#that loves the earth more than anything else

[peachesofteal]

Through Me (The Flood) - secret baby fic - Simon Riley / female reader

When Simon was a child, he didn't believe good things could happen to him.

His father made sure of that, and as he became an adult, he never really grew out of the mentality. It was only solidified, after Roba, and the loss of his family, only further engrained in him, after he woke in the dark with dirt in his mouth, airway blocked by the earth itself.

It was persistent. His constant. The world was an awful place. Full of awful people.

Until you. Until you possessed his every thought. Until he realized that the affection that he held for you was not some fleeting obsession but something far, far worse. Something he was terrified to lose. Something called love.

He didn't believe in good things happening to him, for him, until you.

He can't think of anything in this world that matters more to him, than you and Orion, the baby. Cannot name a single thing he wouldn't give, to keep you both safe. Happy. With him. Forever.

“I need to see my son.” His voice isn’t his own, echoing in the mic, helicopter blades completing with the thunderous rattle between his ears.

“Almost there LT.” He nods in acknowledgment, but gives nothing else. There’s a violent black hole inside him, a planet shattering, sun obliterating void of dark chaos growing wider and wider, threatening everything in his path.

You’re okay. You have to be.

But why haven’t there been any demands? By now surely there would have been video, some grainy wide shot of your face, beaten and bloodied, held up by your scalp to look into the camera.

He chases the image from his mind.

You’re okay. You have to be.

“C’mere little man.” Fat tears roll down chubby cheeks, and Simon smothers his son into his chest.

“He hasn’t been sleeping.” Cami’s voice is watery, and she hangs onto Kyle, trembling like a leaf. “He was in his crib when they- when-“

“Shhh, okay. It’s alright.” Kyle soothes her, and she buries her face in his chest, shoulders shaking. Orion clings to Simon’s shirt, little sniffles breaking his already shattered heart apart into smaller pieces. He rubs his back.

“We’ll bring her home, Ry. We will.”

Simon’s kitchen is splattered with blood.

He was expecting more, to be honest, preparing for the worst. You wouldn’t have fought, he knows that, would have gone willingly to protect Orion and yourself.

That didn’t stop them from ransacking the house. They tore the living room apart and smashed out some windows. Threw Orion’s crib to the floor, which explains the bruising and tender skin on his legs and neck. Somehow, thankfully, that was the extent of his injuries.

He traces the arc of blood splatter on the cabinets with reverence. If this is the last piece of you, what will he do?

The thought forces him to his knees. A moment of weakness in a long stoic twenty four hours, he bends at the waist and claps his hand over his mouth to muffle the hoarse sob forcing its way out.

You’re okay. You have to be.

This is where John finds him. On his knees, in the kitchen, face wet.

For once in his life, he doesn’t hear the thump of a boot behind him until John is at his side.

“Simon.” He jerks upward, and John’s sad expression from earlier has hardened into steel. “We have a hit.”

[sj-ficrecs]

fic rec 16!

SO! i haven’t been reading fic in a long time bc i’ve been reading books BUT, discovered this fic rec in my drafts from 2022 lol oops!

This is purely a fic rec blog, always reblogging fics I enjoy. usually Bucky x reader, sometimes Steve x reader, Chris Beck x reader, etc. So check out more I’ve reblogged on this page. :)

PREVIOUS FIC RECS HERE! // Q & A

Bucky x reader:

A Correspondence of Obligations by @pellucid-constellations prince!Bucky x princess!reader

“ Obedience, duty, pristine smiles—raised as the princess of an oppressive kingdom, you knew nothing else. Your father signed your life away at the ripe age of five, black ink bleeding into a contract between nations, fate cemented with the flick of a quill. So when the time came to fulfill the promises you were too young to make, you expected much of the same in the land of Brookshire. But Prince James had other plans, as did the enemies looming outside the castle walls.”

Sky Full of Song by @wkemeup pirate!Bucky x pirate/siren!reader

“Despite the bitter resentment of the crew, you found a home on Captain Barnes’ ship; on the ocean where you belonged, at the side of a captain you swore loyalty and heart to. But when course is plotted for a legendary island, the secret that has kept you alive for years is threatened to be revealed.”

Starting Gate by @navybrat817 motocross!Bucky x reader

“You attract the attention of your coworker's friend who just happens to be a handsome racer who plays for keeps.”

Oath by @softlybarnes (part of the Sugar series but can be reader alone) 40s Bucky x reader

“Bucky finally proposes to Y/N.”

Awake My Soul by @foreverindreamlandd​ Bucky x reader (Zombie apocalypse au)

“It’s been five years since zombies first started walking the Earth, destroying anything and everything in their wake. Now, in this apocalyptic world, fighting for survival comes as naturally as breathing. The one thing you’ve learned ever since they arrived, though, is that the living can be so much more dangerous than the undead. When you stumble across two young, scared boys lost in the woods and being chased by walkers, you go against your better judgment and help them to safety. Little did you know that helping them would lead you to Bucky - an angry, grumpy, distrusting member of the camp Shield. Bucky has zero interest in having you enter his life. He’s been hurt before and lost too many people to risk experiencing that kind of pain again, and he knows that there are secrets you aren’t telling the group. Yet, when push comes to shove, and you’re put at risk, he’ll stop at nothing to keep you safe.”

No Such Thing by @sanguineterrain college athlete!Bucky x reader

“You’ve been assigned to write a column for your school paper on the team’s spectacular running back. You don’t care very much for your university’s football team; you just can’t understand the hype, okay? Turns out your distaste for football bigheads was exactly on point: James Barnes is insufferable.”

Appointments by @buckycuddlebuddy Bucky x reader

“bucky barnes, finally being able to live freely in 21st century, accidentally gets a fuck buddy and starts to rediscover himself. the only weird thing about this situation is that you have to make an appointment to get railed by him.”

Recipe for Disaster by @seventven dad’s best friend!Bucky x reader

“your dad’s best friend bucky knows you have a crush on him. your parents invite him to join your family for the annual winter vacation”

In the Embers by @foreverindreamlandd Firefighter!Bucky x Fem!Plus Size!Adopted Rogers!Reader

“Bucky Barnes. The boy next door. Your brother’s best friend. The guy you’ve been in love with for as long as you can remember. Unrequited, that is, seeing that he only thinks of you as a sister (at least, that’s what you always thought). It’s been about a decade since you’ve returned home and reunited with the boy - now man - with stunning blue eyes and a smile that still puts a million butterflies in your stomach. You never expected to come back, thinking that you’d spend the rest of your life as a famous artist in Los Angeles with your boyfriend/manager. But things change, life gets messy, and now you’re back in your childhood bedroom living with your mom and working at the townie bar to make ends meet while you try to figure out what the hell to do next. The one thing that hasn’t changed? Bucky Barnes is still the boy next door, and there’s no running from him this time.”

Love in Four Acts by @chouettedubois neighbor MCU Bucky x nurse!reader

“You’re a nurse living in Brooklyn. You’ve got a crush on your next door neighbour who doesn’t seem to know you exist. One day his cat finds its way into your apartment, forcing you both to finally meet. That’s when you learn that he’s James Buchanan Barnes, ex-Winter Soldier. Well, there goes your chances. Or maybe getting close to a superhero isn’t as far-fetched as it sounds.”

Plaything part one + two by @captain-buckyyy virgin!Bucky x reader

“bucky’s innocence is just too much for you to resist”

calamitous love series by @classylo princess!reader x commoner!bucky

“Reader is a modern princess under immense pressure to marry before she takes the crown, she choose her Prince Charming four years ago… but he didn’t choose her back. He left her with a broken heart and her kingdom to rule alone. Four years later, reader is in an arranged engagement with a man who she can see herself loving… one day… everything seems to be falling into place until her original prince shows up at her engagement party determined to win her back before her wedding day.”

Not Even a Little by @intrepidacious roommate!Bucky x reader, modern au

“The problem of living with Bucky is that he makes it impossible not to fall in love with him. Even though you could list several hundred reasons why it’s a bad idea. And you have.”

Followed You by @cwbucky Bucky x reader

“You meet this guy named Bucky through Instagram. Even though neither of you knows what the other person looks like, you two immediately connect. Things get complicated when you start your new job at Stark Industries and you catch a glimpse of the handsome Sergeant Barnes.”

Matched by @nony-bear Alpha!Bucky x omega!reader

“Bucky Barnes always dreamed of settling down with a mate but after decades of trauma leaving him a grumpy old man with a robotic arm he’s convinced no one could love an alpha like him. Begrudgingly he follows his therapist advice and enrolls in the Swan Program a mate matching program offered but the new aged bio-tech company Mate-Tech”

Body Talk by @boxofbonesfic trainer!Bucky x plus size!reader

“You’re determined to come out of this breakup a better you, but Bucky likes the you you are.”

King in Your Story by @sinner-as-saint viking!Bucky x princess!reader

“Everyone in your father’s Kingdom knows that the Vikings often raid the castle’s warehouses. They take anything they want. Food, gold, weapons. Although they never seem to hurt your subjects. But you had had enough. Given your training, and your need to defend your Kingdom, your father agrees to let you trap the Vikings and bring them in for negotiation because this habit of theirs needs to be stopped. You hated the Vikings, and you thought you always would. Until the moment you met a pair of blue eyes which made your world stand still. Bucky was the Chief of his people; muscular, rough and tumble, and arrogant. Not to mention a shameless flirt, and he got on your nerves the most. But you knew it from the very day you laid eyes on his very handsome face that no matter how hard you tried, some part of you couldn’t fully hate him, nor resist him - even if he was the rival.”

Oh Baby, Oh Baby by @tooearlyforthis Bucky x reader

“As a new recruit, y/n isn’t allowed to go on all the missions yet. To make matters worse, they left behind another, someone that she had despised ever since she first stepped foot in the compound - James Buchanan Barnes.”

Before You by @m4tthewmurd0ck prince!Bucky x baker!reader

reader is a baker who happens to work at a shop the royals enjoy getting baked goods from :)

Steve Rogers x reader:

Rising Tide by @pellucid-constellations surfer!Steve x reader

“A relationship built up from the ocean floor, you and Steve had lifetime worth of memories—most best friends did. But things were beginning to change, unspoken feelings creating a rift that cast a shadow over the bond you called home. Unfortunately for you, rip currents are often hardest to spot in the dark”

[rippleclan]

RippleClan: Moon 75

Yellowpaw, Sandpaw, and Stormpaw are apprenticed to Asterblaze, Spikecrash, and Clammask.

[Image ID: Yellowpaw, Sandpaw, and Stormpaw are apprentices. Sandpaw says, "Do you think Thunderpaw is impressed?" Under Yellowpaw, it says LEVEL UP! YELLOWKIT → YELLOWPAW, NOISY → COLD. Under Sandpaw, it says LEVEL UP! SANDKIT → SANDPAW, SELF-CONSCIOUS → LOYAL. Under Stormpaw, it says LEVEL UP! STORMKIT → STORMPAW, KNOW-IT-ALL → CHARISMATIC.]

(Yellowpaw: 6, female, caretaker apprentice, cold, quick to make peace)

(Sandpaw: 6, male, mediator apprentice, loyal, interested in Clan history)

(Stormpaw: 6, female, caretaker apprentice, charismatic, loves to eat)

Honeybuzz helps the three star-blessed apprentices.

[Image ID: Honeybuzz, Weevilpaw, Wolfpaw, and Anchovypaw watch Estherfern talk with a Dark Forest spirit. Under Honeybuzz, it says + NEW SKILL: GOOD TEACHER.]

---

Honeybuzz cupped his paw around one of the many plucked mushrooms that formed the unholy circle. He sniffed at the herbal mixture that sealed the pickings together. A few strands of black and red fur clung to the wet earth that lined the edges of the muddy den. The constant rain of the last four days made the ground slick and sent water dripping from the root-lined ceiling. Anchovypaw, Wolfpaw, and Weevilpaw stood outside the den, heads close together as they peered inside. The rain glued their pelts to their skin.

“And you’ve known about this for how long, Anchovypaw?” Honeybuzz asked. He absently batted at his wooden necklace, the freshly plucked cicada wing glistening with raindrops. He pointedly sat outside of the circle, mud sinking into his thin fur.

“Only a few days,” Anchovypaw admitted. “I didn’t want to say anything until I could come back here, but there’s even more ichor here than there was when I first found the den.”

“You should have told us sooner,” Weevilpaw huffed with a glare so sharp that, had she had her sister’s ability, Anchovypaw would have frozen stiff.

“I wasn’t going to scare anyone if I didn’t have to!” Anchovypaw huffed. A sharp flick of his tail sent a stream of water flying over Weevilpaw and Wolfpaw’s backs. “It could have just been where the beast that killed Weedfoot went to die. I only waited a few days! It took me that long to get away from Halibutdusk!”

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” Honeybuzz promised. He squeezed around the apprentices, squinting as the rain splashed his eyes.

“Now we know someone else has been here,” Wolfpaw pointed out. 

“What is it, Honeybuzz?” Weevilpaw asked. She moved further into the den, eyes locked on the circle.

“You remember my lessons on channeling StarClan?” Honeybuzz said, shivering. “It exhausts power StarClan wasn’t planning to use, but the immediate and physical communication can justify an absence of subtle signs and assistance.”

“But we don’t use mushrooms,” Weevilpaw said. She poked at a mushroom, making it roll out of its spot. “We form a circle of cats, not plants.”

“But do you remember when you met Terracottafoot?” Honeybuzz sighed. “I asked them to tell you about last Harvest Moon, and some of their knowledge of the Dark Forest. Newtstream, their mentor, taught them about channeling Dark Forest spirits using a circle of mushrooms.”

“Someone’s summoning Spirits of Shadow,” Wolfpaw gulped.

“Who would be that mouse-brained?” Anchovypaw growled. His claws left gouges in the mud. “We all remember the Shardling. Who would want to bring something like that back?” Anchovypaw looked like he was going to be sick. Wolfpaw rubbed against Anchovypaw’s side. “You were right, Weevilpaw. I should have destroyed this den as soon as I found it.”

“Then they would have made another one,” Honeybuzz pointed out. “No, we need to find a trusted warrior to watch this den. They can wait until the culprit visits again. Waspdawn or Puddlewhisper would do well. I trust them.” Weevilpaw’s soaked fur prickled. Her eyes widened, locked on something Honeybuzz couldn’t see. Her mouth dropped slightly, breath catching. 

“Out, out!” Weevilpaw hissed, lunging past Wolfpaw. She scrambled into a thick bush, still bursting with summer life. Wolfpaw and Anchovypaw were instantly at her side, following her into the shadows. Honeybuzz stumbled in after them, sharp branches poking his ribs.

“Who did you see?” Anchovypaw whispered just as the shrubbery on the other side of the dark den shifted. Bicolored eyes glimmered through the mid-morning haze.

“Estherfern?” Honeybuzz gasped as the older cleric stepped into full view. Estherfern carried a ball of fur in her jaws, the same red and black colors Honeybuzz found in the strange den. Her fur on her cheeks drooped like heavy leaves. She strolled into the shadows, ignorant to her spies.

“The Shardling almost killed her kits,” Anchovypaw growled, his rage making the leaves shake. “Why would she deal with the Dark Forest?”

“Keep listening,” Wolfpaw whispered. “We might find out.” Estherfern placed the furballs in the center of the circle. Her cool gaze settled on Weevilpaw’s disturbed mushroom. Honeybuzz grit his teeth. Estherfern carefully nudged the mushroom back into its original position. She sat in the den’s entrance, back to Honeybuzz and the apprentices.

Estherfern declared, “I call upon the spirit of Hawthornstealer, banished from StarClan for murder in the name of his kits. Despite your sins, your assistance is required. Return to the Clans, if only for a moment. Speak to us.”

“Do you see that?” Anchovypaw whispered, pressing into Weevilpaw. “Do you see that?” Honeybuzz squinted. The circle was still. Suddenly, Weevilpaw gasped. She bit into her paw to muffle her shock. Honeybuzz braced his heart for whatever the star-blessed apprentices saw.

It began as a shift in the mud, like water in a pot at the first stages of boiling. The ground around the fur offering darkened. Black sludge bubbled out of the mud and lapped up the fur balls like medicine. The sound of its formation reminded Honeybuzz of paws trapped in thick gunk, pulling out of the mess with a sucking slurp. It leaked from under the mushrooms and collected in the circle’s center. The ichor pulled itself upward like drops of water falling from the ceiling, perverting the pull of the earth. A subtle red glow illuminated the den.

“It’s finally working,” Estherfern gasped as the ichor took shape. It lifted itself high like a cat arching their back. It clung to the ground at four points that slowly took on the details of paws. A claw-like tail sprouted from its back. The ichor bubbled and bulged into a muzzle. Two glowing red eyes erupted from the spirit’s face. StarClan help them all.

“So you are Estherfern,” the spirit said. Its voice was as sticky as the mud from which it was born, dissolving into the sound of the tumbling rain.

“Hawthornstealer?” Estherfern asked. The spirit blinked slowly, its eyelids like a mudslide. 

“Why do you call?” the spirit groaned.

“Oilstripe and Lavendertwist told me your story,” Estherfern explained. She inched closer, back still stuck in the rain. “You killed an elder to ensure more food for your kits in a famine. You would have done anything for them. StarClan doesn’t seem to have the power I need. I’m hoping you can help.”

“Explain.”

“My kits are sick, and RippleClan can do nothing to help them. One of my daughters is going deaf, the other is half-blind. And now my only son has issues of the head, issues the mediators are simply bandaging, not fixing.” Was she talking about Brightpaw? Spikecrash had asked Honeybuzz and Troutpool about any relaxing herbs the young tom could take before the Gathering, something to ease the panic that overtook him when too many cats surrounded him. It was manageable. There was no need to resort to such extremes.

“You are searching for a cure.”

“I can’t let them struggle like this. How can I fix them?” The spirit stared at Estherfern silently, the rainfall burning into the background of Honeybuzz’s mind. The only sign of un-life in the spirit rested in its long, slow blinking. Even Estherfern, collected as she was, twitched under the spirit’s unending, blank stare.

“I…,” Anchovypaw whispered, “I don’t think that’s the ghost of Hawthornstealer.”

“Why not?” Wolfpaw whimpered.

“It’s too empty,” Anchovypaw groaned, struggling to find the right word. “Weedfoot’s stories said Dark Forest ghosts looked like themselves. Even the Shardling looked a little like Autumnstar, isn’t that what Downstar told us? This thing doesn’t look like anyone. It looks like a shadow."

“We may have the power,” the spirit finally coughed through its thick ichor. “We need help.”

“That’s what I expected,” Estherfern sighed. “What sort of ritual do I need to perform? Is there another spirit I should talk to?”

“Your children were destined to develop these afflictions,” the spirit gurgled. “Their destinies must be replaced. Replaced with another’s.”

“Elaborate.” 

“The eyes of the clear sighted.” The spirit’s red eyes shone like a flickering fire. “The ears of the cautious listener.” Its pointed ears flicked, their first movement since the spirit’s arrival. “The tongue of the charmed.” Its black teeth peered out from muddy lips. “Three sacrifices. Three kits.” Estherfern stilled. Honeybuzz’s heart sank. Despite her standoffishness, despite her argumentativeness, Estherfern was part of the Clan, her kits were part of the Clan. How could she throw that away to fix what didn’t, what couldn’t be fixed?

“We’ll stop her before she begins,” Anchovypaw growled, inching a paw out of hiding. StarClan asked for Estherfern. Why would they send for her if she could be swayed like this?

“Offer the dead—”

“No.” All four hidden cats perked their ears high. Estherfern stood, tail rippling slowly as she stared the spirit down. The spirit, to Honeybuzz’s continued shock, flinched.

“No?” the spirit spat.

“What do you take me for?” Estherfern scoffed. “You think I’m so blindly devoted to a cure that you can turn me into a murderer? A sadist for the sake of my children?”

“You want them cured,” the spirit growled. Its paw lingered at the edge of the circle. “This is how you cure them.”

“And what happens when I do?” Estherfern asked, tilting one ear in a shocking taunt. “I know how your land works, the rules of your afterlife. They will go to StarClan some day and learn what I did for them, if they do not find out in life. They will despise me for what I have done.”

“But they will be cured.”

“Furthermore, I know the creatures that inhabit your Dark Forest.” Estherfern walked around the circle like a hunter. The spirit never turned its head, face stuck in a sneer. “It is the home of murderers and scoundrels. I would surely arrive there after my own death were I to kill three innocents for you. You would condemn me to eternity without my children.”

“You’ve already been damned, Estherfern. You brought forth the Skin N’ Bones that slew your deputy. You are the cause of your Clan’s suffering. Do you believe StarClan will forgive you for that?” A Skin N’ Bones. Of course. Nothing else would have injured Downstar like that. Nothing else would have devoured Weedfoot alive. Estherfern stopped. The calculated and callous look that always hung in her eyes cracked. Honeybuzz could almost see Estherfern’s soul drop. “Why give up now? You’re too far gone. Your children are not. Why summon us if you were not willing to do whatever it took to fix your kits?”

“I will not have them hate me!” Estherfern rounded on the spirit, lips curled tight. “I will not have them curse my name!” She shook her head low. “I will find a different cure for them. I will find another way. I send you back, spirit, back to your dark wanderings, where StarClan’s light does not reach.” Estherfern reached for one of the mushrooms. Her paw breached the circle.

“No!” The spirit dug its fangs into Estherfern’s paw. Ichor dripped into her fresh wound. She pulled back, ripping more of her skin in the process. 

“I respect what you did for your kits, Hawthornstealer,” Estherfern hissed, licking her paw. “I realize now, however, that where you could put aside your kits’ emotions for their futures, I cannot.”

“We,” the spirit growled, voice dissolving, “are not Hawthornstealer.” 

The spirit’s legs melted like snow. Its form dissolved and splashed about in a massive sticky pool. One by one, the mushrooms rolled into the ichor and vanished under the writhing mass as though falling into a great black hole. The ichor bubbled and squirmed as though in a death rattle. It leaked from the confines of the circle and coated the den floor. Estherfern backed up, back paws slipping on the soaked grass.

Weevilpaw raced out of the bush before Honeybuzz could react. She threw her full weight into Estherfern’s side. The two clerics tumbled into the shrubs. In that moment, the ichor exploded. It sprayed the walls of the dirt den and shot into the rain in an endless cascade. More ichor escaped the den than could have possibly made up the spirit in the circle. As it flew into the forest, large clumps tumbled to the side like wayward drops from a massive wave. The glops tumbled and sloshed against the wet ground before launching through the trees and out of sight. More and more of these glops scrambled away until finally, finally, the spray slowed. A long black trail led out of the den, which was now nothing but ichor and goop. 

Honeybuzz, Anchovypaw, and Wolfpaw crept out of hiding as Weevilpaw got off Estherfern. Mud coated half of her brown pelt. The ichor stunk like rotting flesh and mushrooms.

“How long have you been there?” Estherfern asked, slow to her paws.

“Wolfpaw, you might have to freeze me,” Anchovypaw growled, claws out. “I’m a whisker’s length from killing her.”

“Anchovypaw, no!” Weevilpaw stood in front of Estherfern, paws skidding. “She didn’t want to hurt anyone. She was trying to help her kits. We can’t blame her for that!”

“But the Dark Forest…” Wolfpaw gulped. With the puff in her fur dissolved in the rain, she seemed half her size.

“It is full of dead cats, not unlike StarClan,” Estherfern huffed. She stepped around Weevilpaw and faced down the furious crowd. “All I wanted was a way to cure my kits, something you’ve shown you cannot do.”

“Estherfern, you weren’t talking to a dead warrior,” Honeybuzz groaned, almost stepping on the ichor trail. “That was a Herald. Their entire purpose is to trick the living into allowing Spirits of Shadow into the territories.” His gaze lingered on the forest. He could almost hear the half-formed monsters slurping across the grass, taking their true, cursed forms.

“You heard her!” Weevilpaw huffed. “She wasn’t going to listen to the spirit. She was going to destroy the circle.”

“She didn’t commit murder,” Anchovypaw scoffed. “You did well, Estherfern. You did the bare minimum.”

“Is it your fault?” Wolfpaw muttered, voice almost lost in the rain. “Did you get Weedfoot killed?” Estherfern stared into the ichor-soaked den. 

“I didn’t know,” she said softly. 

“She didn’t know, Anchovypaw,” Weevilpaw snapped. “She’s a good cat!”

“She didn’t care about killing anyone, she cared about what her kits would think,” Anchovypaw growled. “How can we trust a cleric who doesn’t care if you live or die?”

“I trust her,” Weevilpaw huffed, pressing into Estherfern. “Even though she’s strange.”

“Weevilpaw,” Honeybuzz sighed, jumping over the ichor, “take Anchovypaw and Wolfpaw and go back to camp. Just go to the medicine den and wait for us.” 

“What are we going to do with her?” Anchovypaw asked.

“Leave that to me,” Honeybuzz said, shaking his head. “Now go. Stick together, and hurry. We’ll follow you soon.” The apprentices hesitated, all glancing at one another. Weevilpaw was the first to break; she joined Wolfpaw and nudged her onward. The sisters ran toward the coast. Anchovypaw followed, his burning eyes digging into Estherfern as he vanished into the foggy trees.

“It seems I underestimated the vigor of the Dark Forest’s supernatural entities,” Estherfern hummed, cleaning the mud off her injured paw.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve just done?” Honeybuzz hissed softly.

“Of course I do,” Estherfern snapped, curling her lips. “You love to tell the story of the Rippling Ashes. They ventured into the Dark Forest, they had Newtstream’s advice. What made my own approach so wicked?”

“Because it’s dangerous!” Honeybuzz groaned. “Because channeling Dark Forest souls, even when they want to help, clears a path for Spirits of Shadow, and they don’t care about any of us. They’re born to hunt. This isn’t worth it.”

“If your kits were sick, wouldn’t you do what you could for them?” Estherfern growled with a large thrash of her tail. “You can’t fix them. I thought the Dark Forest could.”

“They don’t need to be fixed!” Honeybuzz yowled, throwing his whole height up to glare down at Estherfern (who, unlike Rapidleaf, would not cower). “They aren’t dying, Estherfern! They can adapt! I’m sorry I can’t cure Thunderkit or stop Brightpaw’s anxiety, but they’ll be fine!” As Honeybuzz yowled, the first crack appeared in the sky, striking through the gray clouds. Thunder echoed far overhead. Estherfern stared at the growing storm.

“What’s out there now, do you think?” Estherfern sighed.

“Dog-cats, forsaken prey, honeybites…” Honeybuzz muttered, spine itching. “There may even be monsters we rarely see, ones we don’t have names for. We don’t want to know everything that’s out there now.”

“This is something we can fix,” Estherfern huffed. She marched around Honeybuzz and stood on the roof of the wicked den. Jaw tight as her bit paw moved, Estherfern dug at the soaked grass. Her pelt was more mud than fur. Chunks of earth tumbled into the den. The sopping ground folded in on itself like a wave. Estherfern rolled away as the roof of the den fell and covered the sticky, stinking ichor. Grass stuck to Estherfern’s underside. Honeybuzz hurried to her, helping her away from the crumbled remains of her sins.

“We can,” Honeybuzz gulped. “We can fix this.”

(Honeybuzz: 23, male, cleric, daring, skilled toolsmith, good teacher)

(Anchovypaw: 10, male, warrior apprentice, playful, curious about StarClan)

(Weevilpaw: 10, female, cleric apprentice, adventurous, curious about StarClan)

(Wolfpaw: 10, female, codekeeper apprentice, thoughtful, curious about StarClan, confident with words)

(Estherfern: 109, female, cleric, bloodthirsty, great mediator, prophecy seeker)

Sandpaw and Spikecrash arrange time for Estherfern to see the kits she worked so hard to “fix”.

[Image ID: Estherfern faces Thunderpaw, Wolverinepaw, and Brightpaw.]

---

Estherfern didn’t belong at such a lively celebration. The sumptuous food, the well-rehearsed performances… Harvest Moon was as grand as RippleClan claimed it to be. Every Clan gathered as the sunrise poked through the trees, preparing their stews and games and performances. But it was a holiday to drive off Spirits of Shadow. What good would it do to have their herald nestled in the safety of the firelight?

“Spirits of Shadow hate charms,” Troutpool explained as she tucked a cat’s wood-carved face into the boughs of a low-hanging pine. “AshClan spends a lot of time carving these trinkets, and all that care under StarClan’s protections makes them especially useful in warding off danger.” All the clerics roamed the edge’s of the great clearing with baskets of charms and other concoctions to protect the five Clans. Estherfern carried RippleClan’s heavy basket as Honeybuzz, Troutpool, and Weevilpaw prepared the defenses to Troutpool’s instruction.

“How many do we have to place?” Weevilpaw asked, shoving a charm as far into a bush as she could reach.

“We’re covering this entire corner,” Troutpool explained. “We don’t want to leave any openings for spirits.” Estherfern nearly broke the charm in her jaws with how tightly she grit her teeth. She quickly passed it to Honeybuzz.

“Estherfern!” Two figures slipped through the massive crowd. Spikecrash and Sandpaw walked side by side, mentor and apprentice in sync. Sandpaw’s gaze wandered throughout the clearing, taking in the sights of all five Clans for the first time.

“You want to speak to me?” Estherfern asked. While her tone made her question sound casual, the brown priestess hid her surprise deep. She didn’t talk to many cats outside of the medicine den. Why would two of the Clan’s mediators want her? Did they know the real reason why Honeybuzz reported a surge of spirits in the Clan? The reason it was too dangerous to leave camp alone? Why all five Clans, not just RippleClan, now had a newfound fear for their lives? Had Honeybuzz not lied for her, Estherfern would have told the truth and accepted the consequences, yet why he kept it secret, Estherfern didn’t know She glanced at Honeybuzz, but the young gold and white cleric focused on his charms.

“I’m hoping we can borrow you,” Spikecrash explained. “Troutpool, do you still need Estherfern’s help?”

“We’re just placing our wards at the moment,” Troutpool explained, reaching into Estherfern’s basket. “We could finish without her if you really need her.” Estherfern carefully slipped the basket off her neck.

“Thank you, Troutpool,” Spikecrash sighed. She flicked her tail for Estherfern to follow. It seemed no one cared if Estherfern actually wanted to speak with Spikecrash, but who was she to refuse? She trailed after Spikecrash and Sandpaw, heading over to the ovens. Clammask and Stormpaw worked with Drumtooth and Thunderpaw, laughing over an unheard joke as they tended the fire under a massive pot of stew.

“I hope this isn’t too much of an invasion of privacy,” Spikecrash began, her scarred flank lifted high in a long stretch. “Honeybuzz and Weevilpaw spoke with me a few days ago and said you were having some difficulties with your kits.” Estherfern narrowed her eyes.

“If we’re going to discuss my kits,” she sighed, “maybe you could tell me why no one told me about Brightpaw’s meetings with you?”

“So you do know about that,” Spikecrash sighed. “Brightpaw is an apprentice now, Estherfern. We aren’t pressured to tell you anything he didn’t want you to know.” 

“If he’s sick, I want to help him,” Estherfern huffed.

“Why do you think he didn’t want you to know?” Sandpaw scoffed. “Look how you acted with Wolverinepaw and Thunderpaw.” Oh if only he knew just what Estherfern had done for them. What the Dark Forest wanted her to do.

“I’ve only ever tried to help them overcome their own limitations,” Estherfern said, her sharp stare ricocheting off Sandpaw and muting his confident words.

“That’s why we wanted to show you a few things,” Spikecrash explained. She waved a paw toward the oven where Thunderpaw and the other RippleClan cats gathered.

“The only goal of tonight is to have a better stew than WheatClan,” Drumtooth explained, shooting a friendly sneer at WheatClan’s oven and their large pot. He licked the surface of the stew and smacked his jaws. “It’s good, but it’s missing something.” Thunderpaw copied her mentor. Her face squirmed, thinking hard. She then made a strange motion with her paws; balancing on her back legs, she brought her paws close to her mouth and wiggled them as they moved away.

“I know this one,” Stormpaw chirped, completely focused on Thunderpaw. “If the wiggles are the sea… seaweed! That’s seaweed!”

“Yes!” Thunderpaw squealed. The two young apprentices cheered and giggled at their success, bunting one another

“AshClan borrowed our basket of seaweed,” Clammask explained, nudging Thunderpaw. “Grab some for us.”

“Grab seaweed,” Thunderpaw laughed. She quickly swiped the air like she was dragging a mouse out of hiding, then made the ‘seaweed’ motion again. Stormpaw mimicked the dragging motion as Thunderpaw hurried to AshClan’s oven.

“Why is Stormpaw learning Clan-sign?” Estherfern asked her mediator companions.

“Because Thunderpaw’s teaching her,” Sandpaw chirped. “Whenever Thunderpaw gets back from her sign lessons with Mummichogleap, she practices with us apprentices. Most of us are learning a few words so Thunderpaw isn’t left out.”

“And you want to learn?” 

“Thunderpaw makes it fun!”

“You can’t expect the whole Clan to learn this second language.”

“No one does.” Spikecrash touched her tail to Estherfern’s shoulder.. “But there are cats who want to make the effort. They can translate for those who don’t know. It puts pressure off Thunderpaw. She can miss what someone said, but she’ll have friends and family who can let her know.” Thunderpaw trotted back to the oven with a few long strips of seaweed. Clammask tore the seaweed into stew-sized chunks, showing the apprentices how to curl their paws just right. Thunderpaw seemed… happy.

“Now if you’ll follow us over here…” Sandpaw purred, strolling around the Leader’s Stone. Estherfern followed, tail a bit higher than before.

Brightpaw, Ravenpaw, and Vervainpaw sat with a gaggle of apprentices from the other Clans. They lounged about, chatting and laughing. Brightpaw nodded along to an apprentice’s story, his flank stretched out like frog legs. Ravenpaw relaxed on top of him, oohing and awing over the tale.

“I don’t know what your birth place thought of disorders of the mind,” Spikecrash whispered, brushing against Estherfern once more, “but like most disabilities, you can learn to live with them. There was a great gathering of warriors and codekeepers here at the new moon, do you remember? Brightpaw managed to befriend these apprentices during the visit. They invited their friends and littermates to chat today, and Brightpaw is happy to spend time with them. His mind is likely lying to him right now, but he knows ways to manage that. He could overcome his anxiety naturally some day, but that’s a minor part of who he is.”

“I know that,” Estherfern huffed. “He loves to play with Rabbitjoy’s paint supplies. He’s sensitive, and loves his sisters with all his heart. I’ve only ever wanted to help those traits shine.”

“That’s not how Brightpaw sees it,” Sandpaw scoffed under his breath. The comment hollowed out Estherfern’s chest. Before she could respond, two brown blurs shot past the Leader’s Stone with a horde of apprentices and young warriors at their tails. Wolverinepaw and Yarrowpaw led the crowd to an open spot within the festivities. They studied their followers like leader and deputy, the sunrise framing their profiles.

“We’ve got until after sunhigh to prepare!” Wolverinepaw cheered. 

“Are we going to let some dusty old bones beat us?” Yarrowpaw cried.

“No!” the young crowd yowled joyfully, already shoving and jumping over each other.

“Let’s show them what the new generation can do!” Wolverinepaw called. Her followers cheered, yowling to the high branches. They scattered throughout the clearing and split into sparring groups. They steadied their stances and wiggled their flanks. With sheathed paws, the youth of the Clans launched into training, trading blows and careful bites. Slushpaw lingered near the edge of the training grounds, cheering the others on.

“Slushpaw!” Sandpaw yowled to the older mediator apprentice. “What are they doing?”

“Well,” Slushpaw laughed, trotting up to Sandpaw, Spikecrash, and Estherfern, “Yarrowpaw and Wolverinepaw were arguing with Darkkick and another old warrior about what was a better trait in a fight; youth or experience. Suddenly all these other cats started joining in, and now the senior warriors are going to have a big mock-battle with the apprentices, plus some warriors who haven’t attended a Harvest Moon before.”

“And Wolverinepaw’s participating in this?” Estherfern huffed. She searched for her daughter in the crowd. She found Wolverinepaw rolling about with Yarrowpaw in the middle of the mess. Yarrowpaw shoved Wolverinepaw’s head into the dirt. Wolverinepaw snapped her jaw around Yarrowpaw’s leg and pulled her onto her shoulder. Yarrowpaw laughed as Wolverinepaw took her place on top of the older apprentice.

"She's as capable as any apprentice her age," Spikecrash assured Estherfern.

"She seemed so insecure during her ceremony…" Estherfern muttered.

"Wolverinepaw?" Spikecrash chuckled. "I don't think so. From what I've heard, she thinks she's strong enough to take on an actual wolverine."

"She didn't choose a role in time, though," Estherfern pointed out.

"Because she wanted to do everything!" Slushpaw laughed. "I talked with her right up to her ceremony. She had a new role in mind every day!" Oh. Had Wolverinepaw's sight not come up at all? Surely her decaying vision would make it hard for her to fight. Yet she kept up with Yarrowpaw, tumbling across the clearing with abandon. Had Estherfern's kits always been so sure of themselves? Surely they wanted cures. How else could they survive in a world that showed no mercy to the weak? In the cat-minded human's den, if you couldn't match up to the others, you wouldn't eat. Three of Estherfern's brilliant kits would have died in that awful place. Except…they weren't there anymore, were they?

"Can I guess what's been going on?" Spikecrash asked. "You've been so focused on a cure in their future, you've ignored how they are in the present. When's the last time you talked to them about something, anything but their health? Have you talked to Foampaw or Boughpaw at all?" Estherfern glanced from one kit to another. Their faces glowed with holiday glee. Did they ever glow around Estherfern anymore? When was the last time she shared a meal with them?

"Spikecrash," Estherfern muttered, her pride burning her words, "I need you to teach me something."

A short time later, Estherfern approached Thunderpaw and the RippleClan stew. The bounties of the ocean danced in the broth, specially prepared for that oh so exciting celebration. Thunderpaw stared eagerly into the stew while Stormpaw and their mentors talked with other caretakers. She spotted her mother and her eyes grew big and calm, mimicking Estherfern's eternally serene expression. Estherfern's heart did not carry that serenity as she approached her bold daughter.

"Do you need…" Estherfern said hesitantly. She awkwardly sat on her hind legs. She held out one paw, pads down, and angled the other on top of it, claws out. Thunderpaw's eyes sparkled at the sign.

"Help," she whispered as Estherfern quickly returned to a natural position. Thunderpaw made the sign with ease, quickly hopping from her hind legs and back. She ogled Estherfern, her thoughts not caught up to reality.

"I want to spend time with you," Estherfern explained. It felt like someone carved her pelt off, leaving her exposed. "I want to share your stew with you and your littermates." Thunderpaw blinked slowly. It took her so long to reply, Estherfern was about to repeat herself, just in case her pounding heart muffled her words.

"Do you want to learn the sign for littermates while the stew finishes cooking?" Thunderpaw gulped. The tip of her tail twitched wildly as her earlier joy bloomed across her face once more.

"If it means time with you," Estherfern sighed.

(Estherfern: 109, female, cleric, bloodthirsty, great mediator, prophecy seeker)

(Troutpool: 36, female, cleric, insecure, ghost sense)

(Weevilpaw: 10, female, cleric apprentice, adventurous, curious about StarClan)

(Honeybuzz: 23, male, cleric, daring, skilled toolsmith, good teacher)

(Spikecrash: 50, female, mediator, wise, good speaker, lore keeper)

(Sandpaw: 6, male, mediator apprentice, loyal, interested in Clan history)

(Drumtooth: 23, trans male, caretaker, loyal, great hunter, clever)

(Thunderpaw: 7, female, caretaker apprentice,

(Stormpaw: 6, female, caretaker apprentice, charismatic, loves to eat)

(Clammask: 69, female, caretaker, righteous, lore master, good teacher)

(Brightpaw: 7, male, warrior apprentice, lonesome, lover of art)

(Wolverinepaw: 7, female, warrior apprentice, compassionate, always asking questions)

(Yarrowpaw: 10, female, warrior apprentice, thoughtful, stares at fire)

(Slushpaw: 11, female, mediator apprentice, wise, quick witted, bats at string)

[words-etched-in-her-skin]

Welp, I did a thing 👀

Pairing: Agatha Harkness x Rio VIdal

Word Count: 4,572

I´m also sharing the AO3 link for anyone who prefers to read on there ❤

Agatha blew a rogue strand of hair from her face and wiped her brow. Even with all the magic in the world she was still doomed to a lifetime of digging up her own graves whenever the situation called for it. Which, unfortunately, it did. When the news hit her that a particularly powerful Witch had just recently “bit the dust”, and happened to take a very enticing talisman along with her - a talisman that Agatha had every intention of acquiring - she knew exactly what needed to be done.

“God, Cynthia, could they have buried your ass any deeper?”

Agatha was already in a foul mood as it was, and the ripening smell of decay and wet earth was doing very little to better it. Still, she did her best to ignore it and stay focused on the task at hand.

“Desecrating the dead, are we now, Aggs?”

Agatha stopped short, scowling at the infuriating nickname before peering up from the half dug grave.

“Oh, jesus fuck, what are you doing here?” She asked. The air outside suddenly felt iced over - almost cold enough to see her breath. Agatha glowered at the last woman in the universe she currently wanted to see.

“Heh, could ask you the same thing.” Rio replied, a playful smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

Agatha snorted before going back to her digging. “Well that, sweetcheeks, is none of your damn business.”

“Oh, come on, Aggie. Give me the deets.”

The dark haired woman wiggled her eyebrows at Agatha, an act that both infuriated her and also made her laugh. It was one of the things she hated most about Rio. Just how easy it was for her to break through her walls - to bring down her defenses. It might even be the thing she liked least about her ex lover. Even more than the fact that the love of her life was the literal personification of Death.

“And what's in it for me?” Agatha asked, peaking over her shoulder.

“Anything you want.” Rio teased.

The witch felt her whole body tense at the simple implications behind the reaper’s words, as well as her teasing tone. They were enough to bring an unwanted dusting of heat to Agatha’s cheeks. She cleared her throat and silently went back to digging. Rio only rolled her eyes and leaned back against the nearest tombstone, a black lollipop suddenly appearing between two fingers.

“So, how long is this gonna take? I don't have all night, you know.”

“Good. Then that means you can GO.”

The dark haired woman chuckled, she really never could get enough of riling her past lover up. In fact, there were days that she absolutely thrived off it. It fed her, you could say. Mind, body, and soul.

“Oh, now we both know you don't really want that, sweetheart.”

Agatha growled in frustration before slowing her digging down to a painfully tedious pace, her gaze practically shooting daggers in Rio’s direction, even with the smirk that now played at her lips.

“Looks like you're gonna be standing there looking pretty for a while, then.”

Rio pulled the lollipop from her mouth and grinned.

“You think I'm pretty?”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”

Agatha could feel her temper rising. Both from Rio’s constant nagging and the persistent freeze that was seeping into her bones. She wanted nothing more than to no longer be cold and digging out dirt from inside a hole. Unfortunately for her, though, this amulet was far too important - way more important than anything else in her life - so giving up and going home to her warm bed was simply not an option.

“Come on, Agatha, this is borinnng.”

“Well, lucky for you, you don't have to be here. This has nothing to do with you, Rio.”

Rio snorted. “Ah, this has everything to do with me. You're literally in a graveyard, digging up the recently deceased corpse of a world renowned witch-”

“Oh, Cynthia was a twat!”

Rio covered her mouth to stifle a laugh.

“Twat or not, Aggs. You know I'm right.”

Agatha shook her head and gritted her teeth.

“You’re welcome to get your ass in here, then, and help me. Otherwise, shut it.”

Rio popped the lollipop back into her mouth and gave it a swirl before answering.

“Nah, I think I rather prefer the view from out here.”

The reaper gave her a wink before Agatha disgruntingly went back to her digging. A light fog had begun to settle in over the graveyard, bringing in an even cold chill with it, Agatha couldn’t stop the shiver that rolled across her shoulders as she stuck her shovel deep into the moist dirt, reminding herself to collect a small vial of it later to take home. A couple more shovel fulls and the smell of fresh decay became more distinct, almost overwhelming, Agatha was certain she was finally nearly there. And the sound of metal striking something firm only confirmed her suspicions.

“Aha! Finally, you old witch.”

“Aren’t you like, a hundred years older than her?” Rio laughed.

“Yes, but I make it look good, darling.” Agatha replied, flipping her long hair back over her shoulder with a satisfied grin. “Now, let’s crack this baby open.”

The witch rubbed her gloved hands together excitedly before kneeling down, though, the smile on her face quickly faded, replaced by a frown.

“What’s up?”

“It’s stone.”

“Stoned?”

“NO, Rio, her coffin. It’s made from fucking stone.”

Agatha knelt down and began frantically wiping dirt from the top of the stone casket.

“AND it has a fucking protection spell engraved into it.” She added, clenching her fists. “Fuck!”

“Can’t you just.. blast it open?”

“Not without potentially damaging it.”

“... without potentially damaging what?”

“Ah, nothing. Don’t worry about it.” Agatha quickly added, standing to straighten out her jacket before holding out a single gloved hand. “Now, help me out of here, will you? I need to find something to get this open with.”

“What’s in it for me?” Rio asked with a smirk.

The witch silently placed her shovel against the dirt and gave her ex lover a look.

“Just help me, before I-!”

Agatha felt the cold hand of Death clasp firmly onto hers and pull her from the deep grave, tugging with such force that she fell immediately forward. Right onto Rio. Their bodies completely flush together.

“Oh, whoops. Seems we have found ourselves in a rather.. complicated position.”

Rio batted her eyelashes in faux innocence, making Agatha snort.

“Mh.. and completely by accident, I’m sure.”

“Of course. You know me. I’d never.. fuck ..with the natural order of things.”

Agatha only shook her head before starting to lift herself up.

“Wait.”

Rio’s hand coming to rest firmly on her forearm brought the witch's gaze directly down at her. Her eyes as dark as obsidian, shimmering with moonlight from above and a measure of hope. Agatha’s breath shuddered, a small bite to her bottom lip as she looked down at her once lover - at her heart. She paused.

“Rio…”

In a tone that seemed far too soft for such a great and terrible witch, Agatha Harkness could barely breathe out the woman's name. She could barely stand to think of it. She closed her eyes before going to move again, but Rio grabbed her arm just the same. This time pulling her closer forward with near desperation.

“Agatha. Please.”

Even with the thick emotions that were swiftly building inside of her, Agatha could never pass up the chance to tease her past lover.

“Begging already, Reap? Someone’s losing her touch.”

The reaper's dark eyes grew wide at her old nickname, a slight quiver to her bottom lip. Agatha took off her gloves and placed two fingers around Rio’s jaw and pulled her close.

“You know you're my favorite poison, right?”

Whatever words were set to come out of Rio’s mouth next were consumed by a deep kiss. A kiss of longing and regret. Of passion and pain. A kiss that was felt in every universe, and in every timeline of their love. It washed over them in a warmth, languishing as their tongues danced and their souls devoured. Rio’s hands hungry, wandering over as much of Agatha’s body as they could until the witch grabbed them and pinned them over her head. Rio squirmed beneath her, whining slightly.

“And here now I thought you were going to behave.” Agatha whispered, breaking the kiss.

“Oh, we both know you like it best when I put up a little fight, darling.” Rio replied as she smirked up at her, her arms now struggling to get out of her past lover’s grasp. Agatha only chuckled before forcing Rio’s arms back down over her head and into the cold, wet grass. A soft incantation whispered into the night quickly binding the reaper’s hands in a wisp of bright purple.

“Sorry, Reap. This time, I’m in control.”

Rio pressed her hips firmly up into Agatha, forcing pressure against the witch’s core and making her moan.

“You sure about that?” She quipped back with a grin.

“Fuck you.”

“Well, I certainly hope so.”

Agatha placed her hand around the base of Rio’s neck - a slight maniacal look on the witch’s face as she applied pressure. The reaper gasped at the familiar touch before leaning into it, her hand coming unbound to hold Agatha’s wrist. A smirk playing at her lips.

Agatha scowled. She had always been annoyed at just how ineffective her powers were on Rio, but she guessed they'd have to be to be able to withstand loving someone like her.

“You're not playing fair, Reap.” She said, shaking her head.

“Aren't I, though?”

Rio gave Agatha a wink, an all too wide grin on her face as she placed both of her hands on Agatha’s biceps and flipped the two of them over with ease. Waves of dark hair falling forward and eyes as crisp as night staring down at the witch as she found herself suddenly on her back. She growled in frustration, but Rio knew how much it turned her on. The fighting, the struggle, the battle for dominance. Even though Agatha was usually always the one to come out on top, the reaper was more than happy to make her work for it a little first.

“Now who's in control? Huh? Sweetheart?”

Agatha bucked her hips, forcing her thigh across Rio’s core. A slight gasp followed by a needy moan slipped from the woman’s mouth, warming the space between them. Agatha looked up at her, smiling smugly - a single kiss blown in Rio’s direction before a flash of bright purple had them both on their feet.

“You were saying?”

Rio opened her mouth to speak, though her attempts to quip back were quickly stifled by the abrupt feeling of being flown through the air, cradles within her lover’s arms. Her back forced against the cold bark of the nearest tree. She moved slowly to straighten out her hair and shirt, clearing her throat.

“Oh, nooo. It seems you have me right where you want me, Agatha.”

Agatha leaned in, her warm breath skating over Rio's ear.

“Or maybe, I have you exactly where you want to be. Rio.”

Rio smirked, leaning even further back into the tree to elongate her neck. The bare branches above her rustling at Death’s touch.

“Maybe-”

And just like that, her words were swallowed. Replaced by moans and whimpers that only the rush of Agatha’s lips on hers could ensue. That only the firm but gentle touch of her heart’s caress could coax. The subtle dance of Agatha’s tongue over here, the utter need of it. As the witch’s hands roamed freely over her body like it was her own. As if she owned it physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

“Don’t make me.. beg.” She whimpered between heated kisses.

And she did.

Death was well aware that she would never love another. That Agatha was one in a million. Cut from stone and rock and stardust. Rio leaned into her touch even more, desperate to feel her everywhere. Desperate to have her inside of her.

“Aw, but why? Sounds so pretty coming from that mouth of yours.”

The witch’s hands and fingers danced over her like an ill forgotten melody. A dance macabre that waltzed over every part of her except where she needed it most. The desire inside of her being built higher and higher, bringing with it the all too familiar scent of life.

“See how beautiful it is when you're like this? How am I to just give in? ”

Agatha peered up at the tree Rio was pinned against, watching as new life began to breathe within it. As a swirl of green encased them both and the smallest of leaves started to blossom.

“Agatha… please...”

“Mmmh.”

Agatha hummed in the reaper’s ear before nipping at it, her tongue circling the outer shell of her ear. A trail of kisses spattering down Rio’s neck as even more leaves began to bloom. The cemetery around them a stark reminder of the frigid winter’s breath of the night, with all the other trees otherwise dead and barren. It was no secret to Agatha that Rio could breathe life into the darkest of areas, it was something her heart knew all too well.

“My love, pleas-.”

Whether by pure desire alone or the absolute need to never hear those words drip from Rio's tongue ever again, Agatha slid her hand deep into her pants. A mere second pause before her fingers were eagerly slipped inside of her. First one, then another. Rio gasped.

“Don’t.” Agatha replied adamantly, teasing her with a single curl of her fingers.

Rio let out a moan before pointing. “F-fine. Asshole.”

“That's more like it.” The witch smirked, pressing the dark haired woman even further into the tree, fingers curling deep inside her. Rio moaned a little louder, spurring a small patch of forget-me-nots to bloom on the branches above.

“Extra needy tonight, are we, Reap?” Agatha added, looking up at the small blue flowers.

“Fuck you.”

“Hmmm.. maybe.” Agatha replied, punctuating her words with a simple curl of her fingers. A third one slipping in. “If you behave.”

“F-fuck.”

Rio’s hitched breath only made the witch’s smirk smugger. Dark tendrils covering the reaper's face as her head fell forward.

“Uh-uh. Eyes on me, sweetheart.”

Rio’s dark eyes show up, locking onto Agatha's without question. A beautiful pink hue splashed across her cheeks and the humming of life vibrating within the tree behind her. She looked beautiful like this, Agatha couldn't deny that, with the essence of life’s mortal balance pulsing inside of her. She curled her fingers again, this time a little deeper. A slight arch to Rio's back and the widening of her hips was all the witch needed to fuel her on further.

“That's it. That's my good Reap.”

Rio whimpered, her breath hitched. Eyelashes fluttering as Agatha pumped her fingers in and out very slowly - intently - giving her just enough to build her pleasure at an almost unbearable pace. Rio was wet. Dripping. With the measure of her arousal trickling down Agatha’s wrist and soaking her thin fabric that encased it.

“Agatha-”

“Shhh.”

The witch placed a single finger over Rio’s lips before kissing them, swallowing whatever pleas for more she had. The momentum of her fingers gradually picking up as warm tongues dance over each other. Rio's hand clenched into Agatha’s shirt, desperate to have her closer, to feel her warmth. The tree behind them beginning to brim with life, with more and more leaves sprouting as Rio’s pleasure was built higher and higher.

If there was anything that Agatha knew how to do - and do it well - was to coax that deep hidden fire inside of her past lover. To spark vitality within the cold hands of Death and build it anew. With each sweep of her tongue, every pump of her fingers, as she thrusted them deeper into Rio’s dripping core and forced her ecstasy to unbridled lengths. It was insistent - unrelenting. Like a wildfire that threatened to take over and burn down everything in its path.

Rio widened her legs further - eagerly - frantic to feel as much as Agatha inside of her as she could. A loud moan that seemed into the witch’s lips as Agatha slipped a fourth finger inside of her, stretching her with expertise. The pleasured heat was enough to will a warm arousal across her body. It was enough to have her legs trembling and her back arched almost completely off the tree. A tree that was now vibrant with life, breathing with color amongst a wintery backdrop of death.

Agatha only chuckled and sped up her fingers. In and out. Faster and faster. Grinning with satisfaction as Rio’s walls began to tremor around her hand.

“Just look at the all-powerful Death. All needy for me. Dying to come.”

Rio cursed under her breath as Agatha laughed at her own joke, her hips beginning to buck. Her normally fair skin covered in a deep flush as her fingernails dug into Agatha’s arm. The fire that now encompassed her body was relentless - unyielding - washing over her in a prickling heat that moved from the top of her and ended at her toes. As a final move Agatha circled her thumb over Rio’s clit, matching it with a thrust and made her whole body convulse. Flowers now blooming all around her, a shimmer of green sparking in crisp night air as Rio’s climax wholly took her over.

The last thing Agatha heard was her name screamed out through half bitten lips before Rio’s knees buckled out from under her, dropping her limp body into her ex lover’s arms.

“You alright there, Reap?” The witch asked with a smirk.

“Fuck-” Rio shuddered, the entirety of her practically steaming from the overwhelmth of energy.

“I'll take that as a yes.” Agatha chuckled, still holding the dark haired woman up against the tree. Rio took a deep breath before raising her head, but even with a dusting of pink still painting her cheeks she smirked.

“Heh. Just gave a whole new meaning to having ‘death come for you’.”

Agatha groaned at the terrible pun but Rio only grinned, her tongue circling over the inside of her cheek.

“And just how long have you been waiting to use that one?” The witch asked as she shook her head and moved back from tree, releasing her hold on Rio.

“Only a few decades.” She replied.

“Uh huh.”

Agatha laughed again, a soft crinkle to the corner of her eyes as she did. Her gaze shifted as Rio took a step forward, her dark eyes on Agatha.

“Got something on your mind, Reap?”

Another step forward.

“Maybe.”

Agatha swallowed, a subtle prickling at the back of her neck.

Another step.

“Care to share with the class then?” She asked, voice slightly more tentative than the last.

Rio took a final step forward and gave Agatha a smirk. Then dropped down to her knees in front of the witch, the grass beneath her immediately turning green with life.

“That answer your question?”

“Maybe.” Agatha replied, an all too knowing smirk curling at her lips as Rio lifted her skirt and pulled her closer. The scent of her arousal prominent, heady, with a musk that was so intoxicating Rio could all but lick her lips.

“Now who's all needy? Huh?”

Agatha scowled before attempting to pull away, but the reaper’s grasp was strong and kept the witch in place - exactly where she wanted to be.

“Nice try, but I can smell how bad you want this, sweetheart.” Rio smirked. Her fingers lightly grazing up the side of Agatha’s thigh as she inched closer to the hem of her underwear. Underwear that was promptly soaked through and begging to be ripped off.

Rio licked her lips and fell back upon her knees, allowing herself to take in the view. The amount of years that had passed since she was last gifted such a sight were long since gone and lost to ages. Even her deepest dreams had paled in comparison, when all she had was the comfort of her own hands and the dark of night to keep her company. She took a deep breath, breathing her in.

Which it was.

Quickly and without pause. Her arousal now shimmering in the cold moonlight.

“Well, don't just stare at it, Reap. Eat it.”

The dark haired woman looked up at her past lover to find a smug smirk across the woman’s face. Oh, to have sweet Death on their knees for you. To will them into submission and gaze upon their absolute beauty. Her hand came to the back of Rio’s head, long fingers coming to guide her mouth closer, legs parting a little wider still. Rio’s breath hitched as she leaned in, permitting Agatha's hand to lead her. The reaper’s arms coming to wrap firmly around Agatha's hips and ass, with the fabric of her skirt held back in place.

A soft kiss to her clit at first before allowing her tongue to circle over it, causing Agatha to gasp. She tasted just as divine as Rio remembered. Just as sweet, with the slightest hint of sweat. Salty in all the right places, delectable. Her soft folds were absolutely wet - dripping - glistening throughout the tousle of brown hair that covered them. She traced her tongue up the slit of her and moaned, feeling Agatha’s desire all over her mouth and chin as the witch pulled her in even closer.

“Mmm-” Agatha moaned, “Rio-”

The intoxicating sound of Death’s name falling from Agatha's lips had her almost at a frenzy. Her fingernails digging into Agatha’s backside as she elongated her tongue deeply into her core. Her mouth warm - inviting - stroking that burning fire inside of Agatha higher and higher.

“Fuck. Just like that, baby.”

Long fingers tangled into a mess of dark hair, hips grinding upwards. The witch's needy moans ringing out into the night like a ballad of lust. Of need. Of the absolute desire to have no one else but Rio.

“Don't.. don't stop.”

But Death.

But life.

The humming of it vibrating within her as she rode the reaper’s face.

As if Rio had any intentions to do so, in fact she only persisted. Mercilessly and with fervor. As her tongue alternated between thrusting deep inside Agatha's core and circling over her clit. Deep, long licks up and down her opening, subtle sucks across her clit. Death showed no mercy as she lapped up the witch’s essence.

A tiny buck to Agatha’s hips and a clench to her walls and Rio pulled her even closer, forcing the length of her tongue as deep inside of her as she could go.

“F-uck-”

Agatha’s body jerked forward as her hold on Rio's hair tightened. Her hips now frantic - desperate - grinding into the woman’s face with absolute need. Rio flattened her tongue against Agatha's clit and rocked her head to the movement with the witch's hips. A few long strokes of her tongue and Agatha screamed out, her body suddenly overcome with a prickling heat. It was feverish. All enveloping. With her eyes whitened over in fireworks and her whole body convulsing.

The orgasm that took her over was violent in nature. It was raw and unhindered. It stole the stars straight from the night sky and injected them directly into Agatha’s very being. Her legs trembled while Rio held her close, her tongue only stopping once the last drop of Agatha’s arousal finally dripped into her mouth.

“Mmmm.” The reaper hummed, “Someone needed that.”

Even with the waves of aftershock still rolling throughout her body, Agatha's hand came firmly around Rio's throat as she pulled the dark haired woman to her feet. The look of surprise on Rio's face was quickly replaced with softness as Agatha’s lips pressed warmly into hers. Kissing her as if she were the last woman on Earth. The only woman. And to Agatha, she was. Their bodies a tangled mess, kissing each other with such ferocity that the whole world around them threatened to break. And when their lips finally parted, with the witch’s scent now adorning both of their faces, Agatha rested her forehead against Rio’s and sighed.

“Sometimes I wish it could always be like this.” She whispered.

“It can-”

Agatha placed a single finger against the reaper's lips and shook her head, the glisten of unspent tears in her eyes.

“You know it can't.”

“We could try.”

“We have.”

Rio sighed and leaned back into her past lover’s arms, head heavy. She knew Agatha was right. That these rare moments were like passing galaxies in the universe of life, but it still broke what little heart she had left to admit it. She sniffled once before clearing her throat, hugging the witch a final time before completely pulling back.

“So, uh.. what was so important that you had to resort to grave robbery again?” She asked, straightening out her clothes and hair as she wiped away a few tears of her own.

Agatha snorted and lowered her skirt. “It's not that important.”

“Bullshit. Just tell me.”

The witch bit her bottom lip in consideration before shrugging.

“A talisman. One that Cynthia coveted her entire life.”

“Okay. And what does this talisman do?”

Agatha’s gaze shifted around the quiet cemetery, the promise of dusk now painting the skyline. Her fingers fidgeted, knowing she had no other options than to tell her. She exhaled.

“Spectral reawakening.”

Rio’s dark eyes studied for her a minute, her finger coming to tap at her chin.

“I see.”

“It won't upset your precious balance of life, if that's what you're worried about.” The witch scoffed. “Only grants a day with the spectral form of a.. lost loved one.”

Rio knew immediately who Agatha intended to use the talisman on, and again, her heart ached.

“And you're planning to bring back Nicky, I presume?”

Agatha only nodded, her eyes growing desperate.

“I need to see him, Rio. I need to tell him-” She took a deep breath, tears rolling down her cheeks. “I need him to know how sorry I am.”

Rio knew all too well the grief that Agatha had felt over losing their son. And she knew she was partly to blame. Even if she gave the two as much time as she possibly could, she still couldn't help but feel responsible. She swallowed deep before nodding.

“Alright, then.” She exclaimed, clapping her hands together. “Let's go get you that talisman.”

“Wait, what-?”

Before Agatha could even finish Rio was walking back over to the dug up grave, the slick marble casket peeking out from underneath the dirt. She looked back and gave Agatha a single wink before turning back around. With a simple blast of green and black magic the casket cracked open, the scent of death becoming ever more prevalent in the air.

Agatha came to stand beside her past lover, eyes wide.

“Rio.. what? Why?”

The dark haired woman turned and took the witch’s hand in hers.

“Just tell Nicky I said hello, yeah?”

Those were the last words she uttered before Death disappeared into the night, leaving Agatha with nothing but a cold graveyard to comfort her and the everlasting gift of getting to see her beloved Nicky again.

[redpapercraness]

to lose you

[xoxochb]

the unbreakable bond between a depressed teenage girl and the ocean

[memoirs-of-a-sapphic]

11-18-23

Such a wonderful life it could be, If I was ever truly free From the confines of this place Where life is somehow a race.

I just want a small place to be Myself, a cat, maybe you with me. A place that I could  call my own; A place to go when I say 'home'.

An entry where I'd hang my coat, And leave my shoes by the door As I step across the floor, and Perhaps I'd greet you, when I walk in through the door Of the place I'd call home.

Or perhaps it's the other way, Maybe I'd be in the kitchen that day, And you'd walk in, and I'd Light up and say 'hi' And I'd walk over and greet you, Smile, hug you and kiss you.

And we'd both be much better than We were five minutes ago, or ten. And maybe we'd sit on the sofa, Watch a show until it's over, And eat dinner together, and Leave the dishes 'til morning.

And, too tired to want to get up, We'd fall asleep on the sofa. Tv in the background, quietly Playing as we fall asleep

And in the morning, as we lay In the early sunshine of the day Perhaps I'd whisper into your ear: 'Good morning- how are you, my dear?'

And then we'd start our day again. It doesn't matter where and when- We'd be alright, I'm sure; We've been alright before.

And there's so much I want to do; A simple life, perhaps with you. But all that seems so far away As I look at it today.

But I'm sure that future me Will be looking back to see This lonely evening reverie; Me, wishing I could be more free.

What a wonderful life it could be.

-OvV-

ok I haven't posted original poetry in a while, and I know I said I'd post the follow-up that references 11-17-23 and 12-21-23, but I've been thinking of moving out of my homophobic house lately and we're getting married, so here's the poem I wrote about us moving in together. For reference, we officially started dating on 11-13-23, so this poem was,,,,, 5 days into our relationship :D Can you tell I already knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her?

[winepresswrath]

Cannot believe at this late stage of my life I'm becoming a Gabriel fucker. Local mean jock doesn't want to be evil now, he wants to be loved. I'm slightly annoyed they didn't make Beelzebub more unhinged because the "plot" should have been at least half about them fucking up shit on an absolute rampage trying to find Gabriel, a thing everyone assumes they are doing to fry him with hellfire so they can kick off the war in a way that's advantageous to hell, BUT ACTUALLY!!! true love.

[doomordestiny]

how do you casually tell your friends you’d do anything for them. casually explain the lengths you’d go. how do you explain how much you love them when there is not enough words in any language to explain the all consuming devotion you hold. how can you put it into words for anyone to understand. how do you express that without sounding like a weirdo. idk.

[dgaftilwedie]

@debbeh because u asked so nicely :3 (dis is about thomas thorne btw HEHEHEH(

favorite thing about them: there's literally so much?? i love his hair and his silly little outfit and the way he gets like super duper scottish out of nowhere :3

least favorite thing about them: the fact that he's not real obviously..........

favorite line:

brOTP: i love him and pat together :3 but also there is something about him and julian that makes me giggle LIKE THE SCENE WITH THE TOASTER!!!! I LOVE THE TOASTER SCENE

OTP: ME!!!!!!!!!! yes him and isabelle are very sweet but ME!!!!!!!!

nOTP: him and alison........ i love their friendship but yknow.........

random headcanon: he smells really good... like warm freshly clean linens, black coffee, and freshly cut roses... there's a faint smell of hazelnut and cocoa and old parchment and pen ink that follows wherever he goes. it's the kind of scent that you inhale and immediately want to bury your face in the source.

unpopular opinion: if he pulled the whole "divorce him, kill yourself, marry me" thing on ME??? i would've agreed without a second thought

song i associate with them: i feel like he would really like adrianne lenker :3

favorite picture of them: he looks so cutie patootie :(( i wanna hold him in my arms and protect him from the terrors of the world

[this-should-do]

venting dont mind me xp ✌

[jonathanbiers]

the damage is fading, the deed is done

STATIC DRESS, "for the attention of..."

[tathrin]

📽 action!: rank all six of the films (or three if you're a hater)

Answers for this LotR ask-game.

Ahh okay so at this point I have to confess something terrible: I still have not seen the third Hobbit movie. I'm sorry! I just couldn't do it. The fuckery of it all, especially in the second movie with Mirkwood and Thranduil and Legolas ("a lowly Silvan elf" what the FUCK what the fuck PJ WHAT THE FUCK), was just too much for me. Character-assassination is one thing, and I thought after Denethor I knew what I was going to be getting with Thranduil but NOPE! It was literal world building assassination and I just CANNOT.

Don't get me wrong, Lee Pace did an amazing job and actually seeing Mirkwood was amazing and it was genuinely delightful to see Orlando put those ears on again; but the OuTrAgE that filled my heart at the yeet-ing of what minimal canon we even have for the Mirkwood elves was just intolerable, and while I did mean to go see it, really I did, I just...couldn't actually get the motivation to go before it was out of theatres. I've heard the EE are better (less studio fuckery) so I'll watch them someday! Honest! I just...haven't. yet.

And as to the Lord of the Rings trilogy...man, I don't even know how to do this. In terms of which is the best film, or in terms of which one I enjoy watching most, or in terms of which on hits me in the heart hardest or...? I don't know if I can objectively rank my feelings about these movies even in my own brain because RotK ends with Into the West and I have FeelingsTM about the Undying Lands and Sea Longing okay. So the last scene of RotK at the Grey Havens is a fucking spear through the heart every time and I can't even describe the knot of feelings it engenders, and I think overall TTT may be my favorite but also it has Plot Issues that piss me off even more than the Plot Issues in RotK I think,...yeah, we're going to do this in terms of Film Crafting rather than personal favorites because I'm having too many feelings lmao. So! In order of most-well-done-movie to least:

Fellowship of the Ring

The Two Towers

Return Of The King

The Desolation of Smaug

An Unexpected Journey

[thekidsarentalright]

reading that the color pink is sometimes referred to as the color of opposites (because of it's symbolism as being a nostalgic, innocent color but also one of passion/romance) is just like. oh just like black and white are. just like yin and yang. just like a smiley face and a frowny face. huh. interesting :)

[baravaggio]

cool video for you jojokers out there

[boypussydilf]

probably my favorite part of when everyones talking about what they put in their time capsules and what they hope to be doing in the future is like. fuyuki is worried keroro (and the other aliens he knows) won’t be in his life long term and tamama gets worried too that he won’t get to be part of the nishizawa family forever. koyuki and dororo? it does not occur to them even for a second to question whether or not they’re still going to know each other in 20 years. it is a given