#the ‘HELP. HELP ME.’ was comical and then slowly spiraled into genuine fear

[oasisofgalaxies]

Ok but Austin did so good ?? During the show ?? I had no idea he could act it was like . I don’t know it was just really GOOD. His growing desperation was so convincing especially towards the end of the show . FUCKING amazing

[neokollection]

Reaction To Their S/O Feeling Ugly While Pregnant

NCT 127 [Minus Win & Haechan]

A/N: Bc this is a genuine fear of mine Long btw, so buckle up.

Taeil:

You leant over the counter of the sink, your swollen stomach pressing uncomfortably to the cool tile- The urge to pee suddenly overcame you and the mascara wand in your hand faltered, brushing your eyelid by accident. You held a breath, before carelessly dropping it into the sink, your hands on the counter as you took a moment to collect yourself. You’d already been agitated after waking up with a sore back, and now you couldn’t even complete the simplest of tasks.

You went to the bathroom, taking your time as Taeil was still asleep.

Facing yourself in the mirror once more made a lump rise in your throat. You hated having to see yourself more than you already had too- You felt ugly and fat, face bloated and eyes wetting. You sat on the toilet lid, holding your face in your hands as small sobs and sniffles escaped you. You tried to stay quiet, not wanting to wake your sleeping husband in the other room-

“Hey...?”

He seemed to be awake already though... Soft footsteps padded across the tile from the ajar door. You ripped a wad of toilet paper from nearby, using it to blot at your eyes and cheeks.

“W-What’s wrong?”

He squatted down in front of you, his hands placed gently upon your knees before he reached on up to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear.

“Nothing,” you assured, wiping your nose-

You didn’t want him to look at you, you must have looked even uglier crying.

“Baby,” he crooned gently, placing his cheek upon your thigh affectionately momentarily before he drew back.

“You can tell me-”

“I just...” you sighed, “I just feel so ugly.”

His eyes were wide, mused hair would have made his face almost comical if not for the context.

“No- No!” he shushed, “Nothing about you is ugly-”

Even with puffy eyes, smudged mascara, messy hair, and a few pounds extra he saw you as his perfect angel.

“You’re beautiful,” he assured, reaching up to cradle the lump of your stomach as he rose to his feet, pressing a kiss to your forehead.

Johnny:

You retched into the toilet bowl- It’d come to the point, you couldn’t even have a simple night in without feeling sick, rushing to the bathroom. A light knock sounded upon the door. Johnny.

“Love?” he called gently, “You okay?”

“Just a minute,” you answered back, catching your breath as you sat against the nearby wall.

Oddly enough you could feel his presence still there and it was comforting, the shadows of his slippers beneath the door reminding you he was waiting for you just outside. You flushed the toilet, which Johnny took as a notion that you were finished, opening the door slowly. You quickly wiped at your mouth with some toilet paper before dropping it into the spiraling water. Johnny wore a slight pout, unhappy to see you in such a sad state, curled up on the floor by the toilet looking sickly.

“All better?”

“For now... I just want to lay down...”

He squatted down next to you, pulling one of your arms away from yourself and placing it around his shoulder before scooping up your legs.

“N-Don’t- I’m heavy...”

You’d put on not only a baby, but a few more extra pounds, feeling swollen and gross.

“You’re not that heavy,” he waved off, standing with you as you held on, “Besides, it’s not you- It’s him.”

Your fiancé wore a mock glare as he stared at the swell of your stomach. He was careful as he placed you down upon the bed, helping you situate yourself with your pillows before he crawled on the end of it.

“He’s such a troublemaker, isn’t he?”

He was already raising your top before you could stop him, eyes feasting upon the glorious bulge of your stomach. Though you may have been self conscious about revealing your new body to him, he never thought twice about it, pressing a hard kiss to the mound with a grunt- His fingertips trailed along your side lightly, tickling you.

“Such a rascal, I’ll have to teach him a lesson when he comes out-”

Before you could even counter, he was blowing a raspberry on the side of your mound, causing you to giggle before he sat back, tucking your shirt back in place.

“I’ll get you some water.”

Though it was burdensome, it was all worth it, seeing how happy the man you loved was.

Taeyong:

You had absolutely nothing to wear. You’d just begun showing- Your leggings and jeans all seemed to suffocate you or not button- You had a lone pair of black sweatpants, but you felt fat when you wore them even before there was a baby involved. You had dresses, but if you dressed up you’d feel the need to also do your makeup or hair- Which you were in no mood to do- All you needed to do was go to the grocery for crying aloud... You suppose... You could send Taeyong, but you felt like a pest- He was busy on the phone talking over some business about releases and you weren’t even far enough along yet to pull that card you felt. Huffing, you sat down on the bed, staring at your closet.

“So, maybe next week then?”

His voice was getting closer. You were in nothing but your undergarments, so decided to go into the closet, not wanting him to see you so blatantly.

“Alright- Thanks- Haha, of course!”

With a loud sigh and a sudden whoosh it sounded as if he’d faceplanted upon the bed, dropping his phone to the side before curling around a pillow.

You caught his eye as you looked over your shoulder from the closet.

“What’s up?” he questioned.

“Hmm, nothing...”

You were still racking your brain for possible solutions...

“I need to go to the store.”

He hummed along in acknowledgement, watching as you thrust hanger to hanger aside. Your huff of irritation not going unnoticed. Sensing your distance and annoyance, he stood from the bed, making his was towards the closet.

“What is it?” he questioned, leaning upon the door frame.

“Nothing, just- Can you-” you tried, wanting him to leave.

His gaze flickered to the pile of clothes of the floor before settling on you, taking in the soft swell of your belly.

“What’s the matter?” he asked again, his tone softer as he draped himself around your, letting the palms of his hands smooth over your stomach.

“Nothing fits...” you admitted, voice nearly cracking, “I have nothing to wear-”

He hummed in thought, turning to place his cheek upon the crown of your head as he assessed his side of the closet.

“How about this?”

He pulled himself away from you, causing you to miss his warmth as he plucked a stripped shirt from a stack, unfolding it to show it’s size. It made you feel worse though... You didn’t need an XXXXL size did you?

“You look cute in my clothes,” he smiled, holding it up to you, “It’s like a dress~”

Pulling it over your head you frowned, the sleeves were too long and the length was quite short.

“It’s kind of short...”

“Hm- You’re right,” he acknowledged, “I can’t have my babies going out looking like this-”

He assessed you with a quirk of his brow and bite of his lip, causing you to nudge his shoulder in turn.

“Tell me what you need and I’ll get it,” he practically sang, rolling your sleeves up.

Yuta:

You hadn’t left the house in days- Hadn’t done your makeup or hair, had simply done the bare minimum of showering and dressing yourself in loungewear. Your spirits were just down in the dumps- You'd been having cravings nearly each day, snacking late at night and munching on sugary sweets. Next to him you felt so ugly- Even fresh out the shower he was glowing, skin flawless, eyes bright, hair a mused mess he liked to rake his hands through- He was gorgeous and it’s a fact everyone knew and agreed with. Next to him you’d always tried your hardest to seem on his level, you never wanted people to think you looked out of place or an odd couple. But now... it felt inevitable. You felt fat and ugly, skin dry, hair matted, eyes with bags... How could he even look at you?

Being the keen and observant man he was your change in demeanor didn’t go unnoticed- How you’d distanced yourself from him, how your answers were curt and sighs long, how you never changed in front of him... He understood why, having confided in his sister a tad about your change and getting all the answers he’d needed. He’d wanted to lighten your mood and surprise you, have a night in with you together, watching a movie and snacking together. He’d already started the washing machine, busy hanging up the load he’d just taken out.

“What’re you doing...?”

You questioned, shifting your weight from one foot to the doorframe.

“What’s it look like?”

“Well, just... You never usually do it...”

“Come on, I’m not that bad-”

Silence ensued before he finished and came to you.

“Am I that bad?”

“No,” you shushed, placing a hand upon his chest gently with a small smile.

“I wanted to surprise you,” he quipped, taking your hand and leading you around the corner to the kitchen.

“I know you’ve been having cravings lately so I stocked up- So, you don’t have to go to the store anytime soon-”

“Great. So I can get fatter?”

It wasn’t really a question and it came out much more spiteful than you intended. He was mid-opening the pantry when he stopped.

“You’re not fat-”

“Look at me,” you whined, feeling the flood gate about the burst.

“You look the same! The only difference is this guy,” he asserted, coming to press his palms to the side of your stomach. “Look at you,” he continued, “If anything, you’ve lost weight- Maybe from the stress or sickness- but-”

He gripped your arm, showing you how he could easily touch his thumb and index finger together around the circumference of your forearm.

“I don’t want you to feel bad or hide from me- I love you- And I’m here for you.”

“I love you too,” you sniffled gently, casting your gaze downward as he pulled you into an embrace, “Did you get Oreos...?”

A/N: It long, but if you likey I can do pt 2 with Jaehyun, Jungwoo, Mark, n Doyoungie

[raeynbowboi]

The Other Ships in My Fleet

So, I’ve already made a post talking about how I feel about certain ships in My Hero Academia, and another post about some of my other fandoms. Both posts got a lot of likes and reblogs, so I figured I’d talk about my ships from other fandoms. If this post also gets a lot of positive feedback, I’ll consider starting a second page to post my fan content for all of my fandoms, while still maintaining this one almost exclusively for My Hero Academia and Kiribaku specifically.

Klance (Keith x Lance) Voltron: Legendary Defender

I’m fully aware that this ship is probably not going to happen, but it’s really the only ship in the series that speaks to me. I will not lie, I am a big fan of dark and moody dating happy-go-lucky, and the rivals to friends to lovers element is just icing on the cake. It’s only further helped by Lance being Keith’s second-in-command. They help each other grow, and the trust that forms between them is cute and endearing. They also shared a major element to their characters. Both of them feel out of place, Keith because of his Galra heritage, and Lance because he doesn’t have a niche role.

Rabies/Rae x BB (Raven x Beast Boy) Teen Titans (2003)

While there wasn’t a lot of shipping fodder for these two in the 2003 iteration, the two are a canon couple in most versions of the teen titans, having been married in the comics (more than once, I think) so this is sort of a unique ship in that I ship it across every version of the two characters. Sporting a snarky moody goth and a lovable goofball, their dynamic was like that of an old married couple, or a moody teenager and her annoying little brother. Still, the two were good friends, and even though their personalities were polar opposites of each other, they had a lot of quiet, emotional moments together in the series. Whether you want to read them as friends or potential lovers, I think it’s hard to deny that there was a genuinely nice bond between the pair.

Garnet/Rupphire (Ruby x Sapphire) Steven Universe

As the show’s literal physical manifestation of love and a perfect relationship, it’s hard not to like the relationship between these two adorable lesbians. With the show sometimes being edited to remove the queer elements, it’s absolutely hysterical that they had the two get married in an episode very important to the plot, and put Ruby in the dress so that absolutely nobody could misinterpret her as a male. Editing it would only confuse viewers as to why everybody is in wedding attire, thus taking a very satisfying stance against censors and bigotry. Garnet also marks a first in children’s programming as the first same-sex wedding in a children’s animated show, at least as far as I’m aware.

Pearl x Mystery Girl Steven Unieverse

Although only featured in a single episode and having no dialogue, Mystery Girl (possibly named Sabina) is a very important element to Pearl’s character, being her first step toward moving on from Rose Quartz. There were fans that hoped that Mystery Girl would come back, but even if she doesn’t, she’s still important to Pearl’s character development.

Amedot (Amethyst x Peridot) Steven Universe

I know a lot of people prefer Lapidot, but frankly I find Lapis too selfish and cold-hearted to be ready for a relationship as she currently stands. I find Amethyst to be a better fit for Peridot, since they both share issues with their height. That, and the way the show frames them has romantic comedy tropes interwoven into their scenes. But even if they’re just friends, Amethyst’s approval means so much to Peridot.

Stevonnie (Steven Universe x Connie Maheswaren) Steven Universe

I’m not usually a fan of lead boy dates lead girl ships, as they tend to be very poorly done, and many feel forced, or are just boring and predictable. However, the bond between these two feels very genuine. They don’t feel like a lead boy and lead girl forced into a relationship at all. They come together very naturally, and the show takes its time to build their friendship up slowly. The show remembers that they’re kids first, friends second, jam buds third, and love interests last.

Tomstar (Tom Lucitor x Star Butterfly) Star Vs the Forces of Evil

Considering the show’s themes of monsters, racism, and not judging evil at face value, this ship serves as the most thematically poignant to the narrative that the show is setting up. It also makes Star a stronger parallel to her “evil” great great something grandmother, Eclipsa. Both are monster sympathizers with monster boyfriends. While the blood moon bonds complicate things, I see this ship as the most relevant to the themes and messages the show seems to want to send.

Tomco (Tom Lucitor x Marco Diaz) Star Vs the Forces of Evil

More of a joke/crack ship, I know it’s unlikely, but the entire episode of Friendenemies had romantic comedy written all over it. Between the literal in-universe break-up song to the show’s promotional art being inspired by dime store pulp romance novels fuel the fire that keeps this ship afloat.

Bumblebee/Bumbleby (Blake Belladonna x Yang Xiao Long) RWBY

Partners, teammates, and close friends, the ship really took off starting in season 2 during the episode “Burning the Candle”, as Blake spiraled into self-destructive habits due to obsessing over her problems. Nobody is able to get through to her until Yang comes in to talk to her. She doesn’t lecture her or beg her to stop. She instead forms a bridge of trust by first opening up about a similar situation she’s been in, and how she knows first hand that this sort of spiraling can only have negative impacts. They are shown to be parallels, as both girls are negatively effected by a loved one no longer in their life, and the trust issues that spring from that loved one’s actions. Yang was abandoned by her mother, a problem which she mentions Blake repeated. For Blake, it was the uncertainty of trusting someone’s character, and being afraid of someone slowly turning into someone else. She explicitly states in season 3 that her ex started off a nice guy, like Yang. The first time he hurt someone, there was a reason. There was always an excuse. Until eventually, she became the pardoner. The one excusing his actions. And, she expresses the fear that Yang could be following a similar path. Both girls have been hurt by someone in the past, and both girls are afraid of being hurt the same way again, and inadvertently hurt each other the same way as someone else has. It’s also known that RWBY characters tend to represent or be based on fairy tale characters. Yang is Goldilocks, and Blake is Beauty from Beauty and the Beast. However, based on the lyrics from Red Like Roses “Black the Beast descends from shadows, Yellow Beauty burns gold”, there seems to be an implication that Yang is the Beauty to Blake’s Beast. This is interestingly supported by Blake’s name. Blake is a Celtic name meaning both Black and White, and Belladonna literally means Beautiful Woman in Italian, but is also the name of a very poisonous plant often mistaken for the harmless blueberry. The duality of her name could be pointing to how she plays the dual role of both Beauty and Beast.

Seamonkeys (Sun Wukong x Neptune Vasilias) RWBY

A bit more of a crack ship, these two lovable idiots are far less likely to be canon, but since Sun is Yang’s main competition for Blake’s heart, I have no problem shipping him off elsewhere with his goofy best friend. Although they act more like usual best friends in the canon show, their relationship does have a much gayer tone in the less canon comedy show RWBY Chibi, where Neptune almost seems to act like a jealous clingy girlfriend a lot of the times. I doubt the ship would ever sail, but I mostly ship it because they’re cute together. Although, with season 6 just starting, I got the vibe that Sun was stepping aside to let Bumblebee sail uninhibited. Sun doesn’t really have a third popular ship, it’s just Black Sun and Seamonkeys, so this ship may be gaining validity in the future.

Gumlee (Marshall Lee x Prince Gumball) Adventure Time with Fiona and Cake

The male counterpart to Bubbline (Princess Bubblegum x Marceline), there’s no real difference between the two pairs other than their genders, and Gumball preferring baking while Bubblegum prefers science. Because they are effectively just gender-swapped clones of the canon ship, anything canonical between the girls is also technically canon with these two. It’s not that I don’t like Bubbline, but when given the choice between gay or lesbian versions of a couple, I’m going to be naturally inclined to lean toward the gay version.

Sasunaru/Narusasu (Sasuke Uchiha x Naruto Uzumaki) Naruto

Maybe there’s a cultural aspect I’m unaware of, but it’s a bit of a running gag in the Naruto fanbase at this point that Naruto is obsessed with Sasuke. So much so that he seems to care about him way beyond normal friendship. With how much these two obsess over one another, it’s no surprise why this became such a popular pairing. Their dynamic even dwarfed Hinata’s heartfelt confession of her love during the Pain Invasion Arc, because as soon as that ended, did Naruto go talk to Hinata? No, he immediately started thinking about Sasuke. Hinata definitely got the shaft in part II, which is a shame because I really loved her character.

Bob and Linda Belcher Bob’s Burgers

More of an honorable mention than a full on ship, I wanted to highlight them as one of adult animation’s only married couples that actually still like each other. In the wake of the popularity of the Simpsons, and the cementing of the genre with Family Guy, the stock dynamic of idiot husband and enraged but supportive wife became a recurring trope. Before long, every single animated sitcom-esque family fell into this very annoying cliche. So, finding a couple in adult animation that are not only married but still manage to show they love each other is amazing. Their marriage isn’t on the rocks, they find time to at least try and be romantic, and even when they have bets or are on opposing sides of something, the show never forgets that these two love each other at the end of the day.

Captain Swan (Killian “Hook” Jones x Emma Swan) Once Upon A Time

This relationship between Captain Hook and the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming might sound odd on paper, but this couple is by far one of the healthiest relationships in the series. Both Hook and Emma come from broken lives, and together build themselves up to something stronger. In a melodrama surrounding fairy tales, both characters are surprisingly grounded, realistic, and skeptical cynics, a very stark contrast from the usual wide-eyed lovey-dovey couples Disney is known for. Emma’s tendency to put up walls and Killian’s tendency to always put himself first are both slowly broken down over time as Killian tries to tear down Emma’s walls and get to know her while she works on building a foundation of trust between them. The pairing feels very organic, and they definitely feel like the most realistic couple in the series as they both take turns stumbling and working toward being good for each other.

Rumbelle (Rumplestiltskin x Belle) Once Upon A Time

In the early seasons, this couple was beautiful to watch. I truly loved their chemistry and dynamic, as both of them were given such strong characteristics without simplifying either of them. However, as the show went on, it started to lose that power. The couple started to feel toxic as Belle kept waiting for Rumple to change, and he kept on lying and lying. It even reached a stopping point. A perfect one. Rumple was redeemed. He was a good man again. He could be the man Belle deserved. But instead, he slipped right back into his old ways. It was then that I fell off the band wagon for this ship. I loved it once, until I got sick of watching him hurt her over and over.

Daenerys Targaryen x Khal Drogo Game of Thrones

Although together only for a short while, this power couple won audiences over very quickly, as Drogo’s gruff but passionate affection mixed with Danny’s growing confidence and rise to power made these two iconic.

Renly Baratheon x Ser Loras Tyrell Game of Thrones

Another short-lived relationship, the remarkable thing is that Renly was literally the only character vying for the throne with fully good intentions for the realm. He was concerned with the needs of the people, and was the only morally good candidate in the War of Five Kings. Sadly, the ydidn’t get much screen time, but they were still a strong couple.

Peraltiago (Jake Peralta x Amy Santiago) Brooklyn 99

A rare exception to the don’t force the leads to date rule, the show let them form a bond over time that went from a friendly childish rivalry to a friendly dating rivalry. While each character experiences change and growth, it is not at the expense of their personalities, and the progression feels like it was meant to happen.

[wonderous-writer-suggestions]

Falling for the Fates (part 1)

((Ok sorry for taking so long on this I just really wanted it to be satisfactory and not just a barfed up quickie cause it got so long. Enjoy!! Feel free to ask questions!!))

For years it has been a quiet house. I never met his brother, my uncle, as he was supposedly not so fortunate to escape the wondrous land, or at least, that’s what I’ve been told. My brother has been off in military training for much time. And my mother was the last of us to leave. One night she wandered into the woods, and never came back. My father never told me the whole truth but I could see it in his eyes that he knew what happened to her, and felt I was too young to bare that burden. There was a sense of fear, longing, and perhaps excitement, like the dread you feel as you approach the drop on a roller coaster. That’s the look he had in mention of my mother.

He always tried to keep me away from the forest, but upon seeing how much I would venture, he didn’t have the heart to chain me down.

“Alright we need some knew rules if you’re going to be an ace adventurer.” He said to me one morning.

I gave him my full attention.

“If you see any round circles, whether made of rocks, mushrooms, moss, or anything else from nature... do not enter it.”

I looked at him puzzled, “What are they?”

“We call them faerie rings. They’re used by fae folk, which are basically very powerful creatures and tricksters.”

My tiny mind was intrigued, he must have seen it on my face and thus continued.

“They take people away Ellie, they’re good with words like that. But they also give blessings. Our town alone is blessed by one. But a few townsfolk have also disappeared. It’s easy to avoid though.” He assured me.

“But... what if I see one?” I asked.

“Simple,” He said, “Do not give them your name. That’s how they control you.”

I nodded, and went back to my toys.

The possibility of meeting such a creature plagued my thoughts for the rest of the week, until I finally seeked out the faerie ring. My tiny legs stumbled over the branches and brush till I stopped amongst a tiny clearing. It was almost too obvious. A ring of various mushrooms in a perfect circle, no other plants around it but grass and leaves. I sat down just outside its edge and stared at it. Tilting my head this way and that, curious like a newborn puppy.

The grass blades twitched in the slight breeze and I continued to wait. Suddenly a whirl of dust spiraled into a column within the circle and faded as a human like shape took place at the ring’s center. He was pale, freckles adorning his face like a star filled sky. He seemed young, close to my brothers age even. His hair puffed out in thick red curls from beneath a rather comical wizard like hat. Little flowers and other flora peppered the red curls in a strange whimsical fashion. His eyes were bright, a sense of wonder lying beneath their strange blue greenish hue. He smiled, with a strange warmth when he saw me.

He sat down on the ground before me, remaining in the circle. Putting his head in his hands, he looked at me with a cheerful smile, “Hello there young one.”

I gazed in awe and waved, “Hi.” I squeaked out.

“You’re awfully far from home aren’t you. Why are you here?” There was a strange mischievous look in his eyes.

“I wanted to see you.” I said. “Dad told me about fae folk, I was curious.”

“Didn’t you know curiosity killed the cat?” He asked.

“But wisdom brought it back.” I said, without skipping a beat.

He smiled, “You’re a clever one.” He stood up, “Call me Mez.” He held out his hand, “And your name, please?”

I stared at his hand for a while, my father’s warnings echoing in my mind. //Don’t//, I thought. //Bad//, I thought again.

He gave me a slight glare, “Well?”

As I was young, I figured I’d play the dumb child card, and mimic him. I stretched my hand out, laying it atop his, copying him in any way I could, and said, “Name?”

He pulled his hand back and chuckled, “Clever girl.” And with that, was gone.

I didn’t see him for many months after that. Though I visited as often as I could without my father getting suspicious or worried. One night after my sixth birthday I snuck out. The moon was still high in the sky and illuminated the woods nicely. I was progressing well with my words, according to my father, there wasn’t much else to do but read and write, and tell stories.

I sat outside the ring like I had before, and sure enough, Mez appeared before me.

“Well if it isn’t the clever girl.” He said with that endearing smile.

I patted the grass without a word. And he decided to sit. There was a long moment of silence between us.

“Why are you back?” He asked finally.

I shrugged, more silence.

I took a deep breath, “Why do you take people?”

He looked up at me, “Same reason you visit me. I find you fascinating. You’re different. You act different. Each one of you is different. It seems impossible and in that is fascinating. Many of the people I take come willingly anyways.” He said it so casually. None of the families knew it was a consensual choice. They just woke up one day without a family member anymore. Whether it was meant to happen or not, he hurt people.

“Do you miss her?” There was a hint of genuine concern in that tone.

“She was taken when I was very young. I barely remember her. But my father misses her dearly.” I said.

“She is much like you.” He said with carefully chosen words, “Only she gave me her name.”

Was he joking? It sounded like a joke. The smile on his face was even that of someone pulling my leg.

I couldn’t help but return the smile, “I cannot give you my name but you can call me...” I hesitated, “You can call me... Madeline.”

There was a moment of silence, then he burst out laughing, it was the most musical and contagious laugh I had ever heard, “You think I wouldn’t recognize your own mother’s name?”

I shrugged, “I can try. Call me Writer then.” I said sticking out my tongue.

He ruffled my hair, throwing the curls in many directions, “Nice try clever girl.”

I smiled, and laid down into the grass with a yawn. The night slowly taking hold of me as we continued to talk. The next time I opened my eyes I was back in my bed. Though I didn’t really care to think of how.

The next time he asked for my name was the last. I was nearly eight years old now, and I had become the new story teller of the household. My father would listen to my fantasies as if they were the truth. I even told the story or a young girl named Max who befriended a Fae. Pleasantly enough, he was intrigued by it.

“Your mother was a lot like your girl there.” He said with a soft smile.

I looked up from my journal, “Did she, befriend a fae?”

He sighed, “Yes... she did.” There was a long pause, I knew what he was going to say, but he still needed to say it four, five, seven times to himself before telling his daughter straight forward, “That’s how she left.”

I looked back down, “Maybe she just wanted adventure. Like Uncle Rowan?”

His face hardened at that name, “Yeah... like Rowan.” The name didn’t flow fluidly from his mouth, like he hadn’t spoken the name in years. It hurt him more than me to hear the scorn in his voice.

“What’s wrong with adventure dad?”

He looked up at me.

“Why do you hate it now? You like stories. You tell them all the time! You even love mine! What happened?” I felt my childish emotions making me want to cry, but I tried to hold back.

He came by my side and put an arm around me, “I don’t hate adventure sweetie... my adventure just changed.”

I wiped away a tear before it fell, “What do you mean?”

He looked at me and smiled, “Your Mom became my adventure. And now you’re my adventure. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

But he could, I thought, if we were all together again.

That night I lied awake in bed, my thoughts whirling, unable to sleep. Finally, I sat up, clutching a stuffed rabbit plush to my chest as I made the journey out of my room. I looked into my dads room, where he laid fast asleep on one side of the bed. I set down a journal on the coffee table where I knew he’d have his morning tea, waiting for me to wake up. On the front was a letter, explaining the fae, what I believe happened to mother, and what is about to happen to me, and to him. I knew in my heart he’d find us both, if he still loved adventure through her and I.

I on the other hand was ever curious. Who was my mother, did she look like me? Or was my curly red hair a mystery to be left unsolved. I wanted to know if she liked stories, adventure, I wanted to hear her side of the stories my father would always tell me. And see her face grow soft upon mention of a fond memory between her and dad. I wanted us to be together, and happy.

Thoughts continued to whirl in my head till I knelt down before the ring in the forest, where everything was quiet. I gazed into it for what felt like forever, nothing happening. I reached my hand out, then gently pressed it into the patch of grass never touched by mortals. In an instant my hand was taken hold by the fae, and he was sitting in front of me, cupping my hand in both of his, his eyes wide.

“It’s you.” We managed to say in unison.

He released my hand, and resumed the quirky nature I’ve come to see from him, “Why have you come back this time.” He said with a hint of sternness.

I gripped my plush harder, “I want to see my mother.”

He seemed taken back by this, then chuckled, “You’d be willing to leave your father, your life, just to see a woman you’ve never met?”

I shook my head, “There’s more to it than that, lord fae.”

He crossed his arms and sat back a bit, motioning for me to explain.

“I want my father to come too. But I know he won’t come by my lead directly. If I go, he’ll follow. He’ll find my mom and me. We’ll be together again.”

He raised an eyebrow, mulling over my words.

“Also,” I continued, “I want to have my own adventure. And learn about a million other adventures through the stories of others.”

He smiled at that, then shook his head. His bubbly laugh rising out of him and forcing a smile cross my own face.

“Tell you what Deary,” He said leaning towards me, “I like you, you remind me of your mum, and myself. Something about you I can’t quite put my finger on.” He said twirling the ends of his hair.

I smiled again, “So you’ll take us?”

He held up a finger, “Not quite. You’re a bit special. You’re mom is in a realm I often visit, if your father comes by like you insist he’ll be there too. But you, oh no, I can’t tie a girl like you down to one realm.”

((Tumblr has a limit so to be continued/finished in next post))

[gravitymirage]

Taking Back Control - 4

@intplier

So, this was Dark.

The being sat in front of Amy had no right to look like Mark. The way his gaze made her mind shut down in terror. The way his smirk sent her body shuddering in fear. The way it felt as if his hand had sunk down her throat and ripped her heart in half. Whatever witty remark she had planned died, her mouth dried up and her lungs made desperate attempts to suck in the cold, thick air. He might as well had walked up to her and put her in a choke hold.

He stood slowly from the piano, adjusting his suit with pale hands. The room was completely grey-scale, but it wasn’t just furniture choice. The monochrome void licked at her shoes like an angry swarm. The man before her was lit by a red and blue veil, which twisted and snapped with his movements. When he took a single step towards her, Amy pushed herself into the door behind her. It would have been shameful, had the predator before her not been so threatening. His gaze held her own with too much intensity as he tilted his head in a sort of morbid curiosity. He licked at his lips, pulling them into a thin line, before rolling his shoulders slightly

“I don’t blame you for running earlier, Amy. It’s a fairly common reaction.” She swallowed, offering a weak nod, her heart hammering. He clapped his hands together, offering a smile. It showed too many teeth, and didn’t reach his eyes. “I suppose you would like to know why you’re here?” Amy went to speak, but clamped her mouth shut. She was starting to think maybe she didn’t want to know. Instinctively, her hand tried the door handle, which was still locked. Dark shook his head slightly at the motion, his entire body jerking to the side in a violent twitch. “Now Amy, you don’t think I’m dumb enough to forget to lock the door? That was Googles’ mistake, not mine.”

“What do you want with me?” She choked out unexpectedly, causing Dark to chuckle slightly. The sound echoed eerily across the room.

“Finally talking, now are we? I’d thought Dr. Iplier had cut out your tongue for a moment there.” Amy’s heart plummeted. “Ah yes, don’t think I don’t know about your encounter with the ‘good’ doctor. Don’t worry dear, I will continue to ignore it if he continues to play the fool. If not however…” Dark’s human shell cracked into a contorted, screaming figure, before regaining its composure. Dark didn’t need to elaborate on his intentions. He took another step closer to her, until a single stride of space laid empty between them. “As to why you’re here, why it’s quite…simple. Mark has been refusing my invitations for him to meet me, not to mention I found out recently he hadn’t even informed you of my existence.” Dark’s shell cracked a little on those words, the ringing deafening. “I’m using you as a bargaining chip currently, though if I do wish to…dispose of you…” Amy tensed up, watching for any sign he was bluffing. There was none, the sadistic smirk twisting his face was genuine.

“If you killed me, there would be hell to pay for it!” She wished she sounded more confident. He closed the space in between them, a cold finger running down her cheek and under her chin, raising her head to look at him.

“I don’t disagree with you there, dear. Have you heard of the tale of the 'Scorpion and the Frog?’” Her eyebrows furrowed in slight confusion. She’d heard it referenced many times, but never specifically read it. “The scorpion asked for the frogs help to cross a river. When the frog asked, 'How do I know you won’t sting me?’ The scorpion replied that it would doom them both. Halfway across the river, the scorpion stung the frog. When the frog asked why, the scorpion replied…” Dark gave out a sigh, his hot breath clear across Amy’s face, his lips too close to hers for comfort, but he had her pinned. He leaned into her ear. “'It’s in my nature.’” He gave out a breathy laugh at her mortified expression, leaning away from her. “I hope that answers your questions.”

Dark took her hand, to which Amy instinctively pulled away. He scowled, twitching and flickering before grasping her arm. Monochrome tendrils spiralled across her, constricting her. She cried out in pain, but found herself unable to pull away. “I wouldn’t recommend disobeying me Miss Nelson.” He growled, “some things are worse than death.” He paused, regaining his seemingly calm nature. Amy noted that for a terrifying moment, her body had been the same monochrome colours as his own. “Why don’t we go ask Red for a house tour, darling?” He linked arms with her, before pulling the door open. It seemed to unlock for him and when he clicked his fingers, the door shut behind them. If Red was capable of concern he didn’t show it when their eyes met. The robots gaze lingered on Dark’s arm around hers, before looking to him.

“What would you like me to do now, sir?"  Dark gave his signature half-smile, his head twitching slightly.

"Why, I’d like to give this beautiful lady here the grand tour! Would you care to host it?” For a hopeful moment, Amy thought Red would say no. Their face contorted slightly, glitching. But they forced their expression neutral.

“Of course, sir, I’d love to.” They somehow had the phrase sound more monotonous than anything any other Google had ever said. Dark licked his lips, before giving his best twisted smile.

“Wonderful. We’ll start upstairs. Keep in mind, Red, if we run into any other alters you know who’s to blame…We wouldn’t want to spoil Amy’s tour, would we?” Red shook his head curtly, before turning on his heel and exiting the room. Dark took her along in tow, his arm fastened around her own. This was different from when Google had dragged her along earlier - at least she’d been able to resist. Now Amy was submissive to Dark’s every whim, too scared of the pain that could follow if she disobeyed.

She shut off her mind and attempted to pretend Mark was beside her again.

It didn’t work. 

“This floor is predominantly residential. Each bedroom belongs to an alter, and is equipped with an en suite.” Red began when they reached the top of the stairs, keeping his voice cautiously low to avoid gaining unwanted attention. Though, with the slight ringing of Dark’s presence, the alters would have to be stupid to reveal themselves. He gestured to the four doors that opened on each corner of the stairway. “Ed Edgar,” the door had a poster, offering the price of his supposed son. Several pieces of paper had been pinned over it, suggesting lower and lower prices each time, “Silver Shepard,“ the door was relatively plain, but had small, worn stickers stuck over it in random locations. They looked like something out of a comic, saying things such as 'pow’, 'bang’ and 'whoosh’, “King of the Squirrels,” upon closer inspection, the substance on the doorknob and floor appeared to be dried peanut butter, “and Bim Trimmer.” That one was obvious. It had a gold, glowing star in the centre with his name engraved upon it. Amy smiled at the personality revealed simply by the bedroom doors, but it died when she glanced at the monochromatic being next to her. Dark, who hadn’t removed his arm, appeared as if he couldn’t care less about this tour, but his eyes followed Red with an assessing, malicious glint. He was waiting for the robot to mess up. Red droned on, “The right wing holds a suite which the Googles reside in, myself included.” Amy opened her mouth to ask a question, but it died in her throat. Dark raised an eyebrow at her. It was shameful. Waiting for his permission to ask a simple question. The side of his lip tugged upwards in a smirk.

“You’re allowed to ask questions dear.” He whispered, inclining his head towards Red. She tensed up, clearing her throat.

“I was just wondering if there’s a difference between the Googles? Besides colour, of course.” She hated the way she stuttered when her eyes made contact with Dark’s intense stare.

“Yes, Miss Nelson. There is a difference. I am well suited for completing general tasks, and the taking, and sharing of images. For example,…” Red’s eyes flashed a white light like a camera. A moment later, and image of her startled expression, Dark with her tight in his grasp, filled the space in front of Red like it was on an invisible projector, before flickering away. “Green is designed towards location-based tasks. This means he is able to locate individuals on maps using device IP, and work as a high functioning GPS system. Oliver provides social connections between Google prototypes and individuals. He can send emails, live stream, and hold realistic conversations. Blue is the default. A bit of all of us." 

The tour continued in this prolonged, tense manner. Red had decided they didn’t need to visit the tower or the infirmary again, as Amy had already seen them. He pointed out the main features of the first floor, the library and dining area near the entrance, as well as the grand room in the centre. However, Red’s continuous glances at Dark, followed by the jitters in his speech was becoming more noticeable with each passing room. Dark’s indifferent silence was getting to him. The robot was growing more careless, at one point having to hide them in a linen closet as they waited for an alter to pass. The look Dark threw Red afterward almost sent them into a nervous breakdown - or a short circuit at least. Amy wasn’t the only one who wanted to be dismissed. On the basement floor, Red mentioned that the space behind the red curtain was actually a theatre and stage, complete with dressing rooms. Amy asked him if she could see it, and Dark rolled his eyes, grimacing to himself slightly.

"If you want to get shot on entry due to the sheer surprise of your existence, go right ahead." 

"Wilford’s room is down here.” Red added for clarification. That sparked her curiosity, but at the same time, she was almost as scared of Wilford’s unpredictability as she was of Dark. Almost. Red showed Amy an indoor pool and spa, before leading them back to the guest bedroom. Before she could escape into it, Dark slithered his along her back and around her waist. Amy tensed, but didn’t resist. It was the worst feeling in the world. She almost felt as if she was cheating on Mark for doing this. 

“Now Red, I believe you forgot to mention something?” Red glitched and stuttered, his eyes watching Dark’s carefully.

“The Host resides in the left wing, by himself.” The robot tried, but Dark tutted, shaking his head. What had Dark done to make the robot so scared of him? How was it possible for a robot to fear him?

“We discussed it earlier.” Amy knew that at any point, Dark could have just told her himself. He wanted to watch Red suffer. 

“Miss Nelson is not allowed in the left and right wing without permission?” Dark smiled, and the robot practically collapsed in relief.

“Marvellous, Red. What about leaving?”

“A-All attempts to leave will be in vain, and will be severely punished.” They stuttered, eyeing up Dark for his reaction.

“Excellent.” Dark finally released his grip on her, sending Amy stumbling forwards. He adjusted his suit, wiping away dust, before turning to her with a sad sigh. It almost sounded genuine. “It’s been lovely, but I must return to my work. I hope to see you again shortly, Miss Nelson.” He turned to eye up Red coldly, before nodding. “You’re dismissed.” And with that, Dark turned, making his way back along the hall with clicking footsteps. The ringing faded, and Amy felt as if a weight had been lifted off her. Red assessed her for a moment, before leaving hastily, down a different hallway. Amy locked herself in the guest room by her own accord.

It wasn’t like she was going anywhere.

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