even look like you’re moving, it’s like you float. Walking is beneath you, he supposes, it always has been. He used to joke about just scooping you up in his arms and carrying you wherever you needed to go so you never had to work another day in your life.

Now, as you lean back against an overturned pew, his voice comes back to life. “W-where have you been? I–”

“I know. You’ve missed me so much, haven’t you?” Your voice is so soothing, it always has been. He always saw you as a lighthouse in the midst of his roaring waves.

“I looked everywhere for you.” The tears start to flow then–they leave little paths of salt down his time-worn face.

“I’ve always been with you.” You set your hand on his chest, right over his heart, and your touch is too cold. It seeps through the heavy flannel fabric and into his skin, spreading like wildfire to his toes and the tips of his fingers and the top of his head. It’s not right, you’ve never been cold, you’ve always been the warmest ray of sun on a summer day for him to curl up and luxuriate in.

Somehow he feels you fading away even though you’re still in front of him, still holding his heart in the palm of your hand. 

It’s not enough time.

He takes your face in his hands and smashes his lips to yours, ignoring the bone-deep freeze that settles over him. He’ll take this, take anything, just for more time.

You kiss him back so sweetly, almost like nothing’s changed. Like time hasn’t molded him into someone new, someone who isn’t even a shadow of who he was when he was loved by you.

And then you pull away, and losing your touch makes his stomach twist violently.

You look him earnestly in the eyes, and for a moment he can pretend everything’s okay. That nothing has changed, that the world spins on as it should, that Sarah’s asleep upstairs and Tommy never calls for you to bail him out and the wedding’s in just a few months, he’s really got to stop procrastinating on calling that florist you picked out–

“Wake up,” you whisper.

He wakes with a start and nearly launches himself off his cot; luckily, Tommy is there to catch him and talk him down.

“Joel, Joel!” The younger Miller shouts, hands firmly on his older brother’s shoulders to coax him back down on the cot.”Settle before you do yourself any more damage.”

Joel feels the familiar press of bandages wrapped tightly around his forehead–slowly, his eyes register the crowded tent around him and his brother. With heavy resignation, he sets his head back down on his pillow.

“You were mumblin’ in your sleep,” Tommy murmurs once he’s sure Joel isn’t about to go nuclear. “Dreamin’?”

Joel searches the deepest recesses of his mind–and he comes up empty. Everything is so achingly empty.

“I… I can’t remember,” he whisp

ers–and then, for some reason he can’t explain, his eyes fill with tears.

Tommy sees it and looks away. This should be a private moment, but it can’t be. Not in this camp where everyone is packed together like sardines in a can. Not when he’s worried that leaving his brother alone for a moment again will make him an only child.

We’ll find her, Joel. She can’t be that far.”

Joel feels that numbness again–the darkness that only your touch could extinguish. And somehow, he knows that they won’t; that the best chance he has of ever seeing his betrothed lies in the shadows of a long forgotten church somewhere in New England twenty years down the road.

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[a-boca-do-inferno]

you’re beautiful (tony montana x reader)

summary: You’re approached by a stubborn stranger.

warnings: none

words: 0.6k

Blue suit, brown eyes, scar on his face; he must have been staring at you for almost ten minutes straight now. What’s this guy thinking, that you’re just gonna run after him like a lost puppy? Boy, is he wrong. You keep dancing sensually, unafraid and unbothered by the way his dark orbs follow your every movement. Sometimes you turn around to see if he’s still watching you, but eventually you give up. He’ll spend his whole night waiting for you to come to him.

Then suddenly, as if hearing your thoughts, he stands up from his seat and walks decisively towards you. You exchange a long, deep, hard look. Your hips still sway to the music slowly, your eyes never leaving his. With a smirk, he starts moving to match your rhythm, not really caring if he looks stupid doing it. He does, absolutely, and yet you can't help but find it strangely sweet.

“You’re beautiful”, he shouts over the music, his loud voice making you flinch a little. When you don’t respond, he continues: “what's your name?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”, you smirk, turning your back to him again.

He doesn’t give up, though, going to the other side so he can see your face as he speaks. “Yes, I’d like that.”

You roll your eyes. “Don’t you get irony?”

He chuckles amused, nodding his head negatively. “No, I always mean what I say.”

“Oh, please, don’t get all philosophical on me now.”

“I’m Tony Montana”, ignoring your words, he is still with his arms up trying to imitate your dance. “What about you?”

You let out a deep sigh, finally giving in. “I’m (y/n)”, your voice comes out impatient, although your lips are slightly curved upwards when you notice his hands all over the place. He’s just trying too hard. “Here, do this”, you say, positioning your arms in front of him so he can do the same. Tony obeys you, copying your movements flawlessly. “There you go.”

He takes a step closer, putting his hands on your waist without ceremony. “Maybe you could teach me some more of that, huh?”

“Don’t flatter yourself, cowboy”, you push him away, which only makes his grip on you tighter. You shiver under his touch, not able to do or say anything to protest again. The way he hungrily watches you is enough to make you wanna do maybe some very obscene things with him. “Won’t you kiss me?”, you blurt out breathless, either by the dancing or the cold touch of his fingertips on your lower back.

So much for not being a lost puppy.

Tony only grins widely in response, pulling you into a kiss. His mouth tastes like smoke and alcohol, and it’s delicious. He holds your body in place while his lips travel to your neck, sucking at your skin in a needy and rough manner. The music is still banging, banging, banging in your ears and all you can focus on is Tony’s grinding movements against you, his hips moving so perfectly synchronized to the song that you can only think he was pretending he didn’t know how to dance just now.

“Wanna come home with me?”, he inquires hastily with his lips on yours, leaning backwards a bit to take a look at you. He smirks, caressing your cheek with one hand. “Maybe you could teach me some more of that, yeah?”

You roll your eyes, but let him kiss you again anyway. He’s so lucky he’s cute. “Don’t flatter yourself”, your tone is playful, although your voice trembles a little from the way he is still holding you. His eyes don’t seem to want to leave their piercing gaze on your face up until now and you scoff, your cheeks lightly flushed. “What?”

“You’re beautiful”, he states matter-of-factly, dark orbs somehow looking brighter. Tony then lifts his arm to call for somebody and a taller man approaches you both. He’s pulling you by the hand when he concludes, a smug smile on his face: “and I always mean what I say.”

[poppypickle]

Chenford Week 2022

Chenford Week 2022 prompts are ready, ya’ll!

Thanks so much to everyone who submitted such amazing prompts! There are six prompts per day, divided into song lyrics, dialogue, and what I’m loosely calling ~vibes~. Every day has a theme except Sunday, which has its own random prompts or can be used as a catch-up day for any of the week’s previous prompts.

You can check out all the prompts in the graphic (full size here) and I have also listed them in text format below. Huge thank you to @thirsynova for creating this fantastic graphic! You can fill as many or as few prompts as you like! Fic, art, edits, gifs, and anything else you can think of are ALL welcome!

Full prompt list below! Please ping me with any questions you have! Happy creating, Chenford fam!

Monday

End Game: Love + Romance

🎶 Cause friends don't do the things we do Everybody knows you love me too

🎶 And I ignore all the warning signs Fall for you every time 🎶 I didn't know I was lonely 'til I saw your face 🎶 I never really looked before But now you take my breath away 🗣 "Admit it, there's something between us." ✨ Can't sleep without the other person

Tuesday

Red Hot: Steamy

🎶 I could be a better boyfriend than him I could do the shit that he never did

🎶 You were kissing my neck, you were making me nervous And none of our friends would believe it You were puttin' your hands up under my shirt Makin' fun of the way I was breathing

✨ Letting off some steam

🗣 "Tell me the truth."

🗣 "Sounds like someone has a little crush."

🗣 "You’re mad at me?!"

Wednesday

A.C.H.: Expect the Unexpected

✨ Secret relationship

✨ Unexpected domestic moment

✨ Unplanned pregnancy

🎶 There you go, rewriting the pages of my heart

🎶 What a dangerous night to fall in love Don't know why we still hide what we've become

🗣 "Well, that was unexpected."

Thursday

The Dark Side: Angsty + Emotional

🎶 You walked into the room and now my heart has been stolen You took me back in time to when I was unbroken

🎶 Don't say that I didn't warn you Don't say that I didn't tell you I saw this comin' from miles away 🎶 You think it's easy You think I don't wanna run to you

✨ Apologies and making up

✨ Scars

🗣 "Don't say that...please don't say that..."

Friday

The Shake Up: Fun/Crack

🗣 "Raccoons are not pets."

🗣 "It's big, don't get me wrong, but I've seen bigger."

🗣 "Why are you like this?"

🗣 "That isn't-oh my god! That isn't where it's supposed to go!"

✨ Text fic (a fic with only/mostly texts or emails)

🎶 I want you to want me I need you to need me I'd love you to love me I'm beggin' you to beg me

Saturday

Homefront: Family + Celebrations

🎶 You are, you are My chosen, chosen family

✨ Surprise visits

✨ Ten years in the future (or 20...or 30...)

✨ Birthday party/celebration

✨ Bradford or Chen family (can be non-canon)

🗣 "We're not friends, we're married."

Sunday

Follow Up Day: Free Choice + Catch Up

✨ Lace, leather, silk, and satin

🎶 I wanna dry those tears, kiss those lips It's all that I've been thinking about

🗣 "Can you please stop rolling your eyes?"

🗣 "Do we have to talk about our exes?"

🗣 "What am I looking at right now?"

🗣 "I wish you had been there."

[greekmyth-charmer04]

Hello, Dears! I wrote some Apollo x Ares angst because I wanted to be sad, now deal with it. Please enjoy!

TW: Self deprecation, body insecurity, angst, depiction of blood (It’s like one sentence) Let me know if I missed any!

He was perfect.

His golden hair barely touched his shoulders. His blue eyes always seemed to have sunlight hitting them at the best angle. His rosy pink lips never were chapped and were always tugged up in a smile of some sort. His body was lean and strong. His skin was a golden tan, smooth, scar less. His hands were delicately crafted, made for the lyre. His voice sweeter than any song, any treat. His voice would sound amazing no matter what he was doing, either spouting poetry or just words. Words that could heal; that could give warmth to the cold and shivering.

Words that could bring his enemies to their knees, screaming.

Sometimes his warmth could burn, and sometimes you might see his eyes dance with mirth as he watches the “wicked”- as he puts it- being tortured. His healing could sometimes hurt, sometimes he wouldn’t heal others, but sicken them. His muscled arms and beautifully crafted hands could sometimes pull on the string of a bow; could sometimes shoot an arrow that could bring down any being. Sometimes his lips would smile in a sick, twisted manner, as he watches the people he despises slowly die from an illness that he could heal, but refuses to do so. Sometimes his skin would be covered in the bloody remains of those he hates. Sometimes his voice could make others wish to run away and step closer at the same time.

He was terrifying.

Apollo is terrifying.

Yet Ares loves him.

He loves the way he laughs, the way he smiles, the way he always has clever comebacks for when he and Artemis bicker, the way he sits, the way he stands, anything and everything he loves about Apollo.

Except Apollo doesn’t love him.

Ares knows that he could never compete with the other god’s lovers. He knows that his scarred skin and his stupid mind that can’t seem to comprehend simple things and his fear and his anger and his face and his eyes and anything and everything about him is unworthy of Apollo. He knows this.

And yet, when Apollo makes an offhanded comment about how he had always preferred Ares’ hair longer, maybe he lets it grow out. And maybe when Apollo tells Ares that mahogany and darker shades of red would suit him better, he gets ten more chitons of only those colors. And maybe Ares starts to use different oils to see which Apollo likes more so he can always smell of what Apollo likes. 

And maybe, just maybe, when he finally returned to Olympus after being trapped by Giants, and Apollo made a joke about him being weak and a coward and not worthy to be called the “God of War”, he might have cried that night, and the next, and next. 

For Apollo was perfect in every way except one.

He would never love Ares.

Thanks for reading! Wish you luck on your day/night!

[harmonyindark245]

One Last Time [Prologue]

Summary - Elain and Azriel have known each other since they were 11 and had never been separated. But when their view for their future no longer matches, things break apart between them, causing a rift which had never been fixed. Elain goes on to become a neurosurgeon, while Azriel works for the deadlier part of the community. Ten years later, their lives get entangled as they cross paths, this time stakes much greater than just their hearts.

An: All characters belong to Sarah J. Maas

Warnings: Mature language, violence, alcohol consumption, smoking, drugs

Hope you all enjoy!

Masterlist

Song:

Exile - Taylor Swift

Ghost Of You - 5 Seconds of Summer

Hands of Time -  Rachel Diggs

17 Years Ago

“Would you mind if we sat here?” A sweet voice said. Azriel looked up to find a short girl with big brown eyes and chestnut hair tied into two pigtails. Beside her was a boy with red hair, as tall as her. Both of them had a food tray in their hand. 

Opposite from him, Cassian and his girlfriend Nesta sat down. “You can sit here Elain. That’s Azriel. He doesn’t say much.”

Cassian smiled. “Yeah, Elain, he’s shy.” Az glared at Cassian, causing him to laugh. The girl, Elain, sat down on the seat beside him and the boy sat on her other side. 

She held out her hand, “Hi, I’m Elain Archeron, Nesta’s sister and this is Lucien,” She said pointing towards the other boy. “We’re in sixth grade. You?” She smiled.

Azriel looked at her hand and then at her smile. He just said, “Azriel Knight. Also in sixth grade.” He turned towards the book on his table. He started sketching in it. 

“What are you drawing?” She peeked over his shoulder. He covered the sketch with his hand, forgetting about the scars on his hand. 

He could feel Nesta and Cassian tensing from across the table. 

“Beautiful.” He heard her say softly. He raised his head and looked at her. She smiled softly at him and Azriel felt his cheeks flushing. He smiled back at her.

16 Years Ago

“Happy birthday dear Elain! Happy birthday to you!” Everyone sang together. Elain laughed at the additional lines Cassian and Rhys included. 

Azriel had been standing behind them all, a bit shyly. Elain had become one of his very good friends. She always stood up for him whenever someone said anything to him and she always knew how to make him smile. 

He watched as everyone started crowding Elain, showering her with gifts. He felt a bit out of place in such a big crowd. He looked down at the gift he had selected for her. 

Just then someone tapped him on the shoulder. He turned around and saw a big eyed Elain, with a huge smile on her face. “You came!” She said in her sweet voice.

He smiled softly at her. “And I got you a gift.” He held it up to her. She smiled as she took it from him, unwrapping it. He looked at her unsteadily, hoping that she would like the gift he got for her.

As she saw what it was, she looked into his eyes, her own wide with bewilderment. She didn’t say anything, just held onto him tightly. 

“Thank you Az. It’s beautiful.” She whispered as she held the rose gold necklace between them. 

And that day, Az decided that he would go to any lengths for that smile.

15 Years Ago

Azriel was standing in the hallway, surrounded by Eris Vanserra and his little followers. “Let me go.” He said in his deep voice. His voice had changed before most of his classmates. He had initially felt proud to grow faster than others but afterwards when everyone had started teasing him for it, he hated it. 

“What are you gonna do? Burn our hands?” Eris sneered at him. Az had been used to people teasing him, but he always had Cassian to help him. Now that Cassian had gone to high school, he was alone.

“He won’t, but I will.” They all turned towards the direction of that voice. 

Elain Archeron was standing with her arms crossed across her chest. She had a scowl on her face and her eyes were furious. 

Eris smirked at her. “And how are you going to do that, Miss Goody-Two-Shoes?” 

“Need I remind you who my elder sister is?” She said in a deadly calm voice. 

Eris’ expression turned into one of fear. Everyone in town was terrified of Nesta Archeron. Elain sauntered towards them and stopped as soon as she reached Azriel’s side.

“Now, you can run away and never trouble us again, or I could give a call to my sister as well as get you into detention.” Elain threatened. 

Eris’ friends started backing away slowly before Elain’s voice stopped them. 

“Oh, and apologize.”

“What?” 

“Apologize.” she gritted her teeth.

Eris looked at Az hesitantly. “Sorry Azriel.” Azriel just smirked.

As soon as Eris went away, Elain looked towards Az. “You okay? Did they hurt you?” 

Azriel looked at her and hugged her. She stiffened for a second before she too put her arms around him. He looked down at her striking brown eyes as he said, “You’re a badass.”

Elain giggled. “Nothing less for my best friend.” She started moving ahead, leaving Azriel behind, who couldn’t stop thinking how beautiful the girl in front of him was.

12 Years Ago

“I love you so much.”

“I love you more.”

“Ugh, are they ever gonna stop?” Elain whispered from beside Azriel. 

Azriel looked at Feyre and Rhysand sitting opposite to them. They were at a victory dinner for their high school’s football team. Each player had a plus one and Azriel could only think of bringing Elain with him. He told her it was just as friends, but what he wanted was far from that. 

Azriel was in love with Elain. 

And everytime he saw her with someone else, it hurt him deeply. His brother’s told him to tell her, but he was too scared that he would drive her away. 

So there he was, sitting with the girl he loved, at dinner, just as friends. 

Feyre turned towards Elain and gave her a sour look. “Oh, please Elain. Just because you’re not in love with someone doesn’t mean you can rain on everyone else’s parade.”

“I can if it makes me wanna vomit.” She replied. 

Az nudged her from the side, making her laugh. Rhys looked at both of them and then gave Az a pointed look. 

“Hey, Elain,” Cassian started from beside them, “How cool would it be if all three of you sisters ended up with all three of us brothers.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her. 

Azriel flinched as his brother’s direct statement. Elain laughed and waved her hand. “Even though it would be really cool, we all know that’s never gonna happen.” 

Suddenly, there was silence among his brothers and the two of them looked at each other, making Azriel feel more broken than he had ever felt. He stood up and excused himself saying that he needed to get some fresh air. 

He walked out of the diner and reached his car. He leaned against it and hung his head down, cursing himself for thinking that he had any chance with someone as good as Elain. 

“Az?” The same voice that had haunted Az’s dreams since he was 12 came from behind him. 

He turned around and smiled at her. “I’m fine El. Go back inside.” She had a beanie over her chestnut locks and he could see her nose and cheeks were flushed. 

Every puff of her breath was visible. He had forgotten how cold it was and had realized he was not even wearing a jacket. 

“You’re not fine. I hurt you, didn’t I?” She said, her voice low and sad. She walked closer towards him.

“It’s not your fault El. It’s just...” There was no point in hiding it now. “I love you El. I have since forever, I guess.” 

Elain just blinked her eyes. “It’s okay El, you don’t have-” 

He couldn’t complete his sentence. 

Elain was kissing him.

He didn’t hesitate at all. He deepened the kiss and held onto her waist. She knotted her hands in his hair and moved closer than they ever could. 

She was the first one to break apart. She looked into his eyes and said, with a little smile. “I love you too, idiot.” 

He couldn’t help but laugh. He rested his forehead on hers and tangled his hand with hers. 

“Should we tell them?” He whispered, a white cloud of air forming around them.

Elain grinned mischievously, “Let them figure it out on their own.”

Needless to say, they didn’t return to the diner.

10 Years Ago.

Azriel bent down on his bed peering down at a sleeping Elain. She looked so peaceful, surrounded with fluffy black pillows and wrapped up in a black comforter.

“May I know why you’re staring at me while I’m sleeping?” She said with her eyes closed but a smile resting on her face. 

“You’re so beautiful.” He replied softly. She was wearing his Velaris High hoodie which reached till her mid thigh and he knew very well that she was not wearing anything underneath. 

Elain chuckled and opened her eyes. When she saw what was in front of her, her smile faltered. She looked at Azriel with wide eyes as he held a ring box in his hand.

He smiled softly at her. “El, I love you so, so much, I can’t express it in words and you know how bad I am with those.” She giggled. “But here I am, trying to speak my heart out to the most wonderful girl I’ve ever known. I know, I’m not perfect, and by no means good enough for you, but I really want to try, El. I want to have a family with you and grow old with you and love you till my last breath.” He took the ring out of the box and held it up to her. “Elain Archeron, will you marry me?” 

Elain got up and sat on her knees. “But we’re only 18.” 

“I know, we can wait if you want. I promise to wait for you Elain. I’ll wait for you my entire life.” He said solemnly.

She nodded her head, tears filling her eyes. “Yes. Definitely yes.” 

Azriel kissed her and slid the ring onto her finger. They broke apart and looked down at her hand. “I love you, Az. Forever.”

Azriel looked into her eyes and held her face with his hands. “Forever.” He promised.

And they spent the entire day in their own little bubble of happiness.

Present

Elain closed her old photo album as the boy beside her fell asleep. She smiled and ruffled his hair, thanking the gods for giving her the best gift possible. 

From the doorway she heard a small cough. Her smile faltered as she turned towards her fiancé who was looking at her with disapproval. 

She didn���t say anything as she got up from the bed and walked past him, hiding her tears and banishing the thoughts of the boy she once truly loved.

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

Azriel fell back on his bed. 

He was extremely tired after an entire day of torturing and spying. He despised what he had to do, but at the same time he was grateful for it. It was the one thing that had gotten him through the pain of losing the only person he loved. 

He reached into his side table drawer and took out an old photo, taken just after he had proposed. They looked so happy, it made him smile at the memory. 

He wished he could go back to those times and stay in those moments. But it was too late. And soon, with the onset of the sun, he would have to work again.

He slept with one wish, to be able to see her, hold her one last time.

~~~~~~~~

Let me know what you think!

[edenmemes]

assassin’s creed valhalla starters

words within ‘()’ are additional, optional choices! more maybe to be added at a later date. some n/sfw present. 

❝ you should see the other man. he got the worst of it. ❞   ❝ and who better to lead us to glory than me? ❞ ❝ i am most at home helping others. ❞       ❝ i’ve waited long enough for you, and you for me. ❞   ❝ thank you for not saying anything about my past. ❞       ❝ know that however far away, you’re always in my thoughts. ❞   ❝ when you see your god, tell them i sent you. ❞   ❝ what you make up in muscles, you’re lacking in spine. ❞   ❝ i almost envy you, to see the world through such a muddy glass and live with such petty concerns. ❞   ❝ i smell the stink of a dozen kingdoms in your beard. ❞   ❝ this feud is not yours, yet you fight it all the same. i find that strange. ❞   ❝ by the look on your face, you have lost your will to live. ❞   ❝ my arms are numb from battle. does it need any dressing?    do you think it is a serious wound? ❞   ❝ oh dear. this is not how i foresaw things. not at all! ❞   ❝ should we take this to your chamber? ❞   ❝ i want this. i want you. ❞   ❝ turn around, walk away, and you keep your insides inside. ❞   ❝ stay back! back! i will fight you! ❞   ❝ you look like reddened shit. what happened? ❞   ❝ i have always wanted to experience the world as you do. ❞   ❝ you come like a valkyrie out of a fog. but i have no dead to give you. ❞   ❝ all right, stay close and do as i do. ❞   ❝ home. or...it was home, once. now it is nothing but bone. ❞   ❝ i’ll have no qualms wiping clean your grin. ❞   ❝ just take care. such hatred can make you careless. ❞   ❝ away from your table for a day and you are already lusting for blood. ❞   ❝ if i did not know any better, i would say you are teasing me. ❞   ❝ the dream of new lands is a powerful lure. ❞   ❝ i love climbing up here. makes me feel as high as a raven. ❞   ❝ if i don’t find your horse, i will steal you a new one. ❞   ❝ i feel somewhat trapped. in this room, in this settlement, in this life. ❞   ❝ you are lost in a sea-storm of your own making. ❞   ❝ the poet in you sings once again. ❞   ❝ tonight, we will eat and drink like gods and wake in a kingdom made new. ❞   ❝ i wish i understood you better. for those i do not understand, i do not trust. (and i cannot stomach a lack of trust.) ❞ ❝ i’ve been called worse. ❞   ❝ you have nothing to fear from me. i bear you no ill will. ❞   ❝ you are a shadow of your father. weak and witless. ❞   ❝ what is this? is this...are we in hell? ❞   ❝ keep company with kings and you will soon have a crown of your own. ❞   ❝ a toothless cub may grow to be a dangerous wolf. ❞   ❝ you are far too young to speak so wise. ❞   ❝ i need clear, sound judgement. i need you. ❞   ❝ kind and courageous people live the best lives, but it can be a difficult path to keep. ❞ ❝ i want to say...i love you. and i have for some time. ❞ ❝ you smell that? the stink of jealousy. (of our budding friendship, i think). ❞   ❝ ah, while i have you, i’m reminded...i have this for you. ❞   ❝ your lies are just like you. big and bold. ❞   ❝ don’t excuse yourself. you enjoy this too much. ❞   ❝ you've come back. why are you wasting your time with me? ❞   ❝ care to sing a song? helps me pass the time. ❞   ❝ that is twice you have earned my admiration. ❞   ❝ you have only the setting sun to tell you when to stop. ❞   ❝ i want to know what you know. name your price. ❞   ❝ people like you deserve something worse than death. ❞   ❝ they called me a lout, a disgrace. they were right. ❞   ❝ i will have to get used to watching the sights of war from afar now. ❞   ❝ there’s no other way. fight or hide. it’s up to you. ❞   ❝ do not think me a coward. i am not afraid of war. ❞   ❝ friendships end. often at the point of a spear. ❞ ❝ i will make you beg as your father begged. ❞   ❝ (until that time,) it would be best to keep all discussions about...    about us to yourself. ❞ ❝ without you i would have lost my way a thousand times. ❞   ❝ you have no other friends. so tread lightly here. ❞   ❝ be it a blessing or a curse, family is always first. ❞   ❝ let’s not walk too far with that idea. i need you right where you are. ❞   ❝ you bested me. yet, i’m the one left standing. ❞   ❝ it’s a pleasure to meet you at least. ❞   ❝ you and your people here have done more for me than i could ever repay. ❞   ❝ you have my highest respect, regard, and trust. ❞   ❝ you’re not shy, are you? ❞   ❝ if we do this, you’ll earn the right to call me friend ten-thousand fold. ❞   ❝ does this have the stench of betrayal to you? ❞ ❝ today has meant so much. we rode, we fought, we drank, we laughed. (you showed me your world.) ❞       ❝ your end was written the moment you came for me. ❞   ❝ i am a sellsword. i ask what i please, and i take what i’m owed. ❞ ❝ you move and i will take your eyes. you hear me? ❞   ❝ i will leap first. on my word, you must follow. ❞   ❝ many times i wished to tell you. wished to say what was in my heart and what i desired. (but duty kept me from it.) ❞   ❝ these wounds will heal quickly. you’re lucky. ❞   ❝ anything to help you feel at home. ❞   ❝ our friendship is the best thing to come from this mess. ❞   ❝ you will be remembered for this, for years to come. ❞   ❝ i thought i had lost you. for good this time. ❞   ❝ you have shown me a great kindness. it is only fitting that i do the same. ❞   ❝ the mess you’re in...you don’t know the half of it. ❞   ❝ you have drawn a dark conclusion about me, haven’t you? (that is all well and good. i’ve drawn some about you as well.) ❞   ❝ you seem...strangely familiar. ❞   ❝ here i am, an upright man who never once learned how to bend the knee. and yet...i shall try. ❞ ❝ that’s a bread knife. do you mean to butter me? ❞   ❝ is that not something you worry over? ❞   ❝ a blind pursuit of vengeance has made you predictable. ❞   ❝ no matter where you are, or how far you travel, i will hunt you down. ❞   ❝ i came for you, looking for a friend and ally. ❞   ❝ people change.    it may be that you change with them, or you go your separate ways. ❞   ❝ i wish you whatever peace you may find in this new life you’ve found. ❞   ❝ i want your word: you will follow my orders. ❞   ❝ the day is new, and the air is bracing. are you ready for the fight ahead? ❞   ❝ er...good to meet you as well? ❞   ❝ what riches are worth so much misery, and the deaths of honorable men and women? ❞   ❝ my destiny is mine to weave. ❞   ❝ my road forward has been a muddy one. slick with blood and tears. (but we can reach its end together.) ❞   ❝ it is a wise leader who considers the needs of others. ❞   ❝ i think my mouth has gotten me in enough trouble today. ❞   ❝ at the end of all things, you will find yourself with nothing but your regrets. ❞   ❝ you saw fit to keep me guessing through your fits of madness. ❞   ❝ by all the gods, what was that? ❞   ❝ i was...restless. a quiet walk alone clears the head. ❞   ❝ when winter is past, summer will come and wind you in a flowered skirt, for you are beauty and shall not wither. ❞   ❝ ...unless you had a more interesting day planned for us? ❞   ❝ i do hope you see it now, for all you have done for me. ❞   ❝ your passion, your strength. i have never met such a burning soul. ❞   ❝ i have no guilt nor regret for what we have done, but we should be careful. ❞   ❝ i see before me a person full of passion, vigor, and a love for their people. ❞   ❝ if i wanted to hear you talk shit, i’d cut out your tongue and shove it up your ass. ❞   ❝ you! you look stronger than most of the others. ❞   ❝ your hatred for me burns bright. i could warm my balls on it. ❞   ❝ you’re quite like your arms: incredibly thick. ❞   ❝ i fought as i do, as hard as i do, to survive. (for i know what awaits us in the end. only darkness.) ❞   ❝ a shameful trick. you are your father’s child. ❞   ❝ you destroyed my life. i will take yours. ❞   ❝ you snore a little, like a wounded bear. ❞   ❝ that’s when i knew i would live and die for you. ❞   ❝ i’m going to pretend your last words were taken by the wind. ❞   ❝ i might still kill you yet, if your prattling doesn’t cease. ❞   ❝ you are weak like your father was weak. (you dance better than you fight.) ❞   ❝ have you ever seen muscles as massive as mine? ❞   ❝ i’m honored by your faith in me. and your confidence. ❞   ❝ after my missteps, i worry what you must think of me. ❞   ❝ with so much blood in the water and death in the air, i’d like to know your name and purpose. ❞ ❝ i have a good feeling about this place. ❞   ❝ you helped me reclaim what i had lost in myself. ❞       ❝ you speak of honor. where’s yours? ❞       ❝ you will throw away all reason to defend what you sworn to. ❞       ❝ you really are like a hero out of folk tales. ❞       ❝ how much would you sacrifice to be freed of fate’s shackles? (would you give your tongue, your hand, your sight?) ❞   ❝ there’s no power strong enough to do what you say. ❞       ❝ please, you must fight for me.    who knows what vile people might come to harm me? ❞   ❝ i have no need to count my kills. they number too many. ❞   ❝ i appreciate you for all of your qualities. ❞ ❝ not even the gods can change fate. ❞       ❝ i think it is time i take my leave. ❞ ❝ you really thought my life was in danger? (and you risked your own life...) ❞ ❝ the path ahead is bright, with glory at its end. ❞ ❝ it is easy to lose one's way on the road to glory. do not let false victories blind you to what is true. ❞ ❝ the act of leaving so beloved a home, there is a sadness to it. ❞       ❝ so there’s nowhere...you call home? ❞   ❝ all things end. ruins are not a warning, they are a testament. ❞   ❝ be nice to sleep in a real bed when this is over. ❞   ❝ in my sleep i dream. and in my dreams i see an end to the doom that will grip the earth once again. ❞   ❝ even when we win, we lose. ❞   ❝ i am as good with my lips, as i am with my tongue. ❞   ❝ is this your idea of a pleasant ride through the country? ❞   ❝ no whispering god brought me here. i brought myself. ❞   ❝ i would like very much to pass some time with you. ❞   ❝ ...and that’s how i got that scar. ❞   ❝ do i now haunt your dreams? ❞   ❝ it was never in their character to lead, it was always within yours. ❞   ❝ so easily wounded by words. imagine the ruin my axe would inflict on your flaccid ego. ❞   ❝ i have felt this way for some time now. i care for you. ❞   ❝ i have not felt safe since then. not really. ❞   ❝ how long have you been chasing me? seventeen winters? eighteen? ❞   ❝ you are not always to be trusted. your passions overcome you. ❞   ❝ i like you. you may help me here or step on me...and by the look of you i’d welcome either. ❞   ❝ it is good to have you in this fight. ❞   ❝ you need only know my impressive scale and flawless build. ❞   ❝ i am better than any man here. ❞   ❝ i can tell by looking at you, you are not a great warrior. (you know it too, there is no reason to deny this.) ❞   ❝ i am looking for honor, and have become lost as a result. ❞   ❝ many apologies. you are no child, simply a frail and fully-grown fool. ❞   ❝ i was stupid, selfish, reckless, blind, boneheaded, and i smell like blood and shit. ❞ ❝ anything to say for the mess you led us to? ❞   ❝ how was your...first kill? ❞   ❝ you squirm like that and my axe will miss your neck! unpleasant for both of us. ❞   ❝ i know you would defy me to the death, fighting for a glorious end.     that i will not allow. ❞   ❝ most men choose to be loud or stupid. impressive, that you managed both. ❞   ❝ you are a great warrior. conquerer of this land and that of your birth. ❞   ❝ you’re chasing shadows like a madman howling at the moon! ❞   ❝ quite a hit you took. how many were lost? ❞   ❝ well fought! even if your wits were somewhat rattled. ❞   ❝ we suffered no losses in this fight, and the men who humiliated us are dead. what is there to say? ❞   ❝ i would like to be close to you. ❞   ❝ if you are a warrior with honor running like sunlight in your veins, then you may help me fulfill my destiny. ❞ ❝ you are a long way from any warm hearth, warrior. Is this where you call home? ❞ ❝ am i to go the rest of my days without love or attention? i think not. ❞   ❝ the gods favor you. they always have. ❞   ❝ the others, they are like clubs. blunt and ungainly, you are nimble, like a knife. ❞   ❝ people with eyes that gleam like yours are always up to something more. ❞   ❝ only a fool stays awake all night worrying. you are tired when you get up, and the problem is still not solved. ❞   ❝ i liked you from the first. i saw something in you that captivated me. (as if a forgotten memory of an old friendship had suddenly resurfaced.) ❞   ❝ you've done nothing but give me your blind word! ❞   ❝ did you bring me any treasure? ❞ ❝ the woodsmoke from your firepit does sting the eyes. but the warmth is welcome. ❞ ❝ it is not something i can speak on. or wish to. ❞ ❝ i'm with you. only say the word. ❞ ❝ until we cut off this serpent's head, it will poison us, day by day, drop by drop. ❞ ❝ get some rest and return here at first light. ❞ ❝ i missed having you at my side. how i wished i could have taken you along on my travels. ❞ ❝ i do not like this, but i will not stop you. ❞ ❝ i have waited too many years for this day. when ___ stands before us, give me the final blow. ❞ ❝ why do you carry such a useless burden? let it go. ❞ ❝ i have waited years for this, but i will not risk losing it through rashness. ❞ ❝ i cannot fathom your game. you are either a young fool...or deceptively wise. ❞ ❝ your confidence blinds you to so much in plain sight. ❞   ❝ it’s good to be here, with you and your people. (i feel my life has found a new road.) ❞   ❝ there has always been war, even among the gods. ❞       ❝ my honor has been stained. until it's wiped clean, i want nothing else. ❞ ❝ i lack the patience for pole fishing. i would have better luck with my bow. ❞   ❝ if we tell all our stories, we’ll be here for a week. ❞ ❝ can you teach me the art of archery? ❞   ❝ bury the past. build the future. ❞       ❝ i missed you. your clear head and your courage. (we have not had enough of both in recent months.)   ❞   ❝ i have a good feeling this war is near its end. ❞ ❝ explain in plain words why you have willfully disobeyed my commands. (do you mock me?) ❞   ❝ the gods favor you. they always have. ❞   ❝ my love for you rises tall and strong, like the tree of life. ❞   ❝ the prize is some of my time. (a walk in nature, maybe more if that is where our conversation takes us.) ❞ ❝ together, we are unstoppable. ❞ ❝ it is natural to fear change. to resist it. (but all things change, and all things end.) ❞ ❝ you said nothing of this to me, not a word. ❞ ❝ so long as men and women fight to secure honor and freedom, their allegiance hardly matters to me. ❞ ❝ i care for you. i do not know how to say it any other way. ❞   ❝ love can burn brighter near death. ❞ ❝ i knew this would be difficult, but sometimes the weight bears down heavily. ❞ ❝ you are young and still foolish, so i will spare you your life. (but cross me again or harm anyone i cherish, and you will join your friends in hell.)   ❞ ❝ if you are as brave as you appear, you will come. ❞ ❝ this is not a natural quiet. it's as if a curse has befallen this place. ❞ ❝ there was a curse here long before i came along. ❞ ❝ we’ll forge a warrior from your softness, hammered on the anvil of war. ❞ ❝ you are different than the kind my flights of fancy attract. burdened, decorated and…delicate. ❞ ❝ i do not know what else to say. m-my memories are faint, hazy. ❞ ❝ how are you doing? you survived a serious blow. ❞   ❝ we’ll weave our sagas together, thread upon thread. ❞ ❝ i try to use my knowledge to help others. i am only a threat to those who fear the unknown. ❞   ❝ slap some moss on that gash and wrap it well. ❞   ❝ a knife to the back is a wound that never heals. ❞       ❝ with me you have wisdom! glory! power! what more do you need? ❞       ❝ if your hell is real, i’m glad you’ll get to see it. ❞   ❝ to fight beside such legends is an honor. (i've only heard tales of your conquests. now i get to live them.) ❞   ❝ i have tried to live well. it is enough that the gods know that. ❞ ❝ a cloud hangs over you. is something wrong? ❞   ❝ you have plunged my city into chaos. ❞   ❝ my sword is gore-greedy. i am ready to fight. ❞   ❝ accept your fate and die a coward, here before your people... and i will spare the rest. ❞   ❝ you would take the rescue for yourself, so the victory song is written about you? ❞   ❝ kneel, and i will spare your life. ❞   ❝ it has been some time. what brings you so far to see me? ❞