#the dark feat. my favorite dark statement

[skyeoak]

Based on this meme:

Details under the cut

[theostrophywife]

stargazing.

i can feel your heart beatin' with mine underneath the stars lookin' for a sign glowing in the dark 'til the sun shines started with a spark now we're on fire

author's note: you already know the drill. i am a hoe for mutual pining between two idiot best friends who are so obviously in love. this one actually gave me chest pains and you'll see why.

song inspiration: stargazing by the neighbourhood.

The City of Starlight lived up to its name as the stars glittered over the horizon. 

A cluster of constellations twinkled directly above the spot you had picked—a grassy knoll by the mouth of the Sidra River, which now lapped against the shore with its sapphire waves. It was by far your favorite place for stargazing because it was distant enough from the noise and excitement of Velaris, sandwiched between the colorful townhouses and the peaks of the misty mountains, allowing you the chance to fully appreciate the starkissed night. 

You placed a hand on your hip as your best friend climbed the hillside, his strides graceful and effortless, reaching the clearing without breaking a sweat, which was more than what you could say for yourself.

“You know, I’m perfectly capable of carrying a picnic basket up this hill.”

Azriel raised a brow, the Illyrian warrior utterly unconvinced by your statement. “I’m aware, but I also want to eat sometime before midnight and with the way you’re going, the food will spoil before we even get a chance to taste it.” 

You huffed in feigned offense and crossed your arms. “Not everyone has the privilege of being ridiculously tall. I mean, have you seen yourself? I get that you’re a brooding warrior and all, but anything above six feet is a little overkill, don’t you think?” 

The shadowsinger chuckled, his hazel eyes sparkling with amusement. “My height is perfectly normal. It’s not my fault that you’re practically bite sized.”

You frowned, sticking your tongue out at him. “Come a little closer and we’ll see who’s biting into who.”

“I’m shaking in my leathers.”

Azriel rolled his eyes fondly and shrugged the knapsack off his shoulders before tossing it over to you. The bag containing your favorite blanket and a pair of pillows had derailed your journey for at least ten minutes because your stubborn friend refused to let you carry anything. In the end, you had bullied Azriel into allowing you to lug your own sketchbook and coloured pencils up the damned hill. 

It was an admirable feat given that the shadowsinger was almost as unrelenting as you. Luckily, you could always rely on your secret weapon. A slight pout and puppy dog eyes and Azriel was practically putty in your hands. Needless to say, you weren’t above exploiting his soft spot for you to get what you wanted. 

Mostly because you loved the fact that he could never say no to you. 

"You're absolutely insufferable, shadowsinger."

“Big words for such a small female,” Azriel drawled as you arranged the blanket on the grass. “Careful with the wind, we wouldn’t want it to blow you away.”

You snorted in response, shooting a vulgar gesture over your shoulder. The shadowsinger snickered as you tossed the pillows onto the blanket, putting the finishing touches to your makeshift haven for the night. Azriel plopped onto the ground, stretching his long legs out on the gingham fabric. The moonlight hugged his winged figure, silver beams kissing his devastatingly handsome face.

For a second, you felt jealous of the moon.

While Azriel settled in, you started unpacking the picnic basket. Stored within was an abundance of cheese, fruits, meats, and crackers that you'd nicked from the House of Wind, along with fizzy seltzers that were spiked with wine. You fixed Azriel a plate and handed it over to him. He uncorked the seltzers and clinked his glass against yours with a wink. The two of you dug right in, stuffing yourselves full and getting slightly buzzed from the drinks. 

Azriel propped himself up on his elbows, his features contorted with intense concentration as he watched you toss a grape into the air. He tried to catch it with his mouth, but it hit his nose instead, making you burst out into uncontrollable laughter. The shadowsinger looked utterly confused for a split second before his eyes narrowed in your direction. His gaze darted to the hand you were currently hiding behind your back. 

“You’re cheating,” he said with a pout. 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” you replied innocently. Behind you, your hand glowed scarlet from the use of your magic. “Maybe you just have terrible aim.”

“Show me your hands, then.”

“No one likes a sore loser, Az.”

Your friend pounced on you, nearly knocking your drinks over as he dug his fingers into your side. You gasped for breath in between high pitched giggles and smacked Azriel’s arm as he mercilessly tickled you. Shadows curled around you like smoke as though they were summoned by the sound of your laughter. 

“You’re going to crush the cupcakes!” you exclaimed, wriggling away from the shadowsinger. 

His dark head perked up at that. If there was anything you knew about your friend, it was that he had an insatiable sweet tooth. You swatted his hand away and pulled out the cupcakes you’d been saving for dessert. 

Azriel eyed it warily. “It looks a little…deflated.”

You frowned, examining the less than fluffy cupcake. “Elain was teaching me how to make them, but then Lucien walked by shirtless and covered in sweat. They disappeared for a suspicious amount of time, so really I can’t be blamed if they turned out awful.”

Your friend chuckled and raised his cupcake to yours, clinking them together in a mock cheer. “Bottoms up, then.”

The second you bit into the cupcake, your face soured. Azriel wore a similar expression, grimacing at the taste. 

“It’s interesting.”

“It tastes like shit, Az.”

Azriel snorted, patting you on the head. “It’s alright. You tried your best, bug.”

You flicked his hand away with a glare. “You know I hate it when you call me that.”

“But it’s so fitting. You’re cute and small like a lady bug.” You rolled your eyes in response. “Would you prefer something else? Bee? Hornet? Wasp?” Azriel was barely containing his laughter at your obvious annoyance. 

“You’re a pain in the ass, Azriel.”

“Yeah but who else would eat your poison cupcakes and stargaze with you in the middle of the night?”

That earned him a small smile. Azriel winked and sprawled out on the blanket, his wings spreading across the comically small fabric. You sat cross legged, watching as your best friend gazed up at the stars. There was something magical about it. The way the silver beams of moonlight kissed his golden brown skin, the wind tousling his dark locks, the serene smile that spread across his lips. In his cozy striped sweater and sweats, Azriel was the perfect picture of peace. Even his shadows stilled, dripping like honey across his shoulders. 

The sight tugged at your heart. It was perfect. Azriel was perfect and you needed him to see himself exactly how you saw him now. 

You pulled out your sketchbook and coloured pencils at once, scribbling furiously. “Don’t move,” you said, trying your best to capture the moment. 

The shadowsinger obliged, but instead of watching the stars, he turned his attention over to you. The colors blended with your magic as the image before you came to life. You mixed the greens and browns and golds, but somehow they seemed lackluster compared to the glazed honey gaze staring back at you. 

Azriel watched as your magic sparked against the page. He knew how intense you could get when it came to your art, but he’d never seen you like this. After a few more minutes, you leaned back and scrutinized every inch of your canvas. You flicked your wrist and a small spark of scarlet magic spread through the page. Finally, you smiled in satisfaction. 

“It’s perfect,” you murmured. 

“Let's see this masterpiece of yours, then.”

You shook your head. "Not a chance," you said, clutching the drawing to your chest. "At least, not yet."

"So you're saying that there's a slight chance that you'll show it to me someday?" Azriel asked, brimming with curiosity. 

In the years he’d known you, the shadowsinger had only seen a handful of your art. Usually he wouldn’t push, but there was something about the way your eyes twinkled with emotion that made him want to prod. 

“Eventually,” you replied with a soft smile. “When the time is right.”

Azriel didn’t get the chance to ask what that meant before you stashed the drawing away and shuffled beside him. You laid down across his stomach, grinning as you playfully flicked his nose. 

“You’re supposed to be watching the stars, not me.”

“I can enjoy more than one beautiful view at a time.”

You flushed, inclining your head towards the skies so Azriel wouldn’t be able to see the effect of his words. For a while now, the two of you had been teetering that precarious line between just friends and something more. The chemistry between you was visible to everyone. Ever since Kallias had sent you to be his emissary, you and Azriel had grown closer and closer, to the point where your presence in the Night Court had turned into a permanent position.

The shadowsinger had gained your trust with his quiet wit and sharp sarcasm. Little by little, he chipped away at your icy demeanor. In due time, you were both attached at the hip. Besides Kallias and Viviane, he was the only one you'd opened up to about your time under the mountain. Cursed by Amarantha, you were trapped in that wretched place with your cousin, unable to stop the wicked female from wreaking havoc upon the Winter Court. Despite your tremendous power, you were helpless. You lost so many of your loved ones during that time and the guilt had been a heavy burden to bear even after Feyre's sacrifice that led to your freedom.

Azriel showed you that you didn't have to do it alone. Together, you learned how to heal from the ghosts of your past. You found refuge in the dark.

You found a friend.

Whatever it was between you and Azriel, it was something monumental. It wasn’t a fleeting crush or a silly notion of romance, but a magnetic force that had been drawing you together even before you met. 

It felt scary. Like jumping off a cliff and into the raging sea. Though you weren’t the type to balk from a challenge, even you had to admit that it was terrifying. But you knew that you had to take that leap of faith sometime. 

You gazed up at the shadowsinger and found him watching you. The smile that spread across your face was instinctive. “Thanks for coming out here with me, Az.”

“Anytime,” he murmured softly. Azriel weaved his fingers through your hair, curling strands around his knuckles. “I like watching the stars with you. It’s kind of nostalgic, really.”

“How so?” 

Golden eyes flickered down to you as his voice dropped to a raspy whisper. “When I was younger…when all I knew was darkness, I always dreamt of the stars.” 

Your heart ached for a young Azriel, trapped in the dungeons by his cruel father. The experience alone should’ve made him a hardened and bitter male, but your friend was anything but. Despite everything Azriel had endured, there was this resiliency to him that always amazed you. He had such a unique capacity for light and love. 

You intertwined your fingers in his, squeezing gently. He smiled faintly before continuing. “My shadows used to describe the constellations to me. The positioning of the stars, how the night sky looked.” As though they heard his confessions, shadows swarmed around the both of you. “They still do, sometimes.”

A shadow curled like smoke towards a bright star in the sky. "That one is my favorite."

You looked up to where Azriel was pointing and felt your chest tighten. Your voice was shaky as you took a breath. “There’s a legend in the Winter Court about that star. There was once a young goddess named Polaris who roamed Prythian, fated to be lost and alone until a light in the north guided her to the castle of a Fae Prince. He took her in and they fell deeply in love. Polaris married the young prince and together they ruled over our lands until the Daglan came. The prince died fighting against them. Polaris was so heartbroken that she asked the Mother to transform her into a star so she could always watch over the land where her beloved was buried.” 

Azriel listened with rapt attention as you gazed up at the horizon, to a single star shining above all the others. The same one he had pointed at. “Today, we call her the North Star. It’s said that her light is meant to guide you to your other half, just as that star in the sky once led her to her prince.”

The shadowsinger went still underneath you. As you looked up, you found him staring up at Polaris with a burning gaze. You could feel your heart pounding in your chest as his eyes met yours. 

Azriel swallowed thickly as his scarred fingers traced the outline of your jaw. Then softly, so low that you had to strain to hear him, he said the words that cracked your heart open. “I think you’re my Polaris.”

Tears welled in your eyes, but before they could fall, before the opportunity escaped you, you conjured the drawing from earlier into Azriel’s hands. The shadowsinger looked down at the moving image of him sprawled out across the grassy knoll, his wings flared out beneath him like some dark prince, a soft smile fixed on his lips as he gazed up at the star shining brightly above him. 

The North Star. 

That’s what Azriel was—your north star. The beacon that led you straight home. The hope that you had held onto even in the darkest of times. Under the Mountain, you hadn't let yourself dream. You didn't think you'd ever get this chance, but somewhere deep down, you kept the story of Polaris and her Prince tucked away in your heart. 

And it had led you here. 

Underneath the light of the north star, in the city you now called home, in the arms of the male that had helped you restore and rebuild yourself after all that you lost. 

All that was left was to take that leap of faith. 

“You’re my north star, Azriel.” You said with a smile, silver lining your eyes. “You led me home.”

One of his shadows darted towards you, catching your tears as Azriel pulled you against him. He cradled your cheek in his hand, fingers trembling as he looked at you. Really looked at you, like he saw all of who you were and adored every part, even the jagged edges.

“Falling in love with my best friend,” he said with a slight smile. “That’s pretty cliche of us, isn’t it?”

Your laughter spilled into the quiet night, happy tears coating your cheeks. “Don’t ruin the moment, Az.”

The endearing grin on his face etched itself into the depths of your soul. “I wouldn’t dream of it, bug.”

As the north star twinkled above the City of Starlight, Azriel leaned in and kissed you for the first time.

taglist: @viradeity @moony-thoughts @i-opened-the-chamber-of-secrets @demirunner @swansworth @heart-defendor @momlo @mali22 @roselensage @searchingford@nessianxgwynriel@azriels-angels@brekkershadowsinger@morelovemorepeacemoretattoo-blog @mattte-black @marina468 @lillithathecathecat @highladyofillyria

[subacctformaribat]

A Challange Worth Takeing On!

It has been four years since Hawkmoth’s defeat (Chat gave up his Miraculous after the defeat and then disappeared) and Marinette traveled to Gotham to get away from her past. After Hawkmoth’s defeat Marinette, being the guardian of the miraculous, decided to take the miraculous elsewhere(and also get away from Lila and her old friends). Where she found herself was in Gotham where she met a tall dark haired boy that she now calls her Husband, his name is Damian Wayne. Now after three years of marriage (even though Damian’s brothers still don’t believe that their younger brother could find love and keep a girl long enough to marry) Marinette and Damian now have another challenge ahead of them.

This is one challenge that they both are new too but won’t be as hard as fighting a villain and one that will bring much joy to them both and the family. 

Marinette is four months pregnant and the only person who knows that are the Kawmis and Damian the challenge they have is that they have still yet to tell either of their families and still live in the Wayne manor which was quite a feat to keep the news from Alfred and Bruce for as long as they have. Damian and Marinette found out in the first month of her being pregnant and have kept it a secret for three months ,and now they have to tell their families before they find out for themselves and have to deal with another mess. The reason they have kept it a secret is because they wanted a chance to prepare for the smothering of the family once they found out about the soon to be new addition to the family.

Which brings us to now where they have gathered the family in the dining room full of shenanigans and two expecting parents wondering if they should keep their secret or not.  

XXXXX

“Hey little D why does pixie pop look like she is about to run away , did you finally scare her off.”Jason teased 

“No Todd, if anything would deter my Angel it would be you being rambunctious ” Damian glared at Jason.

Tim decided to pop up in the conversation a little intrigued by Damian’s response “Why would us being rambunctious be the cause when she has never been bothered by it before unless you are hiding something from us?”

“Yeah baby bird , ‘Nette has been avoiding seeing anyone besides Sabine, Alfred , or Bruce for about three months now!” Dick exclaimed   

Marinette decided now was a good time to speak up and give a glare to her three brother-in-laws  “ I have not been avoiding anyone Dick , I was simply protecting myself from being in a crushing hug or someone crashing into me”

From that the room went silent as everyones’ worries began to grow as this was an unusual statement from the girl.

Everyone was worried about their favorite little designer and demon tamer wondering if she was  injured somehow or if something bad happened.

Sabine was the first to speak �� are you okay honey why are you avoiding crushing hugs?”

Her mother was properly worried because she knew her daughter was never one to shy away from hugging a family member.

“Well mamma the reason why Dami and I have stayed after the monthly dinner and joined everyone in the living room this time around is because we have big news for everyone.”Mari said 

***Damian’s family and Marinette’s family have a monthly dinner to catch up and whatnot with each other , then they usually gather in the living room after to play games or to try and embarrass one another ,which it was usually the latter so Marinette and Damian did not hang around after dinner often.*****

Jason popped up and said “ You're not finally leaving demon spawn are you?”

Damian was about to retort to Jason when Marinette jumped up and yelled at Jason, surprising and worrying Damian due to how fast she got up ,and the others worried due to her actually yelling at all.  

“No, Jay, I will not be leaving Dami as I am four months pregnant and don’t enjoy you calling the father of my unborn child demon spawn!”  (that nickname always hit a cord with Marinette and she has not corrected it but she is hormonal due to being pregnant and just sort of lashed out at Jason) 

“Angel! You should not get up so fast! You could hurt yourself and our baby!”,Damian scolded 

Mari for her rashness and that did not go unnoticed by the family and put it away to tease him about it later for when he was not around Marinette. Which was wise on their part as they did not want to aggravate the pregnant Mari more.

After they got over the shock of Mari yelling at Jason and Damian scolding her they finally let what was yelled at Jason to sink in!

[felonytaxevasion]

Arc 1 - Bonds

My assorted commentary on the first chapter of Pact for my mutuals who were interested in my thoughts. Testing out formatting this might be mess thank you for your patience.

As always no spoilers please thank you <333

This is technically my second time reading this but I wasn't paying attention the first time so I wanted to start over

1.1

“My children are useless,” she said. She was so dismissive and casual about it.

First of all. Icon. I absolutely love wretched old women and I love having the foresight of knowing practitioners cant lie meaning that this is presumably an objective evaluation of her children's capabilities. I'm also gonna watch out for Blake's mom and Aunt Stephanie though. They aren't included in that statement so maybe we can have an evil magic milf era. Like in Umineko. I love Umineko.

If anything I’d said had an impact, it was that. I could see the faint amusement drop away from her. “Are you accusing me of being a liar, Master Blake?”

aHA BECAUSE PRACTITIONER RULES

It was well after dark when someone stepped outside to talk to me. I closed out of the puzzle game I was playing on my phone. The brightness of the screen made for a dark patch that lingered in my vision as I looked up. Eleven-fifty at night.

This is an interesting writing choice because it's clear that a lot of time has passed but not exactly how much. Which adds mystery to the question of "was Rose planned all along or did Rose Sr. make an impulse choice after talking with Blake.

Also I really wanna know. When Rose met Ivy did her parents bring her in and talk or did they just set the baby on the bed and leave.

“Molly! Don’t be rash!” Aunt Irene admonished her. “I don’t want it,” Molly said, again. She grabbed the footboard of the bed. “No.“ “Molly, don’t be silly.”

Molly is one of the biggest reasons I don't want spoilers. Everything about her is so interesting. She was the first choice but she died very quickly. But not THAT quickly. Was Rose 2 always the plan and Molly was the sacrificial lamb to pave the way or was Molly just genuinely the best choice to become heiress. She survived for four months which is, if Pact is paced similarly to Worm, long enough to survive Leviathan, The Slaughterhouse Nine, Coil, and Echidna or whatever their equivalent in Pact land is. And that is no small feat. Like obviously I'm assuming here but I can't imagine the combined forces of Jacobs Bell were just letting her chill. I have so many questions about her and I want answers to none of them.

The blonde woman opposite him folded her hands in front of her. “That was… noteworthy in scale. Kind of her to point the way, but she was never crude. We’ll need to know what she did before we move on.”

THIS SHIT RIGHT HERE. Noteworthy in scale. Rose is not a small feat. Why are she and Blake positioned as the backup plan. Thinking so hard

“Funny thing, Maggie,” Padraic said, and when he smiled, the expression extended further than it should have. The smile too wide, the eyes too long and narrow. “When something momentous occurs, it can be the equivalent of lighting up the night sky, scattering fog and clouds to the horizons. You can see more clearly… but when you look, they can look back, too.”

Maggie and Padraic are some of my favorite characters based on vibes alone. I just know they're going to die so horribly so early on. At least Maggie.

“Mm,” the man in the throne said. “‘Lo, stranger. Listen, I don’t think you should believe what any of them say about me. If you need help, I can offer it.” “For a price,” the dog added.

Now see Johannes I would love to give you the benefit of the doubt however I know for a fact (a pact fact!) I have not seen any fanart of you making out sloppy style with Blake Thorburn and as such I find it hard to believe you are his ally. The wildbow ecosystem is too yaoi deprived to not jump on that pairing unless you're some type of fucked up.

“Run,” she said. “Get to the house, now.” “Which house? Who-” “Molly’s dead,” she said. “You’re next.”

HAI ROSE

1.2

I actually don't have much commentary on this chapter other than RIP to BlakeRose but I would happily take the deal to become a creepy bird monster. That's the ideal living situation actually.

1.3

The first sheet had only a simple message, penned in a curling script I almost envied. ‘Birth date’. I tried the year I’d been born. It didn’t work. Day, month? One-eight-oh-one.

...

“Molly!” I hollered, loud enough I should have been audible throughout the house. “Anyone!?” No response. Somewhere, in my general confusion and the mess of stuff I didn’t know or understand, I’d hoped that Molly being alive would be one of those things that caught me off guard.

Not to needle at his grieving process but I'm pretty sure the fact that it was His Birthday Not Molly's that opened the door was a pretty clear sign

I shook my head. “No clue. Something to keep in mind. After stipulations, there’s a section on stipend, with a regular allowance, notes on how often the lawyers can be called without incurring a debt. Oh, right here. A mention of the bird-skull monsters.” “What?” I could see Rose move, standing from her seat. “I’m joking,” I said, with zero humor in my voice.

I think Wildbow should do what visual novels franchises do and make a non canon crossover beach themed spinoff episode with all his characters. I want to see Blake and Lisa be cunty together

My friends were artists and artistic types. I had the unfortunate distinction of being a less than stellar artist. But I’d owed them for the help and support they’d given me, and in helping them with their jobs, I’d stumbled onto a bit of work. Setting up their work, installations, as well as all the other grunt jobs. Sure, they could go to a carpenter to get something put together in the way of a display stand, but that carpenter wouldn’t necessarily know what was at play with the art. Along the way, I’d settled into being a go-to handyman and delivery guy in the local art community. I knew the gallery owners, I knew who was who, and if I couldn’t do a job myself, I knew who to call. Not so glamorous or fancy, not exactly stellar pay, but I had stupid little skills that I could use here. In a pinch, I could use my stride or my arm length to help me figure out measurements, thirty three and a half and thirty-two and a half inches, respectively.

So fun fact I was a gallery tech assistant for about three or four years in high school and I would just like the record to state. A. Wildbow you captured the gallery tech mentality exactly. Tired, sassy, and overall filled with peculiar useful skills. 100% accuracy rate.

Also Blake please call your friends sooner rather than later. The blond gallery tech who works for cheap going suddenly missing is going to DEVASTATE that community. Blake you are a protected species under the wildlife conservation act and the human equivalent of catnip for bisexuals with an art history degree you are the foundation of that community and they are going to be CONCERNED

1.4

She looked a little agitated, nervous. “I think we can go this route. Avoid getting into the ugliest stuff, the books on demons and whatever else. If witch hunters and inquisitors can survive this sort of thing, maybe we can too.” “Borrowing power instead of using it?”

I'm trying to figure out if Rose II is in on it. Because like. She should be right? But then she says things like this that make it sound like she really is just as lost as Blake

“In case you haven’t noticed, I’m kind of attached to you, metaphysically. You die, I’m going to be a goner too.” “You think. Either way, I’m the one who got injured,” I said. “I’m the one who has stitches in my hand and a cut on my face.” “At least you’re alive,” she retorted.

They've so immediately become siblings.

Which by the way. If Blake and Rose are fucked up twins of a sort. I have questions about Paige and Peter. Especially seeing as Paige is considered a non starter for Rose Senior

“In this scenario, we’ve got a situation involving a number of countries. If you will, there’s America. I’m rather interested in America for the purpose of this discussion, but that’s just me. Powerful, perhaps overly proud, large, keepers of the peace.” I glanced at his uniform. “Sure.”

Close enough. Welcome Back Victoria Dallon!!

1.5

“It smells like a rose,” a man announced, “It’s as beautiful as a rose. I dare say it’s as fragile as a rose, once you get past the thorns. But is it really our Rose?” I turned. Three twenty-somethings, if I went by appearances, were approaching me from behind. I might have been off. Each had alcohol in brown bags.

I want to be one of them so bad. I want to join the fucked up Fairie gang.

“No,” I said. I grabbed one of the books from the coffee table. “Anger is good.” “Good?” “It keeps us moving. You read the book on implements, I’ll read up on familiars when I’m done Essentials.”

True gallery tech mindset <3

1.6

“Blake!” Rose’s voice, from the living room. “You have to help him!”

This is one of those passages that makes me think Rosie is in on it. You've read more than Blake how has this being an other trap not occurred to you

1.7

Should another practitioner need to bait him again, know that this author used: a pile of festering boar carcasses, six feet high, each carved with his name when well into their state of decay, the decay timed using refrigeration to be roughly parallel; seven jars of burning hair, resupplied keep the flames perpetually alight

Yea who hasn't been here at one point

“To everyone and everything that’s listening,” I said. I heard Rose start speaking behind me, but my words drowned hers out. “To me, and to nobody in particular, I’ve gotta say, I didn’t choose this. I’m doing this for family, to respect them as they were in the past, when my cousins were also my friends, so the others don’t face what Molly did. I’m doing it to respect stuff in the present, because even if I dislike my cousins, I don’t want them to have to face this situation and get killed off. I’m doing this for the family that comes in the future, so my kids and all our descendants don’t have this debt hanging over our heads. Above all, I think I’m doing this for my real family. For the friends I made who gave me support when I needed it most, so I can demonstrate what they taught me. Past, present, future, and… more abstract.”

Guy who can only hate his family this much because of how much he loves them Augh Augh

I could hear Rose behind me, still talking, as if she were very distant. “-than a vestige.”

SUSPICIOUS

“It doesn’t matter,” she said, quiet, “because it’s not blood. I’m not offering anything worth taking, and there aren’t any spirits here to listen and obey, are there?” “There are other options, maybe?” “It doesn’t matter,” she said, again. “I don’t care anymore.”

But then this is the opposite of suspicious because she can't lie but she's saying it didn't work and she wants to give up hhhhhhh Rose you are so slippery to understand

Gathered Pages

I didn't highlight any particular passages but Rose Senior I love youuuuuuuu

[velvetvessel-powerscaler-edition]

Omni-man VS Bardock is now officially out, and with its release I'm gonna give my review of the episode

PLEASE WATCH HERE 8EFORE READING REVIEW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2HyfHPo7Nw

(dropping the vriska thing for the review cause I want this to 8e taken legit)

Man, I really liked this episode. IDK if its the dopamine of my favorite internet show making a comeback or the episode just being really good, so imma just say its both. Omni-man's analysis is pretty good all around, I only have a single season of Invincible to base it on but from what I know of later on in the show and comic it goes over his story well. Not to mention the editing is on point. Bardock's analysis is something I actually know quite well and my god did they deliver. They cover all the facets of Bardock well, keep it enjoyable throughout, use feats other than the shockwave part 87 because this is 97 percent PRE SAIYAN GOD BABYYYYYYYY, and give the Father of Goku a level of respect he hasn't had since the 90s, especially with the ending to his analysis. Its a great character rundown of both characters, the VS stuff they pull is interesting, and overall is just a great analysis segment.

And they don't slow down in quality cause man this fight is fucking awesome. The choreography is great, especially with the Oozaru form and Bardock wrecking Omni-man, only for Nolan to grab him by the tail, swing him around, and rip his fucking tail off to take him out of Oozaru. This is definitely an episode I'm gonna be quoting a lot, especially "My sons would kick his ass." They really nailed the characterization. Also the final part where Bardock goes super saiyan and everything is a dark blue except his shining golden hair looks fucking immaculate. The death is admittedly something I'm kinda iffy on. The concept is cool with Nolan punching Bardock so hard he hits him out of super saiyan and he slowly dies afterward, the exchange after the killing blow is cool showcasing the bits of humanity residing within the 2, I just wish the actual killing blow was a bit stronger. Still overall a pretty good death though, I just wish it felt harder. (EDIT: so the storyboards came out and revealed that the death was supposed to have Bardock's arm fucking explode with the punch and it likely wasn't displayed due to model limitations. Previous statement still applies but i understand better why it wasn't as crazy as it could have been)

Oh yeah also Omni-man wins which no one was betting on. Don't believe me? Here's a pic from the Death Battle Wiki's Discord server on who they were betting on winning

congrats to those 3 people, your streak is alive... just hope you can keep that streak for the next time. What was the next time again?

........huh

Ok if you know me you know this isn't exactly my favorite vs idea ever, 8ut i can't act like it wasn't inevita8le. excited to see what they do with it since i know they're gonna cook with this one, and i don't pay attention to the de8ate for most episodes so i don't have to worry a8out that.

Overall, great episode, glad to see Death Battle is back, and just as great as ever.

[eddysocs]

Caretaker Queen (Queen Charlotte x OC)

Summary: Virginia comes down with a cold, and Charlotte decides to take a hands on approach in her recovery.

Word Count: 713

Warnings: Mentions of illness (mild), but really, it’s mostly fluff

Virginia Chamberlain, the most diligent maid Queen Charlotte had ever had attend her, found herself unexpectedly struck down by a stubborn cold. Despite her best efforts to soldier through, her persistent cough and weary disposition did not go unnoticed by the queen, no matter how desperately she tried to hide her illness from her.

Concerned for her loyal servant and close confidante, Queen Charlotte decided to take matters into her own hands. One afternoon, she summoned Virginia to her private chambers. Despite her ill health, she showed up promptly, after a brief and fruitless attempt to hide the dark circles that were beginning to form under her eyes. "You called for me, Your Majesty?"

Taking in the state of her, Charlotte came over and guided Virginia to a plush chaise lounge, afraid the girl might fall over if she made her stand for much longer. "I cannot have my most attentive maid ailing," Queen Charlotte declared. "You shall stay here until you are well." There was an insistence in her voice that —even on her best day— Virginia wouldn’t dare to question. However, this more nurturing side of Charlotte did come as a bit of a surprise to her.

Once Virginia was laid back to comfortably rest, Charlotte took her time personally preparing a concoction of herbal tea, honey, and a touch of brandy reputed for its curative properties. Virginia sat back up when the tea was delivered, yet even that seemed a feat for the poor girl. As Virginia sipped the warm elixir, Charlotte engaged her in light conversation in an attempt to divert her attention from the discomfort of her illness.

With genuine concern in her eyes, Charlotte offered an amendment to her previous statement. "I was unfair earlier. You are more than a servant. You are a cherished companion. I cannot have you running around the palace unwell on my account."

Virginia offered Charlotte a weak but thankful smile at the sentiment and that was enough to please the queen, at least until Virginia was able to gain her strength back. With a quick check to her temperature with the back of her hand, finding her clammy, but not feverish, Charlotte prepared her bed for Virginia to get a proper rest, unlike she’d probably seen in days.

Queen Charlotte continued her around the clock care as the hours slipped by, even enlisting the services of the royal physician to get a more accurate diagnosis, if only to put both their minds at ease. He had concluded it was a common sickness, and with the right amount of rest and care, she should recover soon.

When not in urgent need of anything, Charlotte read passages from some of her favorite romance novels to Virginia, or when that activity had put her to sleep, Charlotte would doze off on the chaise. The queen's companionship became a source of comfort to Virginia, lifting her spirits despite the unpleasantness of her ailment.

Over the course of the next two days, Virginia gradually regained her strength and vigor, the cloud of illness lifting like a morning mist. She was awake longer, and more engaged in conversation. Charlotte appeared more relieved for her recovery than Virginia herself, and decided a way best to commemorate these past few fraught days together in relative privacy.

As Virginia was deemed well enough to return to her duties, and thus her own quarters in the palace, Charlotte was loathe to part from her, and stopped her at the door before she could go. "Virginia," stopping at the sound of her name, Virginia turned around to face Charlotte. "I wish to give you this." In her hands she held a delicate locket that when opened, contained a miniature portrait of them both. Charlotte on the left, and Virginia on the right.

"It’s beautiful, Your Majesty."

Charlotte softly smiled at the way Virginia's eyes lit up when she looked at her gift. "After these past few days, please, while we’re alone, I ask that you simply refer to me by my name, not my title. I think you’ve more than earned that privilege."

"Charlotte then," Virginia agreed, testing the name on her tongue. "Thank you, Charlotte. I’ll never forget this, and now I get to keep you close to my heart always."

Forever Tag: @arrthurpendragon, @baubeautyandthegeek, @foxesandmagic, @carmens-garden, @bossyladies, @getawaycardotmp3, @misshiraethsworld, @kmc1989, @curious-kittens-ocs, @fanficanatic-tw

Virginia Chamberlain: @dollvi3e

[youraveragetorturedpoet]

Lyrical Analysis: "willow" from evermore

What up, my fellow friends, Swifties and people on the internet! This is my lyrical analysis for “willow” by Taylor Swift from the evermore album. I am not affiliated with or am sponsored by Taylor Swift in any way - these are just my own individual thoughts about the lyrics to one of my favorite songs. 

I hope you all enjoy it! Feel free to share your own thoughts/insights with me at the end of the post. If you like it, please reblog and follow, because there are more of these coming!

So, without further ado, here’s my lyrical analysis of “willow.” 

I’m like the water when your ship rolled in that night

Rough on the surface, but you cut through like a knife

The imagery in this song is vivid and stunning: a ship cutting through water at its arrival during the night. As for what kind of ship and what kind of waters, that’s up to individual interpretation (I personally like to think it’s an old wooden ship cutting through a wine-dark sea against a midnight sky, but that’s just my opinion). 

Taylor/the narrator further elaborates on how she is like the water: “rough on the surface”. This implies that the most common first impression people see of her is someone that is kind of unapproachable, or someone that looks like a grumpy loner when she is really soft and tender. The imagery of someone cutting through her “like a knife” seems to me like this particular person saw through all of her facades instantly. 

Additionally, when a sharp knife cuts through something, it is a clean cut. 

And if this was an open-shut case

I never would’ve known by that look on your face

An “open-shut case” is any kind of case where the evidence/the facts of the case is so strong or obvious that there is no questioning what happened. This could be a nod to Taylor’s love of true crime (as will be shown in her song “no body, no crime” feat. HAIM). However, she follows up this lyric by emphasizing that she never would’ve known by the look on her love’s face. This to me implies that this love interest of hers is someone who acts ignorant of their effect on her.

Lost in your current like a priceless wine

Back to the ship and water imagery! Ships that shipped wine across oceans were highly valuable due to what they were carrying. When a shipwreck happened, the wine would age for years (possibly centuries), which only made the wine better in taste and quality. When such wine is recovered, it is very expensive and my guess is that only the insanely rich can afford it. This adds to the imagery that this type of love is rare and precious. 

“Current” is a play on “currant” (at least I think so), which is a fruit that has been used in some wines instead of grapes. 

The more that you say, the less I know

You know when you are in love with someone/are insanely attracted to someone, and you hang out with them or even talk with them for a while, and you’re so twitterpated/fascinated by this person that common knowledge and sense seem to go out the window, and then you go home and are feeling so in love that you might stop breathing and nothing else matters? That’s this line. This line is vulnerable and honest. The more that the narrator and the love interest interact and talk, the less the narrator is sure of what she wants. 

Wherever you stray, I’ll follow

Devotion. Complete, unyielding devotion. Even if this love interest were to stray from the path in any way, she’d follow him without question. It could also be read as a statement of slight desperation - the feeling of being so in love with someone that one would declare that they would follow them anywhere, just to be with them. 

I’m begging for you to take my hand

Wreck my plans

That’s my man

Taylor has referred to this song as “casting a spell,” and these lines show it. She’s so in love with this person, and isn’t sure if the love interest feels the same way (or if we want to get REALLY spicy it could be interpreted as the love interest not feeling the same and the narrator, in desperation, casts a spell to make the love interest fall in love with her). Regardless, these lines are almost like a chant: “take my hand, wreck my plans, that’s my man.” 

Whereas before the narrator is less and less sure of what she wants, at this point she does know: she wants to be with this person no matter what, even if it changes carefully detailed plans that had already been set in motion. The last line could be portrayed as possessive: “that’s MY man”, or with adoration: “that’s my man!” or in any other light. 

Life was a willow, and it bent right to your wind

THIS. LINE. HAS HAD ME. IN A CHOKEHOLD. FOR YEARS. 

A willow tree is also known as a “weeping willow,” because its beautiful branches droop like tears (I’m sure there’s more to it than that, though). If life for the narrator was “a willow,” then her life may have been pretty sad or depressing before she met this person. A tree bending to the wind is nature, you can’t really stop it. Therefore, meeting this person was inevitable. Not only that, but the willow bending to the wind is the narrator and the love interest’s chemistry - it’s like he’s a magnet, pulling her towards him.

Random side fact - I just found out that the species name for Weeping Willow is salix babylonica. “Now you hang from my lips like the gardens of Babylon…” Coincidence? Possibly, but I think not.

Head on the pillow, I could feel you sneaking in

It’s common at nighttime to daydream (or would it be called nightdream?) to help oneself fall asleep. The narrator could either be thinking about him before she falls asleep, or she could already be asleep and he invades her dreams. “Sneaking in” implies secrecy, a promise to see each other, or some kind of mischief. But this line could also suggest that the narrator is trying hard to not think about him, hence the “sneaking in” done by him. 

As if you were a miracle thing,

Like you were a trophy or a champion ring

Trophies are pretty common among sports, but a champion ring? Those are reserved for the best of the best in baseball, basketball, football and hockey. You don’t see someone wearing one of those everyday. Like how the narrator is a priceless wine to the love interest, the trophy/champion ring is the love interest to the narrator. He’s valuable, rare, and earned by hard work. 

However, if you REALLY want to spice things up, this could be taken in a negative light: the love interest could be a “trophy” to the narrator in the sense of she likes to show the love interest off for her own gain. 

There was one prize I’d cheat to win

Cheating in sports is forbidden, but that definitely doesn’t stop it from happening. Unfortunately, it’s the same in relationships – cheating is not okay, but it doesn’t stop people from doing it. This shows the lengths the narrator would go to for this love interest, even as far as cheating (I’m taking it as a metaphorical cheating, not literal cheating, but y’all can think whatever you want).

You know that my train can take you home

Anywhere else is hollow

We kind of get a flashback to “cardigan” here, with James “stepping on the last train,” which is a nice throwback to the folklore album. This to me feels like a gentle kind of coaxing - “hey, I can take you home, everywhere else sucks.” Taylor has mentioned in many of her songs before that a significant other is “home”. By saying she is taking him “home,” she is implying that she is the one for him. 

Then it’s a repeat to the chant: “I’m begging for you to take my hand, wreck my plans, that’s my man.”

Life was a willow, and it bent right to your wind

They count me out time and time again

Life was a willow, and it bent right to your wind

But I come back stronger than a 90’s trend

Since we’ve established the meaning of the first line, let’s focus on lines two and four. “They” could refer to any group of people who have made the narrator/Taylor feel ostracized. It could be the media, the press, people that she once trusted, etc. By following this with the repeat of the willow line, it’s almost like the narrator is saying something like, “yeah, that happened, but it led me to YOU.” Finishing it off with the self-empowering line of coming back stronger, and the message of the willow line becomes even more meaningful: because she met the love interest, she can rise above the situations that broke her. 

Wait for the signal, and I’ll meet you after dark.

Show me the places where the others gave you scars. 

The first line implies secrecy, or perhaps….an “illicit affair?” For whatever reason, the narrator doesn’t want other people to see this relationship. My guess is that the relationship is secret because so many other relationships have fallen by the wayside due to publicity and the media. She wants to keep this one secret, because it’s the most valuable one she’s had. 

The second line is about vulnerability and trust. Showing someone scars - literally or metaphorically - means that there is not only trust, but a willingness to be open and vulnerable. She’s asking the love interest to show her his scars as a way of building their relationship (whether the love interest did or not is up to speculation). 

Now, this is an open-shut case

I guess I should’ve known from the look on your face

Every bait-and-switch was a work of art.

“This” = the relationship. It’s become so obvious to her, there’s no way she can deny that she wants this person. 

A bait-and-switch is an action of advertising goods which are an apparent bargain, with the intention of substituting inferior or more expensive goods (thank you, dictionary.com for helping me with this one). Interestingly, when Taylor did an interview with Rolling Stone in 2019 about her “downfall” and when she met Joe Alwyn, she used this phrase. She described reputation as a bait-and-switch: rep is a love album, while at first glance it looks like a “revenge” album, or a very “dark” album. (And yeah, it’s true that rep has some very angsty songs, but almost all of the songs on the album are about being in love). 

Then the choruses are sung again, twice. Now more than ever does it give the imagery of casting a spell, and a plea of desperation.

IN SUMMATION

To me, "willow" is a song about a girl - a lonely, sad, numb girl, who's life has recently had a series of misfortunes. She's obviously grieving in some way, or in a state of melancholia. She's a girl who feels rejected by others, perhaps because others see her as something she is not. She's just moving through life on auto-pilot. Then.....she meets someone. Someone who sends a spark of life back into her. And then she slowly starts to come back to life. Just like the line in State of Grace - "I never saw you coming, and I'll never be the same." This girl has found someone, perhaps The One, and she is pleading for it to stay. Perhaps she is so desperate in her wish that it casts a spell.

"willow" is a song of desperation, of love, of sadness, of deep deep loneliness. It's also a love song, beautifully written with the metaphors and haunting melody that only Taylor can give.

[spaceytingz]

Hi slut.

Shuffle your #1 favorite P!NK, Paramore, Ke$/sha, Carly Rae Jepsen, Ava Max, Charli XCX, Marina, LDR, and Lady Gaga songs and pit them against eachother 😁

Who reigns as #1?

how the tables turn

here are the unlucky contestants!

Round 1: Backseat (feat Carly Rae Jepsen) vs Thinking Of You

ohhhh Backseat is an excellent song, but Thinking Of You is a masterclass in brash pettiness and bravado, I simply can't not scream it when it plays.

Round 2: Thinking Of You vs Belladonna

Belladonna is a gorgeous dark and sultry song but the unsaid truth is that it's outclassed by more or less every song here, and I've got about 15 Kesha songs that beat it easily

Round 3: Thinking Of You vs (One Of Those) Crazy Girls

Bitch.

my post crashed just as I was about to post it and I originally picked (One Of Those) Crazy Girls, but now that I'm thinking of it..... Thinking Of You.

Round 4: Thinking Of You vs Blue

ouuuu Blue is a gorgeous song which I adore but deep down I am a trashy bitch so....

Round 5: Thinking Of You vs Your Type

why are you doing this to me.

Thinking Of You kinda acts as a....mission statement for early Ke$ha, but Your Type has the most cutting set of lyrics I've ever heard so..... a tie but I'm picking Your Type.

I bet she acts so perfectly

You probably eat up every word she says.....

and if you ever think of me

I bet I'm just a flicker in your head......

Thinking Of You kinda acts as a....mission statement for early Ke$ha, but Your Type has the most cutting set of lyrics I've ever heard so..... a tie but I'm picking Your Type.

Round 6: Your Type vs Paparazzi

Your Type is my most streamed song of all time but there's just something about the whole concept of Paparazzi, fame killing its darlings and the whole intensity of it all. Your Type is more subdued but, as I said, I'm a rock chick, I like to break shit and go crazy. Paparazzi, barely.

Round 7: Paparazzi vs Say Yes To Heaven

This is more of a choice between melancholia and mania, just like the previous match-up, and while Say Yes To Heaven is the most angelic song I've ever heard........I'm your biggest FAN I'LL FOLLOW YOU UNTIL YOU LOVE ME

Round 8: Paparazzi vs Please Don't Leave Me

you're my perfect little punching bag.

and i need you.

i'm sorry.

the one song that can outdo Paparazzi in terms of mania and desperation, and it adds destructive toxicity on top of it? Yeah, Please Don't Leave Me is my favorite song of all time, forever.

and since i changed my mind a thousand times while writing this and my post got deleted in the middle of it and i had to redo it, this is a ranked list if i had to rank them the usual way

[jotatetsuken]

...That Wears the Crown ( A Royalty AU Collab)

"Heavy is the head that wears the Crown." A popular statement that rings true in every area of authority, and when you're a royal, it's not an easy task to lead an entire country. As for my 150 followers and 3 and a half monthversary celebration, I'm hosting my very first collab based on one of my favorite AUs in recent times: royalty.

This is a multifandom royalty AU Collab, so whether you want to write for Prince Tetsuro Kuroo or the royal Joestar bloodline, all the fandoms are welcome. I'm accepting mainly from Haikyuu, Jojo's Bizarre Adventure, Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, Tokyo Revengers, My Hero Academia, Black Clover & Marvel/DC Comics, however, even if you send me a request for entry with Black Clover, Hunter x Hunter, Naruto, Bleach, Criminal Minds, Doctor Who, OR EVEN Bridgerton, I would gladly accept.

Status: Accepting writers RN!!

Rules:

I know this blog is SFW, but since there will be NSFW or Dark Content entries, this collab is thus open for writers/artists aged 18 and above. I suggest minors please DNI with this collab, I will organize an SFW collab in the future.

It's preferable if you're following me for this collab, if not, it's fine too, just send me an ask :)

No anon entries for this one.

Please send me your application requests for the collab through asks and not private DMs. I will also allow changes if necessary.

Please specify if it's going to be an artwork or a write-up.

For simplicity purposes, a character can be chosen twice at the max to involve some variety in the masterlist. :D so please keep some backups just in case.

Exceptions: Jotaro Kujo, Atsumu Miya, and Erwin Smith (since I’m writing on them, I’m leaving two more spots open for them)

Multiple entries are possible, provided you don't exert a lot of pressure on yourself.

If you're writing an NSFW or DC entry, please make sure that your age is visible on your blog and that the entries are marked as 18+

Oh and most importantly, there is no due date for the collab. This is especially for those who’ve given their entries in multiple collabs. However, if you want a structural deadline, it will be Jan 10, 2023, Feb 18,2023 ( the day I chose for Jotaro’s birthday ‘cause he’s Aquarius)

When your entry is accepted, please rb this post as much as you can.

When you're done, please tag me at @/jotatetsuken and use the following hashtag: #👑.thatwearsthecrowncollab for a guaranteed reblog :D and please don’t forget to attach a link to the masterlist.

If you’re the first to write for any fandom that’s not listed, I’ll add that accordingly.

Oh, and SFW works will be reblogged from @/tetsukentona and NSFW works will be reblogged on @musings-and-moans

Oh and this doesn’t have to be only for reader inserts. OC x Canon Ships and Selfships are allowed too. 💖

NSFW/DC will be marked by 🔞

Haikyuu

Kenma Kozume (artwork) - @mrskenmakozume

Rintarou Suna (storyteller/bard Suna x royal!reader writeup) - @saltyvanilla 🔞

Rintarou Suna (stepbrother Suna Rintarou and stepsister reader writeup) - @wakasa-wifey 🔞

Kenma Kozume and Tetsuro Kuroo (Prince Kenma x Princess reader x Bodyguard Kuroo write up ) - @beware-of-the-rogue 🔞

Wakatoshi Ushijima - @wakatshi 🔞

Shugo Meian - @haikyutiehoe 🔞

Hajime Iwaizumi (Knight Commander Iwaizumi) - @mxonigirimiya

Tooru Oikawa (arranged marriage/enemies to lovers) - @oikawas-milk-bread

Meant to Be (Series) — Atsumu Miya (bridgerton! au) (feat. Osamu Miya) - @/jotatetsuken

Attack on Titan

Reiner Braun (bodyguard! Reiner x Royalty!Reader) - @cirigiri 🔞

Erwin Smith (personal-guard!erwin falling in love with his charge, princess!Reader) - @/jotatetsuken

body guard!Armin x princess!reader one sided enemies-to friends-to lovers - @honeylmnade 🔞

In Another World — Reiner Braun (vigilante!reiner x princess!reader) - @mattsunkawa

My Hero Academia

Katsuki Bakugo - @/haikyutiehoe 🔞

Eijiro Kirishima - @lou-struck

Jujutsu Kaisen

Satoru Gojo - @aizumie

Suguru Geto (Tribal Leader Geto) - @/mxonigirimiya

Ryomen Sukuna x Reader - @tetsoorou 🔞

Ryomen Sukuna x Reader - @ry0m3n 🔞

Okkotsu Yuuta & Inumaki Toge x Reader - @/ry0m3n 🔞

A Prince Dressed in Blood — Naoya Zenin - @mekiza 🔞

Toji Fushiguro - @/mekiza 🔞

Tokyo Revengers

Manjiro "Mikey" Sano & Izana Kurokawa (prince! manjiro and prince!izana writeup) - @21-06-1996 🔞

Ryuguji "Draken" Ken (crown apparent reader x step bro draken) - @/beware-of-the-rogue 🔞

Haruchiyo Sanzu (princess reader with knight sanzu) - @kshira 🔞

Prince!Izana + Royal advisor!Kakucho x Princess!Reader (Arranged marriage and enemies to lovers.) - @usagiiboo 🔞

Prince! Ran Haitani x Princess!reader x Guard!Haruchiyo Sanzu - @bxnten 🔞

Prince!Ran Haitani x Chambermaid!Reader - @shinigamiplayroom 🔞

Lord!Kakucho Hitto x princess reader - @pulchritxde 🔞

crowned prince! Takashi Mitsuya x maid fem!reader - @portfolio-of-dreams 🔞

Black Clover

Julius Novachrono (dom!bodyguard!reader x king!Julius) - @simpingforthisonedeer 🔞

Nozel Silva x f!Reader - @arcanestage

Yuno x f!Reader - @/arcanestage

JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure

Prince!Jotaro Kujo x Princess Consort!Anika Sen — @/jotatetsuken (suggestive part 1, 🔞 part 2)

Prince!Jotaro Kujo x Knight!(AFAB Reader) - @/jotatetsuken (suggestive)

Prince!Giorno Giovanna — @mrsgiovanna

Duke!Prosciuttto x Commoner!Reader — @jellyluchi 🔞

Marvel/DC

Jervis Tetch x Reader - @fuckedupandevilblorbos

Locked Characters 'cause they've been requested twice:

Rintarou Suna, Kenma Kozume, Izana Kurokawa, Haruchiyo Sanzu, Ryomen Sukuna, Ran Haitani, Kakucho Hitto, Reiner Braun

tagging my friends here so that they can see and hopefully enroll in this :D

@sanoinc @quirrrky @festive @ceo-of-daichi @chronic-claire-universe @megumischubbycheeks @animated-moon @ffsg0jo @hyeque @lunaevangeline @lunarmins @rueren @suckerforsugawara @p-antomime @maitaro @beelenciaga @atsumeii

[quirkless-accident]

Danny meets ms.Joke :)

Danny was practically vibrating in his seat, and nobody knew why.

His friends looked at him, some curiously, some worried. Iida was telling him to calm down or he might get hurt, which-okay, that was fair. The last time Danny had gotten this excited he had pulled something. But he just couldn't contain himself. How could he not be excited about meeting his second favorite hero?

Right behind Thirteen-but just barely-was Ms. Joke. She was hilarious, and he used his quips against villains as an homage to her. Always taking down villains with a confident smile and a joke at the end was exactly the kind of hero he wanted to be. Maybe not quite to the scale Ms. Joke performed on since that was her gimmick. But still, everybody takes inspiration from somewhere, right?

He knew her visit was supposed to be a secret, which was why he hadn't told anybody else. From his excitement, he knew their too-observant-for-his-own-good teacher already knew, as he was trying to suffocate himself with his sleeping bag. He had accidentally overheard him planning it with Nezu in the middle of the night when he had gone down to get some food.

Supernatural hearing definitely did have its perks sometimes.

And right on time, as soon as the bell rang, there was a loud bang as the door swung open.

"Aizawa! Marry me!"

Most of the class gaped like fish out of water at the ludicrous statement Ms. Joke just made. There was a muffled grunt from the sleeping bag, and Ms. Joke threw her head back and laughed. Danny couldn't help the grin that spread across his face.

This is going to be fun.

---------

Out in Ground Beta, the jokes didn't stop. Midoriya was near the back giving a brief analysis of her quirk, but Danny was more than familiar with her. There was one time back in elementary school where she had saved him, Sam, and Tucker from a robbery gone wrong.

"Do you remember me?" He asked her. As Phantom, probably not. But she had seen him as Fenton. Maybe a robbery wasn't noteworthy enough to remember, though. If there was a gun to his head, he wouldn't be able to tell the difference between one fight against the Box Ghost and another, so he understood.

She eyes him with a large grin, feeding off of his excitement. "You're Phantom, right? You looked really different back in class! Sorry, though, I don't remember!" She frowned only for a moment, before slinging an arm around his shoulders. It was quite a feat considering he was a lot taller than she was. He had to lean down for it to work. "Remind me!"

"You saved me and my friends from a robbery like, almost a decade ago," he said. "My friend with the glasses threw up because he got so excited."

Joke gasped as she pulled away, stars in her eyes. "Shoe Vomit!" She exclaimed. Danny threw his head back and laughed at the nickname for Tucker. He was definitely going to hang that over his head. "Is he in the hero course too?"

"Nah, he's in the support course. But you're still one of his favorites! Mine too!"

"Awe, so I don't get the number one spot?" Joke fake pouted. "Who's number one? Eraserhead? He is very dark and mysterious-definitely your type, I think."

Danny couldn't help the rising blush. While she was right about his type, Eraserhead definitely was not it. he much more preferred people like Sam. His reaction, though, was apparently what she wanted. She was cackling, holding her gut as if in pain from laughing too hard.

"Actually, it's Thirteen," he said. Ms. Joke smiled at him and nodded.

"They're really cool! Are you a big space fan?"

On the walk to Ground Beta, the rest of Class 1-A got to witness Danny act more and more like Midoriya the more he talked about space. his excitement and giddiness was kind of infectious. Uraraka was quick to join the conversation about how cool Thirteen and space were. Danny's ramblings about space were sure to be good competition for Midoriya's mumblings about quirks.

And if Aizawa was nowhere to be found when they got back to class, well, that was nobody's business but his. He had enough to deal with when it was only Ms. Joke. He didn't need a traitor student on top of it.

Though he would be assigning a paper on why it's important for a hero to be quiet.

[lovely-ateez]

Vampire Shift~

ꕥPosted: 5/23/21

ꕥGenre: Fluff, Smut, Angst, College!au, Horror!au

ꕥPairing: Fem!Reader x Vampire!Jongho (feat Wooyoung and Minho from skz)

ꕥWord Count: ~5.9k (whoops)

ꕥWarnings: Horror themes, Language, Thigh riding, Unprotected sex, Mentions of blood and blood sucking (please lmk if I missed anything)

ꕥTag List: @cappujinho @bobateastay

ꕥA/N: I hope you all don’t a more spooky concept! Halloween is my favorite holiday and even though its May, it’s always spooky season to me lolol. Also! Feel free to listen to Vampire Shift by All Time Low while reading this (it’s only on YouTube I cry) since this is inspired by the song :)

It was a terrible idea, really, to work the night shift at a gas station alone. Even more so when you’re a young woman whose only defense is the pepper spray on her key chain and 911 on speed dial. Alas, college bills don’t pay themselves and every spare opportunity to get cash was one I had to take.

The digital clock sitting on the counter next to me briefly flashed, indicating another hour had gone by. It was currently four a.m. and it was safe to say I was losing my mind. I’d worked for five hours now, and not a customer had come in. That was the only advantage, really. So long as no one was around my boss let me finish any assignments I had, which came in handy on more than one occasion.

I was only six paragraphs into a five page report and had been staring at my laptop screen for over an hour, feeling beyond brain dead. I was assigned the topic of financial statements and country trade deficits, and wanted to cry every minute I thought about it. I was half convinced to pay someone to write the report for me.

The ringing of a bell indicated a customer opening the door and I closed my laptop to peer around the counter, ready to greet whoever entered. The first man to catch my attention was wearing sunglasses which fazed me, but I tried not to stare. The man that followed had black hair with blond underneath, a combination that I strangely liked. Both men were donned in all back, their faces stoic. They were attractive, I had to admit, but neither were my type.

And then, the last man entered. He looked over to me as he walked through the door, giving me a nod and a slight smile. His slicked back black hair matched his black ripped jeans and highlighted his red leather jacket. He was so handsome he looked like he jumped out of a magazine and I had to suppress a ‘wow’. A string of butterflies fluttered in my stomach and I did my best to ignore them, not even knowing his name.

The three of them wandered through the aisles until I could no longer see them, and I scolded myself for being so thrown off that I forgot say any form of a greeting. I sighed and turned my attention back to my laptop, opening it and blankly staring at the screen. My ears perked when I heard the men’s hushed voices.

“Y’oughta get that girl’s number. I saw the way you looked at her.”

“Yeah, Jongho. She’s pretty cute. If you don’t get her number you know I will.”

“Shut up.” One of the men, Jongho apparently, responded with a laugh, “Let’s just get some snacks, okay? It’s gonna be a long night. Also I’m buying tonight so get whatever.”

A smile crept on my face and I looked down, fiddling with my thumbs.

They think I’m cute. Maybe Jongho’s the one in red?

I heard the bell ring once more and a girl entered who I vaguely remembered from high school. She was popular but for good reason, probably being one of the nicest people I’d ever met. Our circle of friends overlapped slightly so I’d spent a fair amount of time with her. She was smart as a whip and gorgeous all the same, which seemed to stay with her. She looked bright, long red hair falling around her face, freckles still prominent as ever.

We met eyes and she smiled, “Hey y/n!”

I smiled and waved, “Hey Annabelle. How’ve you been? I haven’t seen you in awhile.”

“Good! I got into my dream college and it’s been great, although I’ve had to take some pretty hard classes.” She giggled, walking towards me. It’s honestly not too far from here. You go to Westgate University, right?”

I nodded and I put my laptop aside. She spoke again, genuinely excited for me, “That’s awesome! Congrats!”

“Thanks,” I smiled, “I’m taking it you got into Orholt?”

“I did! I was really-”

One of the men that entered earlier—the one still wearing sunglasses—shouted the redhead’s name and caught her attention, “Hey Anna do you want a Redbull or a Five Hour Energy?”

“Redbull! I’m not a monster.” She laughed.

The man nodded and walked toward us with several drinks and snacks in his hands.

“Oh! I want to introduce you to my boyfriend!” Annabelle turned to the man still wearing sunglasses and reached for his arm, “This is Minho. I met him at Orholt.”

Minho gave me a slight nod as I introduced myself and he placed the food and drinks on the counter. I began to scan the items, the mindless routine that I was used to by now. The loud sound of laughter made me look up, seeing the two other men approach us and place their snacks down as well. I watched them long enough to notice the way two-tone—my new affectionate name for the man with blond and black hair, I decided—shamelessly checked me out, a cocky smile on his face when I caught him. I just let out a small laugh before resuming my task, watching his confused reaction in my peripheral vision.

“Oh my god I totally forgot to introduce you to my friends.” Annabelle giggled and pointed to two-tone, “This is Wooyoung.”

“Hiya, Wooyoung.” I said with a confident smile, enjoying the way he still had a slightly confused look on his face.

“And this,” Annabelle nodded towards the man in red, “This is Jongho. Both him and Wooyoung go to Orholt, too.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Jongho. I’m y/n.”

“Very nice to meet you.” The man smiled before he sent me a wink.

I had never been a particularly shy person, but as he did so my eyes darted down as I felt my face flush. I didn’t notice the gears turning in Annabelle’s head as she put the pieces together.

I placed the final items in the bag, raising my head as Annabelle addressed me,  “You know I’m having a bonfire tomorrow night at my place and you should totally come!”

I stopped to think, first trying to remember if I worked the next day, then wondering if I was willing to go the bonfire when I realized I didn’t have to.

She sensed my hesitancy and her face fell, “Aw do you work tomorrow night? It’s a Saturday!”

“Oh no, I don’t. I...” I stopped to think for a minute. Although I likely didn’t know anyone else who would be there, I was familiar with Annabelle’s house, which brought me a bit of comfort, “Are all of you going?”

Annabelle gave a knowing smile, “Yes. All of us will be here.”

I nodded, accepting the credit card Jongho gave me, quickly after handing them the bags, and returning his card, “I’ll go.”

“Yay! We’ve gotta head out but I’ll send you the details. You’ve still got the same number, right?”

“Yeah I do.”

“Alrighty! I’ll see you tomorrow then!”

Annabelle left with a wave, her boyfriend on her arm and Wooyoung behind her. To my surprise, Jongho didn’t leave with them, the cocky look on his face all but telling me why he stayed.

I looked at him with wide eyes, playing innocent. “Can I help you?”

He placed an arm on the counter, his dark eyes seeming to put me under a spell. The confidence he was radiating was almost palpable and I felt myself being pulled to him. It was intimidating, to be honest.

“You’re really cute and I want your number.”

I let out a surprised laugh, “You really don’t beat around the bush, do you?”

“No, not really,” He propped his other arm on the counter, leaning towards me and raising an eyebrow, “So what do you say, doll?”

A smile crept on my face as I mirrored his actions and leaned towards him, “You gonna memorize my number? Or do you have a phone I can put my number into?”

Jongho’s smile got brighter as he reached to grab his phone, handing it to me. “You’re a firecracker, aren’t you?”

I shrugged, “I’d like to think so.”

When I handed his phone back, our fingers brushed and I could’ve sworn I felt sparks shoot through me at the simple interaction.

“Well I need to head out before the rest of them get too annoyed,” He nodded towards the exit where Annabelle, Minho, and Wooyoung left, “But it was enchanting to meet you, y/n.” He bowed, drawing a laugh from me.

“Ah yes. You as well, absolutely delightful.”

He gave me a smile, “I’ll text you later.”

"Sounds good. I’ll hold you to your word.”

“I’d expect nothing less.” And with that, he was out the door, leaving my heart a fluttering mess.

-

Me [8:37pm] So is there a dress code for tonight?

Annabelle [8:42pm] Nope! Wear whatever you’re comfortable with. I’m wearing this if it helps at all!

Annabelle [8:43pm] 1 Image Attached*

Me [8:45pm] So leather jackets and crop tops?

Annabelle [8:48pm] Haha sure! We can match!

Me [8:51pm] Lol bet. See you at eleven :)

Annabelle [8:51pm] See you then!

I started the process of slipping on a white cropped top followed by my light washed ripped jeans. I knew I was getting ready far earlier than I could have, but something about new events made me anxious and I had to make sure I looked nice. I giggled at the black leather jacket I was throwing over my shoulders, not having worn it since high school. In the middle of debating whether or not I should add another layer of mascara to my lashes, my phone dinged.

New Number [8:59pm] Y/n this better be you. This is Jongho and I’m texting you for a really important reason and I need you to reply quick

Me [9:00pm] Yeah it’s me. What’s going on are you okay??

New Number [9:02pm] I’m gonna go grab some food before I head to Anna’s. You wanna come with?

Me [9:02pm] Oh my god don’t do that to me, you buffoon. You scared me so bad rip

[New Number name changed to A Cute Buffoon]

Me [9:03pm] But sure I’m down lol. Here’s my address btw

Me [9:03pm] 1 Location Shared*

It occurred to me perhaps a bit too late that I was sharing my address with someone that I’d met only once and in a gas station.

I mean, he’s friends with Annabelle so he’s gotta be good right? God I hope so. I thought to myself.

A Cute Buffoon [9:04] Then it’s a date :) I live pretty close so I’ll be over in 10. That work for you?

Me [9:06pm] Fine with me!

A Cute Buffoon [9:06pm] Sounds good. I’ll see you soon ;)

I set down my phone and thanked myself for already doing my makeup. I checked myself out in the mirror, satisfied with my appearance and proud of how well my makeup turned out. I grabbed my bottle of perfume and spritzed the liquid in the air, letting it gradually fall on me so it wouldn’t be too overpowering.

You look beautiful, babe.

The waiting game was harder than I thought, not knowing what to do except awkwardly sit around and play an assortment of phone games. When exactly ten minutes had passed I heard my doorbell ring and I lifted myself from my couch, grinning at his punctuality.

I opened the door to see Jongho holding a bouquet of flowers, a smug look on his face. “Lovely to meet you here, stranger.”

I wanted to make a joke back but I couldn’t seem to think of anything, too surprised by the flowers in his hands. It wasn’t anything extravagant, the small bouquet of violets, but I felt my heart swell.

It’s perfect. He’s perfect.

My voice was small when I spoke, “No one’s ever given me flowers before.”

His eyebrows furrowed as a confused look painted his face, “Really?”

I nodded, taking the flowers from his outreached hands and smelling their sweet fragrance, “They’re beautiful.”

My eyes flickered to his, the tender look on his face making me feel as if I was melting on the spot, “You’re beautiful.”

I squealed, my face undoubtedly turning pink while my mind short circuited. I’d never become so shy around someone before and the only thing I could think of to say in response was another ‘thank you’ followed by ‘I’ll go get a vase for these.’

I opened my door further, rummaging through my cabinets for a vase when I noticed Jongho was still standing by the door, “You can come in, you know? That’s why I opened the door.”

He laughed nervously, “Sorry about that. Force of habit, I guess.”

I raised my eyebrows in a teasing manner, “What? Are you a vampire? Can you only come in if someone invites you?”

I thought I saw a flicker of shock on his face for a moment, but it was gone before I could register it and I shrugged it off, my eyes finding the perfect vase for the flowers.

“It’s just how I was raised.”

“I get that.” I placed the flowers in the vase, giving them a bit of water before walking up to Jongho and gently patting his cheek, “Your good manners are appreciated.”

He laughed in surprise, full gummy smile on display as he playfully swatted my hand away from his face, “Alright, alright. Let’s head out already.”

I made a sound of agreement before noticing a slight pink on his ears. I was temped to tease him, but ultimately decided to save it for later. If I could fluster him once I knew I could do it again.

-

The diner we went to was one I’d never heard of before, let alone been to, and I was beyond frustrated that I didn’t even know about it’s existence. It was an adorable fifties style diner and even the attire the waiters were wearing fit the theme.

“This is the cutest place to ever exist, I’m convinced.” I said as we sat down on the same side of a bright red booth.

“I really hoped you would like it. This is my favorite restaurant ever and they have fantastic milkshakes. If you’d like to share one for desert, I’m all for it.” A wink.

I bit my lip and hid my face in the menu that was placed in front of us, thankful for any method of escape.

“You’re so cute.”

“Ahh no don’t say things like that.” I giggled from behind the menu.

His hand grabbed the top of the menu, pulling it down so he could see me, “Why’s that?”

“Because you make me nervous. Like a good nervous!” I tried to explain, which only resulted in becoming even more embarrassed, “I-I mean I’m excited to be around you but I’m also nervous. I hope that doesn’t sound weird.” I cringed at myself. Never in my life did I think I’d be blushing and stuttering over some man, but my god did he prove me wrong.

“Not at all,” he reached over to take my hand in his, “because I feel it, too.”

Before I could properly react our waitress came over, taking our order and effectively saving me from becoming a human tomato.

We handed our menus back to her after ordering and she looked at us with a soft smile, “You two make a cute couple.”

While I was a bit too stunned to say anything, Jongho didn’t seem to have the same problem and went along with it, “Thank you, ma’am. That’s kind of you to say.”

When she left, Jongho leaned closer to me, “I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable by saying that we we’re a couple. I thought that-”

“No, I didn’t mind it!” I bit my tongue after likely saying that way too fast with far too much enthusiasm, but I meant it, “I didn’t mind it,” I said again, softer this time.

The tips of his ears once again turned a faint shade of pink, “Good to know.”

The food was as wonderful as it possibly could’ve been, their fries alone being one of the best things I’d ever consumed. Just as Jongho suggested, we shared a milkshake, which led to shy eye contact and laughter and my crush becoming stronger by the minute.

Just as Jongho paid and we were about to leave, a certain song began to play and he looked at me with an air of mischief, holding out his hand to me, “Dance with me.”

I took his hand, trying to hide my smile but failing. He led me away from the table and next to the jukebox. The area surrounding it was more open, probably with the intention for people to dance near it. He grabbed my waist, holding the hand of mine that wasn’t placed on his chest and looking at me in a way that could make any woman fall in love on the spot. We swayed to the music and I couldn’t help but feel full. Like I’d found all that I’d ever need.

Put your head on my shoulder~

“Do you know this song?” He asked with a smile.

I scoffed, “Of course I do! It’s one of my favorites.”

“It’s one of mine, too.”

Hold me in your arms, baby~

I mouthed along to the words as I felt the need to prove it to him. As if to one up me, Jongho began to sing along, his gorgeous voice amazing me.

Squeeze me oh so tight, show me~

That you love me, too~

I blushed as he looked at me while singing along, becoming a bit flustered himself when the lyrics clicked with him.

Put your lips next to mine dear~

Won’t you kiss me once, baby~

As if we were in sync our eyes darted to the other’s lips at the same time. I could feel Jongho’s breathing becoming heavier before he said in a hushed tone, “Can I kiss you?”

“Please.” Was all I could respond before I pressed my lips to his, fireworks igniting inside me when he kissed me back. His lips were so soft and warm and as crazy as it sounded, he felt like home. I felt him smile against my lips as the music continued to play.

Maybe you and I will fall in love~

-

The fire was loud, crackling and lighting up the faces of all those crowded those around it. It was essentially the only source of light in the dark of the night, except for the distant lights still on in Annabelle’s house. My hands were interlocked with Jongho’s as we sat around it’s warmth, both of us finding it hard to separate from one another.

Conversation was flowing all around us, and I was relieved to find that everyone I had talked to was kind and welcoming. I was more nervous than I realized, but having Jongho next to my side alone calmed me. Someone around the fire mentioned an old story involving Annabelle and I began to wonder where she was, having not seen her since Jongho and I first arrived. I mentioned I was going to look for her and he nodded, at first wanting to join me but then getting pulled into conversation with one of his former classmates. I told him I’d head off on my own and he nodded again.

I looked around what seemed to be the entire property and still there was no sight of her. At that moment I heard yelling coming from her house, startling me. I felt my blood run cold when I recognized one of the voices as Annabelle’s. The yelling didn’t sound like it was out of fear, but instead more aggressive, out of pure anger. Without thinking I ran inside, hoping to calm the situation but instead found what seemed to be out of a work of fiction.

An unfamiliar man was on the ground, obviously trying to get away from a hidden figure before him that seemed to be cloaked in darkness. He let out a sound that I’d never heard a human make, one that I couldn’t even compare to something I’d heard before, and a shiver ran down my back. As the figure took a step forward I recognized it as Annabelle, or what seemed to be some version of her. Her normally grey eyes were now bright red, sharp fangs on display as she snarled at the man. A group of people were surrounding them, alarmed looks on their faces but hardly trying to intervene.

“What the hell?” I whispered, my eyes wide as I tried to back away without anyone noticing. But of course, I just had to step on an empty soda can, all eyes pointing my way. As I looked at the people around me, their expressions seemed to mirror mine and I swallowed, suddenly feeling immensely claustrophobic.

I met eyes with Annabelle and she seemed to change in a flash, her eyes returning to their former color and fangs disappearing. She looked more panicked than I had ever seen her which only scared me more. She was always able to keep her stressors under control, but as she stared back at me, I saw a version of her I never had before.

I was barely able to form a sentence, adrenaline coursing through me at a rampant rate, “Um...” 

Annabelle slowly walked towards me, “Oh—hey! Sorry I disappeared for a while but how’s the party going? Are you having fun?” Panic was still evident in her voice but I knew she was trying to keep a hold of the situation.

“I...I don’t-”

A stern voice came from left, and I nervously turned to meet Jongho, an unreadable expression crossing his face, “Y/n.”

“Yeah?” My voice squeaked as I began to regret agreeing to come along in the first place, still hyper aware of all the eyes on me.

“Come with me.”

His eyes softened at my panicked state and he held out a hand, “Please?”

I was hesitant, but being anywhere away from the crowd and whatever Annabelle turned into seemed to be a good idea. I took his hand and watched as he exchanged a look with Annabelle that seemed to calm her. Turning on his heels he led me back to the bonfire, sitting in a chair and motioning for me to do the same. Seeing no one around us gave me a feeling of both anxiety and comfort, and I wasn’t quite sure which feeling was winning at the moment.

“Well I’m sure you have plenty of questions.” He started, “I won’t lie to you and try to convince you what you saw wasn’t real, because it was, but I need you to know that no one is going to harm you. That guy is Anna’s roommate and they get into an argument at least once a week. Sometimes it can be nasty, but they never get physical and neither would ever hurt anyone unprovoked. No one here would.”

I was silent for a few minutes, trying to process what I saw on top of the time bomb of information he dropped on me. “Is she...is everyone....are you a vampire?” I whispered the last words, almost too stunned and afraid to say out loud.

He smiled slightly, his kind eyes making me feel safe. “Yes. We’re what you’d call vampires.”

I took a breath, almost afraid to hear the answer to my question, “Am I in any danger by being here?”

“No, everyone here is good. They don’t pose any threat. There are plenty of dangerous vampires but we stay away from them. Besides,” He placed an arm around my waist, playfulness in his eyes, “If there were, I’d protect you from them.”

“Oh? And how don’t I know you’re not dangerous?”

He leaned closer to me, clearly enjoying this, “You don’t, I suppose. Doesn’t that make it fun?”

“That’s very much debatable,” I smiled for a moment before a frown took over, “Everyone just seemed really...I don’t know, startled I guess?”

Jongho let out a loud sigh, looking down at the ground for a few seconds before looking back up at me, “Humans aren’t normally invited to these parties. It’s assumed that everyone here is a vampire. The perfume that you’re wearing, whatever the hell it is, is masking your scent. If I didn’t meet you before today I wouldn’t have known you were human. I guess Anna didn’t tell everyone, either.” He placed a hand on my knee and looked at me with kind eyes, “How are you feeling?”

“Surprisingly calm considering that I just learned vampires exist.”

Jongho laughed, “Yeah I’d say you’re taking it pretty well. Like I said earlier though, I’m sure you’ve got plenty of questions, so fire away.”

“Yeah I have a few.” I hesitated, hoping he wouldn’t be offended by my question, “Exactly how old are you?”

“Oh are you gonna age shame me?”

“No but it’s probably an important thing to know...since we kissed and all.”

He laughed again and leaned back in his chair, placing his arms behind his head,  “How old do you think I am?”

I used his question as an excuse for my eyes to wander over his body. He was beyond attractive, very clearly fit and he knew it, which equal parts pissed me off and turned me on. As hard as I tried, I kept finding myself being pulled to his thighs. Even through his jeans I could tell he had strong thighs and I had to press my fingernails into my palm to keep from drooling. “From your appearance? Early twenties. From what age fiction usually tells us vampires are? I’d guess you’re a hundred and three.”

Jongho nodded with a smile, “I’m not quite that old but that’s a fair guess. You had it right the first time. I’m a pure born and we actually age, but we don’t age as quickly as humans. I’m twenty.”

“Pure born?”

“It means both of my parents are vampires.”

I nodded as another question came to mind, a smile on my lips. “Do you sparkle in the daylight?”

“Oh my god,” He covered his face with his hands, a mixture of a groan and a laugh escaping his mouth, “No, we do not sparkle in daylight, “His hands came to rest on his knees, “But it sucks that we really shouldn’t be in direct sunlight for over two hours a day. That’s normally the rule to go by. It’ll burn us if we’re in it for much longer than that.”

“So do werewolves and witches and everything like that exist, too?”

“Yeah pretty much. We don’t all get along, but we have to coexist. It’s something we’ve struggled with for a while, unfortunately. Basically everything you’d believe to be supernatural exists.”

I was silent for a while, not really knowing what else to say.

“Y/n? Are you doing okay? If you’re not comfortable being here I can drive you home right now or if you’d rather be alone I can call an Uber or—”

My heart skipped a beat at his kindness. “No, I’m okay. I guess I’m just surprised I’m learning about this just now.”

“We do a good job of hiding it. Also it was probably a given, but keep this as a secret if you can. Having a lot of people know about our existence can be risky.”

I gave him a silent nod, unintentionally leaning closer to him. The sound of approaching footsteps made me jump into Jongho’s arms. I didn’t know why I found comfort in him, knowing that he could be dangerous as well, but he’d been nothing but sweet to me. I had no reason to fear him.

Annabelle approached us but stopped, taking a few steps back when she saw how I was buried in Jongho’s arms.

“Hey y/n.” She rubbed her arm, looking down as if she’d done something wrong.

“I guess Jongho probably told you everything at this point. I’m really sorry if I scared you and I understand if you don’t want to be friends anymore.” Even in the dark I could see tears beginning to stream down her cheeks and I felt a pain in my chest.

I got up from Jongho’s hold and wrapped my arms around her, feeling her stiffen, “I trust you, Annabelle.”

Those four words seemed to relax her and she returned my hug, still sniffling, “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. We aren’t supposed to tell anyone and I thought you might hate me—”

I pulled back, “Why the hell would I hate you? You’re still you.”

She laughed through tears, gripping me tighter, thanking me over and over for not pushing her away.

We’re gonna be okay. It’s all gonna be okay.

-

Not too long after, Jongho drove me home. The ride was more silent than when we were headed to Annabelle’s house, but the air wasn’t heavy or uncomfortable. Feeling tired, I laid my head on Jongho’s shoulder, faintly hearing ‘sleep well, baby’ before drifting asleep.

When I woke, I was in my bed. I reached for my phone on the bedside table and found a little note placed next to it that read:

I hope you don’t mind that I carried you inside. I tried to wake you for like five minutes but you were out cold. Anyways, I had a really good time with you yesterday and I hope you had fun too :) Text me when you wake so I know you’re okay. -J

I looked at my clock and saw that it was still early, but I texted Jongho anyway.

Me [3:00am] Not sure if you’re still up, but I really enjoyed yesterday, too. I’m exhausted so I’m gonna go back to sleep but I just wanted to say I’m okay and everything is good :))

A Cute Buffoon [3:00am] Sleep well, darling. We can talk in the morning

-

It had been roughly a month since Jongho and I started dating, and while I felt like I knew him pretty well, we had only known each other a little over a month, on top of the fact that he was a vampire which was essentially an entire separate culture. I’d asked him most questions I had early throughout our relationship, but one in particular kept replaying in my mind.

We were currently sitting on the couch in my apartment, cuddling each other. The TV was on but neither of us were really watching it. I was far more interested in the warm body in front of me, and based off of how Jongho was looking at me, the feeling was mutual.

I bit my lip, anxiously mulling over the question I’d wanted to ask him for weeks. I didn’t know how he would take it, let alone how I would bring it up, but I needed to ask at some point. Knowing he could probably sense my nerves, I gave in. “Jongho, can a human turn into a vampire?”

He hummed, turning to face me. “Why do you ask?”

“I just...I didn’t know if it could happen or not.”

Jongho chuckled, “Yeah it’s possible. It’s a long ass process to go through though, and there’s a lot that can go wrong, so it rarely happens.”

I shifted in my seat, trying not to appear overly interested. “Why is that? What can go wrong?

He smiled and raised a brow, his cocky persona resurfacing, “You sound so eager to know, dear. Do you want to become a vampire?” His eyes briefly flickered towards my lips before he tilted his head, dragging his soft lips across my neck. I let out a gasp when I felt the tips of his teeth lightly scraping the skin, “Or maybe you’re just looking for an excuse for me to put my mouth on you?”

Like with anything that exuded him, I felt myself becoming quickly overwhelmed, my mind now hazy and distant. I shut my eyes in an attempt to gain some semblance of control over myself.

“Your thoughts are swirling, doll.” Jongho began leaving gentle kisses along the side of my jaw, “Don’t think too much. Just let me take care of you. Okay?”

“Okay.” I said through a short breath, knowing we’d just have to have the conversation another time.

We’d had sex before, so it wasn’t like this was new territory for us, but every time felt like the first, leaving me just as out of breath each time.

He lifted me and placed me on his thigh, dragging me across his flexed muscles. I felt my eyes roll back at the simple motion, my need growing at an embarrassing rate. I grabbed his shoulders as I began to drag myself against him, whines and whimpers spilling from my lips.

“God you’re hot,” Jongho said through hot breaths, beginning to kiss my neck, no doubt leaving marks.

“Thanks I try.” I managed to say, pleased when Jongho laughed.

“You don’t even have to, and it’s completely unfair.” His hands moved under my shirt and danced along my skin, “It’s like you’re an angel come to life.”

I let out a loud moan, feeling tears well in my eyes from his praise, “You always make me feel so beautiful when I’m with you.”

Jongho responded with a smile, carrying me to my bedroom and laying me down on the bed while hurriedly discarding both of our clothes.

“You’re always so eager, babe.”

He nuzzled my neck as he climbed on top of me, his hands finding my own and holding them, “As if you’re not.”

“I never said I wasn’t.”

He then moved in between my thighs, teasing me with his fingers as he ran them along my wet slit, occasionally rubbing my clit, drawing small whines from me.

“Jongho please just fuck me already.”

“Sweetheart, do you even think you’re wet enough for me?” He cooed.

Feeling frustrated, I pushed my fingers inside myself with ease, pulling them out and spreading them so he could see my essence dripping down my fingers, “I don’t know you tell me.” I said with far more sass than I intended.

Jongho’s eyes widened at the sight and wasted no time positioning his cock at my entrance, pushing in and letting out the most beautiful groans.

Neither of us ever bothered to use protection because, to put it simply, vampires couldn’t get humans pregnant. It was only possible when both partners were vampires, and we took full advantage of that.

“Fuck—baby you feel amazing. You’re so warm and tight ohmygod.” Jongho moaned as he began to move, thrusting in and out of me at a steady pace.

I clenched around him, loving when he was vocal. His sounds helped get me off just as much as his actions, at times it seemed.

“You feel...really good...too.” I said through heavy breaths. And as much as I wanted to last longer in bed, with Jongho, I never could.

“I don’t know if it’s because you’re a vampire and you’ve got like magic powers or something or maybe you’re just a sex god—but holy shit...I’m close.”

He threw back his head and had the audacity to laugh, something I really couldn’t stay mad at with how good he was making me feel. “Babe it’s been like six minutes.”

“Don’t be an asshole.” I joked, my laugh turning into a moan. It only spurred Jongho on, making him angle one of my legs up higher, hitting deeper inside of me.

“I know you’re close, baby. I can feel it. Cum for me, baby girl. Let go for me.”

He reached down to tease my sensitive nub, drawing quick circles until I was seeing stars, chanting his name like a prayer.

After Jongho came down from his high, he disappeared into the bathroom as he always did, coming back with a warm towel. As he pressed the towel to my thighs I tried to ask again.

“So...about the human to vampire thing?”

“Well,” Jongho sighed, “I didn’t think I’d be able to distract you forever.” He smiled, “It’s mostly done because couples want to stay together. The thing is though, the vampire obviously gets a taste of the human’s blood and it can be hard to stop once you’ve marked them, especially since smell is such a big allure for us.”

He took a long breath, “Then the human will almost always pass out, and needs to be taken care of for the next couple days because they’ll be so weak. Another problem is that the scent of their blood will be amplified during those days and it’ll be harder for the vampire to not, you know...” He looked away, not able to say the words. I knew what he meant, we both did. In some cases, vampires would kill their human partners for of their blood. Sometimes it was beyond their control. Just a primal need that would betray them. “Then their scent is more easily detected by other vampires and the whole thing is just kinda a mess. I think I’ve only heard of five attempts and only one of them was successful.”

I nodded, not really knowing what to say.

“And then on top of it all, it can be harder for the human to adjust and it can put a lot of pressure on the relationship. Human and vampire relationships are dangerous.”

His face was serious as he ran a hand through my hair. I looked up at him and leaned into his touch.

He cleared his throat and averted his eyes, a shy behavior I hadn’t seen from him before, “I guess it’s important for you to decide then.” His eyes met mine again, “Is this still something you want to continue?”

“Our relationship?”

“Yeah.”

“Of course, are you crazy? You mean the world to me.” I swallowed, realizing he hadn’t voiced his own thoughts, “What about you? Do you want this?”

“I think you have a pretty good idea of what I want.” He smiled and pressed a quick kiss to my forehead, his eyes sparkling.

“Hey Jongho?”

He hummed, looking at me.

“I want to spend forever with you.”

[whitesparrows97]

Heartstring Melodies – Part 9 (final)

Pairing: Min Yoongi x Reader (feat. Jeon Jungkook x Reader)

Genre: Soulmate AU, College AU, fuckboy!Yoongi

Summary: Min Yoongi, the fuckboy of the whole college and the guy all girls fall for, should be your soulmate? You don’t believe that, you don’t want to believe that. Therefore, you and your best friend make a pact: She pretends to be you and gets together with Yoongi. Nothing can go wrong with that, right?

Warnings: Fluff, explicit sexual content including oral (female receiving), fingering, handjobs, first time sex, swearing while having sex

Word Count: 7K

Previous

Chapter nine: «Forever is composed of nows.» – e.d.

The next weeks you were happier than probably ever before in your life. It was almost cheesy to have the thought alone, but it was true for you. Everything went more than great between you and Yoongi. You gave each other the space you both needed and at the same time were happy about every second you spent together. After the problems with Yoongi had been solved, you finally had time and a clear head for your neglected studies again. You and Jin made good progress with the lab tasks and the first round of exams was done as well. You had been a bit cautious at first (and to be honest, you still were) when you got back in touch with Liv. You were glad that she finally realized that your plan didn’t work out. However, you were a bit suspicious if it was a good idea to let her back into your life if she had been so obsessed with Yoongi at one point. That’s why you were currently satisfied with the couple of messages you sent each other every few days. Everything else would be seen in the future. 

The only thing that still caused you some concern was when your thoughts drifted to Jungkook. You felt remorse that would probably never completely go away. But not only towards him, but also towards Yoongi. He tried to hide it from you, but you knew that he was also burdened by Jungkook’s extreme withdrawal from him. And you both knew it was your fault. At least, thanks to Hoseok, Yoongi got regular updates on how the younger one was doing. But that wasn’t the same as sitting across from each other and talking, of course. It was especially difficult when the group of friends had planned an evening together. Most of the time, Yoongi would cancel to make it easier for Jungkook. By doing so, he had distanced himself not only from Jungkook, but from the entire group. To see him like that made you sad and was the small drop of bitterness that dulled your happiness a bit. 

That’s why you were more than surprised when you received a text from Jungkook a good two months later. You were in Yoongi’s apartment, which had become more or less your second home during the last weeks. The two of you were lying on the couch, an episode of your current favorite show was playing on the TV in front of you when your phone suddenly lit up. You groaned as you sat up to grab it from the coffee table. You had to squeeze your eyes slightly as you tried to get your eyes used to your bright display in the dark room and see who was texting you. Then you almost dropped the phone out of your hand in surprise. 

“It’s Jungkook,” you heard yourself say, and Yoongi also straightened up a little next to you. 

“What’s he saying?” 

Your eyes quickly glanced over the few lines of text and with each additional word your eyes widened a little more. “He wants to meet us,” you said after a few seconds when your brain had processed the information. 

“Us?” Yoongi asked and you nodded as you read Jungkook’s message over and over again, fearing that you had interpreted the meaning wrong. But the text was clear. 

“He explicitly says both of us.” You turned your head and looked at Yoongi, who gave you a cautious smile. 

“Maybe everything can really work out between us.”

“Did Hoseok say anything, did he hint at anything?”

Yoongi shook his head. “Not at all, but I’ll ask him again. But he would have told me if there was anything new.”

“Hmm,” you just said, putting your phone aside and letting yourself fall back against Yoongi’s chest. Immediately he wrapped his hands around your waist and, deep in thought, played with the cord of your hoodie. “I’m really curious what he wants to tell us. Especially to both of us.”

“Maybe he just wants to wish us all the best,” Yoongi thought, “We haven’t talked to each other in over two months.”

“That was really unfair of him,” you sighed, “You had nothing to do with my stupid behavior. He can be as angry with me as he wants. But you are one of his best friends.”

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” Yoongi said and gave you a short kiss on the temple. “But I can understand him. Let’s not worry too much about that. Let’s just wait and see what he has to tell us.”

A few days later you were on your way to the café Jungkook had suggested. You were rarely in this part of the city and it was also quite far from Jungkook’s apartment, which surprised you. Your hands were sweating with excitement and Yoongi, who noticed your nervousness, squeezed your hand once. 

“Don’t worry so much, baby,” he said encouragingly and stroked the back of your hand with his thumb to underline his statement. He pushed the door open with his free hand and immediately the soft music and the warmth of the café came out to you. 

“What if he only wants to blame us?” you quietly replied, for fear Jungkook would somehow hear you. Even though you hadn’t seen him yet and didn’t know if he was even there yet. 

“Have you ever seen him angry?” Yoongi joked and also kept an eye out for the younger one. “I don’t think he’s capable of that.” He raised his hand in greeting and you followed his gaze. In the farthest corner of the cafe, Jungkook sat alone at a table for four people. He had looked up from the menu and waved back at you. 

Should you let go of Yoongi’s hand? Was it weird for him to see you and Yoongi together?

You looked at Yoongi and just saw the corners of his mouth twitching upwards before he slowly let his hand slip out of yours. He gave you a quick sideways glance and once again you were amazed at how well he seemed to know you. But that was probably the benefit of having a soulmate…

“Hi, Jungkook,” Yoongi greeted him and let himself fall on a chair opposite him. Quickly you followed him and took the seat next to him. “It’s good to finally see you again.”

Jungkook’s gaze was fixed on you but you were glad that you didn’t see any reluctance in it, as you had feared at first. When he realized that you had noticed his gaze, he quickly looked up at the tabletop and rubbed his neck almost embarrassed. “I know, I’m sorry I just disappeared like that.”

“You don’t have to apologize for anything,” you clarified immediately and Jungkook threw a grateful smile at you. 

“Nevertheless I could have contacted you. Especially you, Yoongi-Hyung.”

“Don’t worry about that, Jungkookie. You needed your time and that’s completely understandable,” Yoongi also reassured him. 

For a moment, it was quiet between you, only the soft atmospheric music filled the café. There was hardly anyone else there except you, and you only heard a soft laugh and muffled voices in the distance. Your fingers twitched and wanted to grab Yoongi’s hand, which practically served as an anchor when you got nervous. But you kept yourself from doing so. As relaxed as Jungkook seemed, you didn’t have to rub it in his face how happy you and Yoongi were. By looking closely at Jungkook’s face, you realized how much he had changed. The insecurity that you had seen so often in his eyes had completely disappeared. His eyes were beaming and a constant little smile was playing around his lips as if he had just thought of a funny situation from the past. He was about to start talking when suddenly the waitress stood behind him.

“Have you decided yet?” She asked with a warm smile. Her eyes remained on you a little too long, but you ignored it and ordered a hot chocolate. Even if it wasn’t quite the right time of year for it, you could always drink one. Especially now that summer was finally over. Yoongi and Jungkook also placed their orders and the waitress went to prepare them. You tried not to let your surprise show when she tenderly stroked her hand over Jungkook’s shoulders. Yoongi, on the other hand, was not quite so reserved. You saw from the corner of your eye how he raised an eyebrow inquiringly. Jungkook gave a nervous laugh when he saw this. 

“Got some explaining to do, huh?” His fingers brushed across the edge of the menu as he searched for the right words. “I met Alisa about four weeks ago when I first came to this café.”

“Four weeks?” Yoongi asked, “then that’s still pretty new.”

Jungkook smiled slightly. “Yes, it is–” The rest of the sentence was interrupted by Alisa, who brought you your drinks. With a little ‘Thank you’ you accepted the cup. After everyone had received their drink, she took a seat next to Jungkook. You couldn’t see it, but it looked like she reached for Jungkook’s hand under the table and you had to hold back a smile. 

“I am glad to finally meet you,” she greeted you with the same warm smile as before. “Jungkook has told me a lot about you two.”

“Oh no,” it bubbled out of you before you could stop it. But Alisa just laughed. 

“Nothing bad, don’t worry, Y/N. Jungkook only spoke highly of you. About both of you,” she emphasized with a look at you and her smile promised that she probably knew your and Jungkook’s background story, but did not condemn you for it. She looked to the side and shared a little smile with Jungkook. You were happy for Jungkook, of course you were. Yet you couldn’t help but wonder about the suddenness with which Jungkook was over you. The two of them were obviously more than happy and, what you realized at once, obviously in love. And yet the two had only known each other for about a month? 

Could it be that…?

You didn’t want to ask, it wasn’t your place to question Jungkook and Alisa. It would be embarrassing if you were wrong. But the more your eyes flitted back and forth between the two of them, the more certain you were. Jungkook focused his attention on you again and it seemed as if the question that was burning on your mind was also written all over your face.

He smiled somewhat shyly and then gave a satisfied sigh. “I know what you are thinking, Y/N,” he said. You remained silent, hoping that he would add something to his statement. “I was really disappointed when I found out about the whole plan and about Yoongi. I don’t think we have to pretend that I wasn’t.” You looked at him with sad eyes, but he was right. To pretend that your actions didn’t hurt him was pointless. “But all that’s behind us now and I don’t hold any grudge against you. On the contrary,” he explained and you saw out of the corner of your eye how Alisa smiled slightly. “I understand how you felt when suddenly everything turned upside down. Because I feel the same way.” He threw a sincere smile at you before he and Alisa looked at each other. That look you saw with your own eyes said it all and a smile spread across your face. 

“Congratulations, both of you,” Yoongi said with a short nod and at the same moment you felt his hand on your thigh. Without hesitation, you grabbed it with your hand and intertwined your fingers. He squeezed them tight once, as if to confirm that everything would be okay from now on. 

“I’m very happy for you, I can’t put it into words how much,” you said, “You know that I only wanted you to be happy, Jungkook.”

“I am,” he said almost dreamily as he and Alisa continued to look at each other. “Very much so.”

When you said goodbye to each other a good two hours and relaxed conversations later, a stone fell from your heart. As distressed and confused as you had entered the café, as liberated you felt when you left it again. Yoongi didn’t say much on the way back, but you knew that he felt the same way. The radio silence between him and Jungkook had caused him more trouble than he showed. He didn’t want to burden you even more with it because you already felt too much guilt anyway. But he, too, seemed to have a slight jump in his walk; the Sword of Damocles, which seemed to hover over you for the last few weeks, had disappeared. You wondered if it would be even more wonderful with Yoongi now.

After all, there was still one thing that you and Yoongi kept pushing back…

It was definitely not your fault, but rather Yoongi’s. If he hadn’t repeatedly reassured you that he wanted to wait with it because of you, you would begin to worry if something was wrong with you. But he wanted to make sure that you were ready and really wanted it. The fact that you had been sure of this weeks ago was not a significant argument for Yoongi. But maybe things had changed now that Jungkook had a soulmate and he had practically wished you both all the best?

At least you hoped so, because as patient as you were, you didn’t want to wait any longer. 

You took a quick sideways glance at Yoongi, who looked intently at the TV screen that was showing an episode of his favorite show. The weather had definitely diminished the last few days and had changed from bright sunshine to rainy and cloudy days. But you could not complain, on the contrary. The worse the weather was, the more time you could spend at home with Yoongi in peace. No distractions, no disturbances from other people… Actually, it was perfect to enjoy a little togetherness. Before you knew it, a soft sigh slipped across your lips. Yoongi kept looking at the TV but asked, “What’s wrong?”

“Oh, nothing,” you lied. You had brought up the subject so many times, hoping Yoongi would understand that you were really ready. All the more reserved you were now, your courage was more or less used up and you didn’t want to be rejected again. Even though Yoongi had made it clear to you that it wouldn’t be rejection on his part. But for you, it felt that way and you had the feeling that your emotions and desires would soon burst out of you.

Yoongi also sighed before he reached for the remote control and stopped the show. Then he turned his head towards you, “What’s really wrong, honey?”

Honey. He had gone over to that pet name a few days ago and as cheesy as you found it with other couples, as warm you felt all around you when he called you that. At least usually. But in the last few weeks there had been so much build-up that you just wanted to direct the attention back to the TV and the show at that moment. 

“It’s really nothing, and now watch your show again,” you said and you noticed yourself how your voice was nothing more than a mixture of whining and complaining. 

Yoongi sighed, but this time it sounded annoyed. He turned completely around to you now and looked at you waiting. But you remained silent and stared at the TV to make him understand what you wanted at that moment. He took your hand and pulled you in his direction. You were able to support yourself with your elbow on the sofa before you landed on it with your face. Annoyed, you looked up at him. “What?”

He had to grin because of your annoyed expression. “Is it possible you’re acting upset because you’re a little frustrated?”

“Frustrated?” you asked, almost outraged. “What the hell does that mean?”

Yoongi pulled you a little closer to him so that he could wrap his other arm around your body and pull you onto his lap. Your eyes widened slightly as his face was suddenly only a few inches away from yours. You felt his hot breath on your face and your eyes fluttered shut for a brief moment before you took a deep breath. 

“I think we both know exactly what I mean,” Yoongi whispered, and every syllable of his spoken words gently brushed against your lips, which had already opened slightly in anticipation.

“And what exactly is that?” you whispered back just as softly and you heard Yoongi laugh gently before he pressed his lips passionately on yours. You buried your hands in his hair and pulled him even closer to you, causing him to moan. The sound went straight to your crotch and your walls contracted around nothing. Was this finally the right time? Or did Yoongi tease you again, only to put you off until later? 

A bit hesitant you returned the kiss when you felt his tongue on your lips. You did not want to be left sitting there hot and ready again. Yoongi felt your reluctance and interrupted the kiss. He leaned back a bit and looked at you with a frown. “What’s wrong? Have I done something wrong? Is this going too fast for you?”

You looked at him with indignation for a moment before you gave an ironic laugh. “Too fast? Yoongi, we’ve talked about this so many times…”

You looked up just in time to see the short twitch of the corners of his mouth. Quickly he hid it again behind his played worried masquerade. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, baby.”

“You’re an idiot,” you mumbled and wanted to get up from his lap, but Yoongi held you tight at your hips and pressed you harder into his lap. You gasped for air as something hard pressed right into your crotch. 

“Oh, am I?” he asked innocently and began to circle your hips against his crotch. You could practically feel his erection swelling by the second. You gave in to the good feeling that was spreading inside of you and between your legs for a moment before you put your hands on his and stopped him in his movement. 

Seriously you looked at him. “I’m really serious, Yoongi. I don’t want to wait any longer and if you don’t want to do it yet, for whatever reason,” you ignored how defiant you sounded, “then let’s just stop it at this point and continue watching your show.”

“Shall I explain again the reasons why I blocked the last few times?” he asked with an equally serious expression. 

You immediately shook your head vigorously. “I’ve already listened to your lecture three times. I think I’m getting the hang of it.”

“Good,” Yoongi replied and his hands began to gently stroke your back before they finally buried themselves in your hair. “Then we’ve cleared everything up.”

For a moment, you were afraid that he would pull back and ask you to get up from his lap. All the more satisfied, and also a little excited, you were when he pushed your head down towards him and continued with the kiss exactly where you had stopped. Readily you opened your mouth and his tongue entered you. He explored your mouth, which he had gotten to know more than well over the past weeks, and absorbed your taste. He grunted contentedly into the kiss as you circled your hips against his. 

“Fuck, baby,” he murmured into the kiss and a second later he pressed his mouth firmly back onto yours. Slowly he let his hands slide under your shirt and you shivered slightly as you felt his cool, slightly rough fingertips on your naked skin. You could still taste the hint of coffee on his tongue as his played with yours. Your whole body felt like it was on fire and his cold hands almost burned on your heated skin. You wanted more, you needed more. You pressed your lips harder, more willingly on his and Yoongi seemed to understand. 

He grabbed the hem of your t-shirt and pulled it over your head in one quick movement. His eyes moved directly over your upper body and he absorbed all the information he saw before he looked into your eyes again. “I’ll probably never get used to this sight,” he said and spread many small, almost harmless kisses on your jaw and neck and décolleté. As he kissed further down and reached your shoulder, he once lightly bit your collarbone, eliciting a hissing sound from you. But Yoongi licked right across the spot with his tongue as if he wanted to ease the pain. 

You had your eyes closed to concentrate on Yoongi’s lips, which sucked at your neck and made you moan. So you blindly fumbled for his shirt and pulled it over his head as well. You could never get enough of him, of his light, almost pale skin, his contrasting jet black hair, which was running in a single strip from his belly button to the waistband of his jeans, or the muscles, which tensed and relaxed with every movement. And of course the fine black lines that carried your name. You wondered if you would ever not feel your heart pounding when your gaze fell on it. It was almost a surprise every time you saw the tattoo.

“Do you want to take this to your bedroom?” you asked the question you had never dared to ask before. But now seemed like the perfect moment. Hopefully Yoongi felt the same way. 

He pressed a kiss on your neck and on the spot where a dark blue hickey would probably be seen later on, before he looked at you from half closed eyes. His chest rose and fell faster than normal and it seemed as if he had to catch his breath again before he nodded. He gripped your thighs with a firm and secure grip and lifted you up without further ado. Quickly you wrapped your arms around his neck and could not suppress the giggle as he kicked his bedroom door with his foot and it slammed against the wall. “Not so rough,” you teased him and he gave you a meaningful look before he laid you down on the bed with your back first. 

“Let’s see if you say that in a moment.” He didn’t waste a second and was right above you. His mouth found yours and he lowered his hips. You willingly spread your legs so he could get between them. He grabbed your thigh and you wrapped it around his hip, always hoping to somehow pull him even closer to you. “Fuck, I’m so hard,” he moaned as his pelvis touched yours. He didn’t need to tell you that, you felt his cock more than clearly between your legs. Your fingers trembled slightly, you didn’t know from excitement or arousal, when you started to undo the buttons on his jeans. With some effort you pulled the tight jeans off his ass and he straightened up to take them off completely. 

You couldn’t help but stare. Your gaze was caught directly on his black boxer shorts, under which a distinct tent could be seen. Unconsciously you rubbed your thighs together to bring some friction to the place where you needed it most. You heard a throat clear and looked up in surprise. “My eyes are up here,” Yoongi said with a little smile. You straightened up slightly and reached behind you to open the fastener of your bra. Without paying much attention, you dropped it on the floor next to the bed. 

Immediately Yoongi lay down between your legs again and spread small kisses on your belly, around your belly button and further up until he finally arrived just below your left breast. There he devoted himself extensively to the tattoo, on which he distributed countless kisses and traced the fine lines with his tongue. You let your head roll to the side with a sigh when you felt his fingers on your other breast and he kneaded it gently. As he carefully rolled your nipple between two of his fingers, you couldn’t help but moan. 

He had moved from your tattoo to your breast and started sucking on your nipple. Only the loud sucking of his mouth and tongue and your moaning could be heard as he circled his tongue around your nipple. You could feel him grinning as he released your nipple with a loud pop and started to move down again. He grabbed the waistband of your pants and started to pull them down in a slow, teasing movement. You wiggled your legs impatiently to speed up the process, but Yoongi grabbed your ankles and looked at you seriously from below.

“We’ll take it slow or not at all,” he said and his voice showed you that he was not open to discussion. “This is your first time and I want it to be as enjoyable as possible.”

“You are here, so that’s already enough,” you returned without hesitation, but Yoongi rolled his eyes. 

“I mean it, Y/N. The first time is usually not as great as it’s always shown in movies. At least not the sex itself. That’s why I want to make the rest of it as pleasant as possible. Deal?”

You looked at him for a moment and wondered if it was worth discussing. You wanted him, everything from him and best of all right now. But he looked at you as seriously as you had hardly seen him before, and that showed you that he was serious about it. Therefore, after a short consideration, you nodded and let yourself sink back into the soft cushions. He gave you a short kiss on the calf and with a mixture of kisses and slight flicks of his tongue, he made his way further and further upwards. Centimeter by centimeter he explored the skin on your legs and when he reached your thighs and his soft lips nibbled slightly on the skin on the inside, you squirmed a bit. 

He made a dissatisfied sound and wrapped his hands tightly around your thighs so that you could not move them. “Yoongi…” you whimpered and tried to push him further towards your core with your hands in his hair. The glance he gave you when he realized what you were doing went right through you, and you felt your slip already sticking on you, so wet you were. He clicked briefly with his tongue and you watched the movement with anticipation. He shook his head slightly and muttered something of which you only understood the two words “impatient” and “brat”. 

But even he seemed to have had enough of the slow pace for now, when he took one hand off your leg and carefully pushed your slip aside with one finger. You sighed as the cold air hit your heated opening and Yoongi also sighed at the sight he saw. You, under him and completely devoted to him, while your opening almost throbbed and begged to be filled with something. His mouth was almost watering when he noticed your juice dripping out of you, so aroused were you. Unconsciously he licked his lips before he buried his head between your legs and took a first taste of you. 

He moaned as his tongue slipped over your labia and with one long movement he licked as much of you as possible. You arched your back and were glad to have Yoongi’s hands that held you down as you moaned loudly. Oh God, you did not know where to go. Where to put your hands, which were buried in the blanket at the moment. Where to put that indescribable feeling that radiated from your lower abdomen and consumed you completely. Yoongi’s tongue circled around your clit and you whimpered. 

“Oh God, Yoongi,” you moaned and he took one of your hands to bury it in his dark curls. “Fuck, please don’t stop.” You pressed him harder between your legs and he sucked on your plump bundle of nerves, hard. The knot in your abdomen tightened and you already had the feeling that you were about to come. By yourself it took you minutes, sometimes even hours and nothing felt as good as Yoongi, who could send shivers through your entire body with the smallest of movements. 

You could feel him grinning before he took one hand off your leg. You let your legs slide a little further apart to give him enough room and a moment later you felt one of his fingers at your opening. He rubbed his finger over your labia and coated it with your moisture before he started to press it against your opening. “We have to prepare you,” you heard him murmuring softly, but the only thing you could concentrate on was his tongue, which was still working on your clit, and his finger, which slowly penetrated you. Almost gently, he advanced centimeter by centimeter, so you could get used to him. When he had completely penetrated you, he slowly pulled it out of you again. The next time he penetrated you, his ring finger joined him and you held your breath as he stretched you. 

He gave you a kiss on your inner thigh when two of his fingers were buried deep inside you. “You’re doing so good, baby,” he praised you and returned to your clitoris. He enveloped it with his lips and sucked on it while his fingers began to curl and search for that slightly rough spot inside you. Your eyes opened and you gasped loudly for air when Yoongi’s fingers found that spot and you heard him laugh softly. Over and over again, he hit your G-spot with every further curl of his fingers, and his tongue and lips sent white heat over you, so you had to squeeze your eyes together because you felt like you couldn’t stand this overwhelming feeling otherwise. 

“Yoongi–,” you began, but you couldn’t get another word out. Instead, indefinable sounds followed, all of which suddenly stopped with a particularly hard curl of his fingers against your G-spot. Your mouth fell open as a hot wave of excitement swept over you, bringing your orgasm with it. Yoongi’s name fell from your lips like a mantra as he helped you squeeze even the last drop of your orgasm before his fingers stopped inside you. He looked up and through almost closed eyes you saw his chin shining in the light of the bedroom. You let your head fall back again and felt the heat of the effort on your cheeks now joined by a little bit of embarrassment. 

You felt Yoongi straighten up and when you opened your eyes again, he hovered right above you. “Are you okay?” he asked and stroked your cheek with his thumb. You nodded, that’s all you were capable of and you tried to control your breathing. “Good,” he whispered and wiped his chin with his forearm. You watched the movement and when he dropped his arm again, he raised his eyebrows with a grin.

“God, you are so hot,” it slipped out of you before you could think about it. Yoongi’s grin grew even bigger and he pressed his lips to yours. You could taste yourself and never thought that something like that would turn you on. But it did. You lifted your pelvis and pulled Yoongi between your legs again with the help of your leg, which you wrapped around his hips. His one leg was between yours and came in contact with your core. You moaned into the kiss and quickly reached for his boxer shorts, the last piece of clothing that was still left. 

Yoongi helped you pull them all the way down and his cock jumped free against his stomach. You couldn’t help but gently grab him and stroke your thumb over his tip, on which a considerable amount of pre cum had already formed. You spread them on his tip and Yoongi let his head drop with a groan. “Fuck,” you heard him murmuring and you started to move your hand slowly but steadily up and down. It wasn’t long before Yoongi pushed his hips towards you with every move you made and you couldn’t hold back the proud smile that spread across your face. 

“Baby,” he said breathlessly and grabbed your wrist. When he looked up, your breath stopped. There was passionate lust in his eyes such as you had never seen in him before and his eyes were almost black, so much his pupils were dilated. You loosened your grip and he rummaged in his bedside table before he put a square package on the bed next to you. A bit intimidated you looked at it and you realized at once that only a few moments would separate you from finally becoming one with Yoongi. 

Yoongi noticed your look and he grabbed your chin. “We don’t have to go all the way today, we can stop here,” he reassured you, but you shook your head immediately. If he would stop now, you would probably cry with disappointment. 

“I want this,” you told him again to reassure him. He leaned back a little so he sat on his knees between your spread legs and grabbed the condom. He tore open the wrapping and with a skillful roll he put the condom on. You wondered if it was normal to find this hot or if it was just because of Yoongi. That he had so much experience reassured you immensely. He knew what he was doing and the thought alone made you squeeze your legs together. 

“But if there’s anything wrong, if you feel uncomfortable for even a moment… please let me know immediately,” he whispered and you nodded. 

He took one deep breath before he supported himself with one hand next to your head and with the other hand grabbed his cock to guide it to your opening. “Normally I would suggest that we use lube,” he said with a grin and looked up at you for a moment before he looked back between your two bodies, “But you’re so wet I can just glide into you.” You felt his thick tip at your entrance and tried to relax. 

Yoongi leaned down to you and kissed you gently while at the same time he penetrated you slightly. Your breath faltered as he stretched you much further than his two fingers had done and you could swear that you were holding your breath as he pushed his way into you bit by bit. The first feeling of discomfort disappeared quickly as he slowly pulled himself out of you and entered you again, all at a slow pace to get used to him. Until even the last feeling of too much disappeared and gave way to pure pleasure. 

You wrapped your legs around his hips and let him know that he could pick up his pace. You smiled at him and he dropped his head on your shoulder. His hot breath hit your collarbone as he let his hip snap hard against yours in the next move. You stifled a choked moan as he did the exact same thing again and the clapping from skin to skin was added to your passionate moans. 

His hand found your hip and his fingers pressed into your flesh as he picked up a faster pace. With each thrust, his cock stroked past your G-spot and your inner walls were practically sucking him in, hoping to feel more and more of him. 

“Baby, you are so… fuck. You’re so tight,” he brought out between thrusts and you clung to his back just to get a little more support. You needed something to hold on to and his muscular back was practically inviting. He pushed hard into you one more time before he came to a halt deep inside you. He breathed heavily and between breaths he spread wet kisses all over your neck. Then he straightened up, took your arms and placed them on his shoulders. You understood and your heart was pounding up to your neck as he placed one hand on your lower back and pressed you firmly against him and a moment later you had switched positions. 

However, he did not release the tight grip around you and wrapped his arms around your upper body before giving you a passionate kiss. You felt him twitch inside you as you bit his lower lip and held it for a moment between your teeth before releasing it again. 

“You are breathtaking,” he said between two kisses and caressed your back. When he had reached your butt, he grabbed both buttocks with his hands and kneaded them, causing you to sigh softly. He pressed you closer into his lap before you let your hips slide back again. When you let yourself sink back into Yoongi’s lap, you felt his cock sliding even deeper into you. You both moaned at the same time. He let himself fall backwards onto the pillows and his hands remained firmly on your hips. They gave you support and guidance how you should move. He looked at you through almost closed eyes and your gaze fell further down, where he bit his lower lip. You stopped your movements and stroked your thumb over it, releasing it. 

“I want to hear you, Yoongs,” you told him honestly and he gave you a little kiss on your thumb. 

“You are so beautiful how you ride me, baby,” he said and his gaze fell on the spot where your two bodies met and connected. As you continued to circle your hips and move up and down, you began to gently circle your clitoris. You almost cried out when your finger touched it, you needed the touch so much. Your eyes closed so that you missed Yoongi’s gulp as he absorbed the sight in front of him. He looked at the tattoo, which was more than prominent on your skin, and he stroked it with his finger. You opened your eyes again and grabbed his wrist, only to place his hand a few inches higher on your breast. You didn’t need to tell him twice and he let your nipple roll between his fingers. 

You felt your abdomen contract again at the next, new spot where you felt stimulation and you knew that you would not last long after your last orgasm. You let your fingers work faster and harder on your clitoris and Yoongi helped you to pick up a faster rhythm with his free hand. 

“Are you close?” he asked breathlessly and you nodded while squinting your eyes and concentrating on the feeling between your legs. That’s why you didn’t see Yoongi put his feet on the mattress and pulled you to his chest with a sudden tug and pressed you against him with his hands on your hips. You needed that, otherwise you would have flew up towards the ceiling when he let his hips slam against yours hard. 

“Oh… My… Fuck,” the words fell from your lips as Yoongi rammed your G-spot with every one of his thrusts. The friction of his pelvis against your clitoris did the rest, so that moments later you were pushed over the edge and had your second orgasm of the evening. Yoongi followed with a few more thrusts before he finally came to a stop deep inside you and emptied himself into the condom. 

You both breathed heavily and stayed like that for a moment, both completely exhausted from the last hour. Only when you felt Yoongi slowly relaxing inside of you, did you start to stir again. You straightened up even though your arms and legs were like rubber and let him slide out of you. You immediately missed the feeling of him inside you, but you knew that the next time wouldn’t be too far away. He pulled the condom off and threw it in his trash can after he tied it. When he turned back to you, a small but satisfied smile played around his lips. Naturally, his hand placed itself on your hip and pulled you closer to him. 

“You are the best thing that has ever happened to me,” he said and gave you a kiss on the tip of your nose. 

You had to grin. “Couldn’t have been any cornier, could it?” You laughed and Yoongi rolled his eyes, but he too joined in your laughter. 

“If it’s the truth,” he almost muttered embarrassedly, and you couldn’t really see it in the dim light of the bedroom, but you thought a slight pink glow was shimmering across his cheeks. 

Your heart almost burst at the sight of the man lying naked beside you, revealing his heart to you. And you knew that you didn’t have to hold back, you didn’t have to hide anything. Therefore you did not hesitate with the next sentence. “I love you, Yoongi.”

His eyes leapt towards you and fell on your smile that had spread on your face at your words. “What are you doing to me?” he asked more to himself than to you and pressed his lips to yours in a short kiss. Then he laid his forehead on yours, eyes still closed. “I love you too, Y/N.” And these few words woven around your tattoos and both your hearts like a promise. 

A promise forever. 

————————

Oh God, guys :(( I swear, I’m so sad ending this story. I really hope you liked the ending, I just couldn’t not give Jungkook a soulmate. He was too kind and cute in this story and I would have felt so bad if I wouldn’t have given him the happy ending he deserved. 

This is probably one of my last stories with a soulmate au for a while (except for A Thousand Springs of course, this one is still going). I still have one more story planned (an OT7 one) but I really want to write something different now. I started writing a hybrid story with Taehyung and an one shot with Hoseok, so please look out for that :) I hope I can get a bit of writing done in the next few weeks. I’m not in the best place mentally right now and just frustrated because it’s so difficult finding a job. I swear, most companies look for a twenty something person with decades of experience, I can’t deal with any more rejections. But anyway, sorry for rambling. 

I hope you liked this story and thank you for reading and leaving all this lovely feedback! I came back to all your kind comments and reblogs whenever I had a bad day and they made me so happy! So please stay safe everyone and see you hopefully soon! 💜

Tag list:

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[mego42]

What are some of your favorite GG song Moments. ? Here are some of mine.

1. Easy ft lorde- OMG this soong is such a bop. it just fits the scene so well. HONESTLY one of my fav scenes. HE IS LIVING HIS BEST LIFE IN THIS SCENE. I LOVE CHAOTIC RIO

2. Wild heart by SPELLES.- THIS SONG IS SO HAUNTING just fits the vibe so well. SO ANGSTY

3. The most recent song. Used in that Brio moment. Idk what its called . I know that Beth is having the time of her life but that song is just HEAVY. The lyrics 🙏😭😭❤❤❤ such a pretty song fr 😔

omg anon i love this question nearly as much as i love your taste. YES!!!! to Easy (i too love tf out of personification of chaos rio), YES!!!!! to Wild Heart!!!!  it’s SO HAUNTING and disorienting and PERFECT. and Y E S !!!!!!!!!!!!! to the most recent song (whole life by perfume genius). i am LIVING for the heavy ballad vibes, super agree it’s so pretty. 

in no particular order, my top 5 music moments:

blanket me / hundred waters

1x09 - beth makes the calendar laying out her kids future in case something happens to her

i’ve already exposed myself as an absolute loon when it comes to this song and you can read the whole breakdown here

but tl;dr it’s a song about relying too much on a person and needing to break free and be independent but not in a toxic sort of way, more in a for personal growth and the best for everyone because co-dependence holds everyone back and i really, really, really love that in context of beth and her children, her learning to step back and not smother them but also not give so much of herself that she disappears entirely because that’s not good for them in the long run

basically it’s sort of a thesis statement for beth’s underlying s1 arc

plus it’s just like, heavy and haunting and absolutely gorgeous and not to be like, unreasonably pretentious, moves me and i love it

notable lyrics: You're my blanket, you're my skin / You're everything within / You're my guardian, I'm your sail / A boat in your harbor / Gone under, capsized and sinking / Blanket me, blanket me, blanket me, blanket me, blanket me

-

whole life / perfume genius

4x06 - beth looking for a place to hide the wire/hooking up with rio

the song is all about leaving behind the things weighing you down and moving into a brighter, more free future and i love love love how that plays with the duality of beth hiding the wire and securing her source of information for the secret service BUT ALSO marking this moment as a turning point for beth and rio because it absolutely is.

(like not just the fact that they’ve resumed a physical relationship but rio’s invited beth deeper into his world and we’re seeing beth crack on a level we really haven’t before)

this season is leaning SO HARD into duality and the tangled up truths and lies between them and i am absolutely UNHINGED over it

i also really love the like, passionate ballad nature of it juxtaposed over this twisted, extremely sexy moment (intercut with dean joyfully trying to seize hold of his new hobby only to be IMMEDIATELY denied)

there are just so many layers to it and i love all of them

notable lyrics: The mark where he left me / A clip on my wing / Oh, let it soften / I forgive everything

-

ocean rain / echo & the bunnymen

4x04 - the beth and jane/rio getting the drop on fitz montage

the whole theme of this song is two people tearing each other apart and destroying the bones of their former intimacy which like, hello subject matter aptitude and it’s told through this GLORIOUSLY dramatic hurricane at sea imagery with ships being dragged below the waves by the hurricanes the two people have called down on each other set to a gorgeous over the top orchestral score

on a yrical note, i love that the song is basically the same verse over and over (interspersed with the chorus, obvs) and the only change is me vs you when it comes to who brought the storm down on them

basically, if you were challenged to come up with a song that represented two peak dramatique heaux nightmare factories locked in a never ending game of deadly cat and mouse, you couldn’t top this.

i am ABSOLUTELY OBSESSED with the choice to pair it with a montage of beth finally pulling the trigger (with foresight and intent, shooting rio was p obvs a oh shit look what i did moment), a milestone rio’s been dragging her (down) towards since the beginning of s2 AND using him to do it, dragging him (down) into her mess (m ade all the more messy when you consider he was the target of it) (i just! love it! so! much!)

i want to live in johnathan leahy’s brain

notable lyrics: all at sea again / and now my[your] hurricanes have brought down this ocean rain / to bathe me again / my ship’s a-sail / can you hear it’s tender frame / screaming from beneath the waves / screaming from beneath the waves

-

el musgo / gabriel bruce

3x04 - rio watches beth make money

UGH GOD when that high hat and bass kicked in the first time i was like oh shit we are in for some DRAMA and sure enough we were as well as a more sexual montage than anything you’d find in actual porn.

idk, the fact that they chose this deep, dark, mournful about lost love to an elongated montage slow motion montage of rio watching beth make fake cash and deciding not to kill her for nearly killing him doEs stuFf to me

all i’m saying is johnathan leahy ships brio harder than any of us and is a more dramatique heaux than either of them, which are two really impressive feats to achieve

AND THEN!!! AND THEN!!!!! they CHOPPED THE SONG UP!!!!! so they were able to take advantage of the dawning drama of the opening bars BUT ALSO include the closing stanza about wearing the marks the subject of the song gave the singer like a scar where they took his heart from him and the INTENTIONALITY of that creative choice puts me on the FLOOR

LIKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

notable lyrics: I'll wear this mark like a medal / But it's a scar / Where you took my heart from me

-

kimono hill / sophia kennedy

3x01 - rio leaves the hotel

honeslty, lowkey surprised this one made my top five. not because it isn’t a fabulous song deployed with johnathan leahy’s usual mastery, but bc i didn’t realize how much i loved it until making this list

i don’t really have like, a deep, lyrically rooted storytelling reason for loving it, i just think the way they used it in the show is Such A Vibe

the way the vibrating synthy tones and underlying organ kicks in while rio’s getting in the elevator has this beautiful held breath anticipatory quality to it that works SO WELL to set up the montage of rio strutting out back into his life while turner gets murdered (a scene i have some uh, complicated feelings about but setting those aside), and the bolands’ fresh start to the tune of bouncy drums and looping vocals

idk it’s such a shining note to end the first episode of a new season on, i remember feeling refreshed and super hype for what’s to come

notable lyrics: no lyrics, just the vibe of the opening bars

tl;dr i really, really, REALLY love how this show uses music. you can tell they put a lot of time and effort and thought into it and while i know the trajectory isn’t working for everyone, personally i love it. granted, as you can see from this list, i clearly love the shit out of a down tempo dramatic ballad, so. if you are more of a bangers and bops person, i would point you to @nickmillerscaulk’s inbox as she is a Certified Bangers Afficianado.

[vera-dauriac]

Tell me about Joe Abercrombie? (I was going to PM you this but I figured if you're like me you'll have a really long answer to this question and might be better suited to it being a proper ask!) - I'm curious and need a decent new (to me) fantasy author with some right long series to get into. What's he like? Where would be a good place to start? Sell me him! (if you don't mind of course, no hurry and if you would!)

Eek! I am both ridiculously excited, and sweating, because I want people to read Abercrombie because he’s amazing and omg I love him so much.

*deep breath*

(Telling people about books and why they might appeal to them is literally my job I can do this. Right? Right.)

OK. So. What you should actually know about Abercrombie. First off, he has embraced the moniker Lord Grimdark, and while he thinks it’s hilarious, it’s also entirely accurate. Which means…

He’s not for the queasy. The books are violent and graphic, with plenty of blood and torture and whatnot. If you don’t have a strong constitution, he’s not for you. Also, there’s not a lot of sex, but almost none of it is sexy. The word “squelch” gets used a lot.

The overall outlook can be bleak. “Truly, life is the misery we endure between disappointments.” One of the characters says this, and I feel it could be a mission statement for the entire world of The First Law.

And yet…

The humor. Abercrombie is one of the funniest writers I’ve ever read. The humor is dark, I mean, pitch black, but truly hilarious.

The characters. If there is fantasy out there being written with better characters, I haven’t read it. It’s not just his ability to make otherwise unsympathetic characters interesting and likable, but that they feel so distinct and lived in.

So what are his book actually about?

Let’s get this out of the way. He wrote a YA trilogy that opens with Half a King. I really like that book, but the rest of the series didn’t click with me. Others feel different.

I’m just here to talk about his adult books, which are all set in the same universe, often referred to as The First Law world. The books are the original First Law trilogy: The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged, and The Last Argument of Kings. This series was followed by three standalone books: Best Served Cold, The Heroes, and Red Country. After that came the new The Age of Madness Trilogy: A Little Hatred, The Trouble with Peace, and The Wisdom of Crowds (coming in September!). This is also the internal chronology of the ‘verse. (There’s also a short story collection, Sharp Ends.) It covers several decades, and there are still characters from the original trilogy who survived the standalones and are kicking around the latest trilogy, but the focus is now on their adult children.

Anyhow, The First Law world is secondary world fantasy with really good, but not watch-me-showoff, overwhelming worldbuilding. (In other worlds, the kind of worldbuilding that really appeals to me. I feel immersed, but I don’t feel like the world is the point. The characters are always the point in Abercrombie.) It’s swords and chainmail to start with. Lots of battles and fights, light on magic. But there is a Magus many of thousands of years old who is clearly fucking with everything and has his own agenda, and there are a few other magical types floating around. Slowly, canon begin to emerge in the world, and The Age of Madness is full on Industrial Revolution.

The original trilogy is good and where I started, but the books have gotten stronger. My favorite book is probably the first standalone, Best Served Cold, which I think makes a solid entry point. One of the most remarkable women in fantasy, and someone who occasionally eats my brain, Monzcarro Murcatto, is the general of the best mercenary army company in her corner of the world, and she gets fucked over and builds a team of killers to go get her revenge. She is also part of my very favorite ships in the 'verse. (Aside—Abercrombie is not necessarily an intentionally shippy author, especially early on, but you can definitely set sail.) In a world of great characters, I think BSC has my favorite cast, including the world’s funniest alcoholic general, an incel poisoner, and the start of a character arc that’s still happening in the latest books that owns my soul.

For what it’s worth, if I had to speak on behalf of the fandom, I’d say The Heroes is probably the favorite book. It’s a three-day battle, and fairly self-contained, and probably not a bad place to start. I think of it as fantasy The Killer Angels. It’s really very good.

On top of this, all of the books have really fantastic prose. The man knows how to turn a phrase and find just the right words. (Seriously, when I’m drafting new stuff, I have a hard time reading Abercrombie because I feel so inadequate compared to his use of language.) Just, every word choice sinks you a little deeper into the characters and the world. It’s a genuine feat.

I could go on. Talk more about specific characters and plots. But I wouldn’t know when to stop, and I want to leave you something to discover on your own. 😉

[sunnydaleherald]

The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Tuesday, February 8

ANDREW: We're talking about murder. WARREN: No, we're talking about staying alive, and since this is my mom's house, I think what I say goes. ANDREW: But aside from the moral issues, and the mess, we can get in trouble for murder. WARREN: Duh! You know, the last I checked, the authorities also frowned on bank robbery too. Genius! JONATHAN: I don't even know if we could kill Buffy. She's got super-strength. ANDREW: And, you know, killing people, this is not why we got together in the first place. JONATHAN: Yeah. We teamed up with one clear, super-cool mission statement. Remember? Flash-cut to the three of them in the basement, sitting around a table with cans of soda, playing a board game. WARREN: So ... you guys wanna team up and take over Sunnydale? ANDREW/JONATHAN: (unison) Okay.

~~Buffy Season 6 Episode #104: "Flooded"~~

The Sunnydale Herald is currently looking for a few good editors! Contributing to the Herald is a great way to get your Buffy on! Learn more here!

[Drabbles & Short Fiction]

Wrong (OC, T) by apachefirecat

Singing My Life (Buffy/Giles, T) by TheScholarlyStrumpet (equipoise)

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Untitled (Ensemble, unrated) by confusedguytoo

[Chaptered Fiction]

The Ratchet Effect Ch. 5 (Ensemble, T) by michael t

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Die and Live This Way Ch. 9 (Spike/OC, T) by Cynder2013

Keeping Up With the Scoobies Ch. 8 (Buffy/Spike, T) by Takara Phoenix

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[Reviews & Recaps]

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[Fandom Discussions]

Xander/Willow will always be such a realistic teen version of cheating to me. by initiumseries

What if in season 2 Cordelia was like “I’m not giving up my popularity for Xander. I’m dragging this bunch of losers up to my level.” by confusedguytoo

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PUBLICATION: Buffy: The Last Vampire Slayer #3 Preview: Together Again by Bleeding Cool

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[tazzytypes]

Apocalypse: Sanctuary - Chapter 17

Authors note: Hey guys! Sorry, had to delete and repost this chapter because Tumblr is, once again, giving me difficulties. Just want to thank y'all so much for being patient with me as I finished up with classes. Hoping these next few months will give me more time to work on this fic. As always, your comments and likes always make my day and help me get through the worst of writer's block and I cannot thank you enough for that!

READ MORE on AO3 or see the Master post!

When the witches got back to the academy, the sun had barely risen above the horizon. Emily hadn’t realized how accustomed she had become to the usual hustle and bustle; the silence was nearly as stinging as the constant noise.

They were all dead on their feet. After hell, sleep had eluded Emily. The fact Madison had forced her to sleep on the ground didn’t help… neither did the darkness. It was suffocating, that place. Sometimes she was afraid the underground fortress would become her tomb. They had all tried to catch up on sleep during the plane ride home, but Misty snored so much it made the feat nearly impossible.

So, barely able to put one foot in front of the other, the witches made their way through the door. Zoe grumbled about canceling classes, Cordelia muttering an agreement.

“A break? Already?” Coco said. She stood next to Mallory by the stairs, looking more like butlers than students. The pair must have been the only ones awake, looking to one other and smiling at a silent inside joke. “I like this school.”

“I trust there were no disturbances while we were away?” Myrtle asked, handing off her bags to Kyle who proceeded to take them up the stairs.

If Mallory were a bird, Emily would have said she was preening, “No more than usual.”

Kyle paused by Emily for a moment, hand extended, but she waved him forward. Kyle smiled and nodded, proceeding past them and towards the stairs.

“Oh, lover-boy,” Madison sang as he began to take the first step, pulling Emily’s attention away from Mallory and their headmistress, “my bags?

The blond man hesitated, then doubled back. He rearranged the bags on his arm and picked up the ex-movie star’s numerous suitcases, all either Chanel or some other overpriced name brand.

“You have two arms,” Zoe snapped at the woman, her own bag in hand. Emily’s gaze flickered to the floor, green eyes darting between it, Cordelia, and the scene unfurling before her.

“It’s fine,” Kyle said quietly, giving a pointed look at Zoe, “It’s my job.”

The look seemed to soothe Zoe, her shoulders tense but her back no longer arched like she was about to swing at Madison. Madison opened her mouth, unable to resist not having the last word.

A body barreling into her side kept Emily from hearing exactly what was spoken. By the look on Zoe’s face, it was nothing good.

“Oh, I missed you!” Coco exclaimed, squeezing the girl in a hug. Emily did her best not to tense, but the reaction was second nature to the brunette. “How was California?”

“Dry,” Emily said, earning a chuckle from Coco.

“Obviously you didn’t go to the beach,” Coco said, “How did it go?”

The brunette’s eyes darted to the figure moving towards them, continuing to speak as Mallory approached. For some reason, Emily had expected her and Cordelia’s talk to last longer. She settled in to place beside Coco, listening with an attentive grin.

“We’re all in one piece,” Emily said, looking back to Coco, “so I’d say rather well.”

Mallory reached out and squeezed Emily’s arm, her ever-present grin widening ever slightly. “See? I knew you’d do great!”

“Who’s this, Firefly?”

Misty had always got possessive a little too quickly. It was her vice, clinging to things too tightly. Her mother used to call her a “little python…” the snake in the garden of Eden.

Emily faltered ever slightly. As someone who kept to herself, she was more used to being the one introduced, not the one introducing.

“Coco, Mallory,” She spoke, glancing between the two girls and her new acquaintance, “Misty Day.”

Mallory rushed forward to shake the woman’s hand as if she were meeting Stevie Nicks instead of a girl from the swamplands of Mississippi.

“I’ve heard so much about you from Miss Cordelia. You’re a legend here!”

Misty pulled her shawl in tighter and glanced between Mallory and Emily. Being the center of attention was an anxious position for her. The last time she was the center of attention, she went to hell. The first time had her burned at the stake. Her steps back from Mallory and into Emily’s side were more a flight instinct than an anxious tic.

“Aw, shucks,” the swamp witch said with a flickering smile and a chuckle, “Didn’t think I was here long enough to make an impression.”

“Resurgence is a remarkable power,” Mallory insisted, “If not for you, I would have thought myself a freak.”

“Well, ain’t that sweet.”

Myrtle was quick to rescue the woman from the over-exuberance of the younger witch, placing a steadying hand on Misty’s shoulder. Cordelia was not far behind. Emily could feel her brown eyes on her back like a botanist studying a new plant species.

“While I love pleasantries,” Myrtle said, “I am absolutely famished. Airplane foods always fall flat.”

“It’s because of our sense of smell,” Emily said, trying to ignore the weird looks she was getting, “The altitude affects our nasal passages, making it harder to smell and thus harder to taste. The two are inseparable.”

“So, it’s like how parents plug their kid's nose to get them to take their medicine,” Mallory said. Emily sent her a brief, but thankful smile for making the moment feel less awkward than it was.

“Exactly.”

“Either way,” Myrtle said with a wave of her hand, “I am craving a crème brûlée with a glass of chardonnay.”

Emily smirked a bit before she spoke, “Chardonnay sounds good.”

“Not yet, you,” Cordelia admonished through a chuckle, ruffling Emily’s hair a bit, “We may be lenient with a lot of things, but underage drinking will not be one of them.”

The brunette wanted to note she had done plenty of underage drinking the night before but refrained. Part of being able to bend the rules is pretending you didn’t break them.

“Oh, come on,” Madison said, standing at the back of their little group with her arms crossed in front of her chest, “Little miss indigestion just went to hell. Let her live a little.”

“Maybe a glass,” Cordelia relented, earning a few chuckles from the group. “One.”

Emily echoed the expressions of her fellow witches, but Cordelia’s humor did not amuse her. The headmistresses statement assured her of one thing, however. The brunette had secured a place in the inner circle of Robichaux. It was a feat she would have been proud of before, but now…

Now, the real world seemed so dull. Sensations failed to feel real-- like the world was covered in a fog. Her hands would hover, expecting something to come to her palm and playing off hesitation when it didn’t. Emily had always fancied her dreams to the waking world. The real world now felt more dull than usual. The young witch found herself missing hell, debating whether or not to chase that high.

“Full already?” Cordelia asked at the table they all gathered around. Emily had been picking at her food for the past ten minutes, gaze flickering to the many conversations around the table.

Emily was quick to brush it off, putting down her fork and taking a sip of her sweet tea, “I’ve always eaten like a bird.”

“Birds eat ten times their weight,” Myrtle noted with an amused smile. Cordelia had been so tense since Hawthorne. For once, Myrtle had to be the optimistic one… if only for the sake of maintaining an air of control.

“Good thing I wasn’t talking in ratios.”

Myrtle chuckled and went back to her food, but Cordelia continued to watch Emily carefully as she turned and offered Misty her desert.

“You alright, Firefly?”

“Just tired.”

“Bad dreams?”

“Something like that.”

Cordelia’s glance flickered to her mentor. The slight quirking of the redhead’s brow gave away her own concerns. The headmistress gaze returned to Emily, her posture straightening ever slightly.

“About your personal hell?” she asked.

Emily faltered slightly at her headmistress’s voice. While they were surrounded by people, most had the decency not to eavesdrop on the more intimate conversations — feigning ignorance even if they heard every word. It was one of those unspoken rules of society.

“No. I didn’t have a personal hell.”

Shit.

Her exhaustion and weird mindset had made her careless. Then again, Cordelia was supposed to help with things such as these, right? The whole point of being here was to learn. How could she learn if she never asked questions? Why did her gut churn like she had been caught with her hands painted red?

Green eyes slowly turned to the brown ones that had burned holes in her skin since she had arrived in Mississippi. Cordelia’s brows furrowed, lips twisting in the way they always did when she didn’t have the answers.

“Then where were you?”

“… I don’t know.”

The table was consumed with silence, no one able to pretend they weren’t listening in to the conversation at hand. Coco glanced around at the table, noting the unwavering stares. Glancing to Emily, she saw her eyes flick between them all, her plate, Cordelia, and back again.

“Probably the jet lag,” the heiress said, “shit makes you forget what your own name is.”

Emily smiled with the rest of them, sending a thankful glance to the woman who squeezed her hand and smiled. The table fell back into idle chatter.

“Hell of a spotlight,” Coco whispered into her glass, eyes flickering around to her fellow witches.

Emily mimicked her movements, “you’re telling me.”

The pair shared a glance and promptly fell into laughter.

“Next time you need to swing by L.A. Beaches are crowded, but the experience is worth it.”

“There’s a tattoo parlor there I wanted to check out,” Emily noted, “Purple Panther. One of my favorite artists works there.”

“We should go and get matching tattoos.”

“What did I miss?” Mallory asked, returning from a trip to the bathroom.

“We’re all going to get matching tattoos.” Coco declared.

“Of what?”

Emily smiled and leaned in, “we should get the triquetra from Charmed.”

“Oooh, yes!” Coco exclaimed, “I loved that show as a kid.”

Mallory’s face twisted in confusion, “Haven’t seen it.”

“We’re binge-watching it,” Coco declared, “tonight.”

“My room?” Emily asked, “I have a TV.”

“No offense, your room is a broom closet.”

“Feels like home,” Emily jested, a genuine smile curling on her lips, “certainly been in it for long enough.”

Coco snorted out a laugh, infecting Mallory and Emily into a fit of giggles. The brunette could feel Cordelia’s eyes on her, a hand going to smooth down the hairs on the back of her neck. She didn’t like it, the feeling of being watched.

“Oh!” Mallory said, “I have a tattoo idea — swords.”

“Swords?”

“For the Three Musketeers!”

Emily gasped as an idea hit her, pulling out her sketchbook and scrawling out an idea.

“What if…”

She finished the crude drawing — a sword with a triquetra behind it. Some of the lines of the triquetra looped around the blade where it was positioned at the end of its point. “… we did both?”

“Both?” Mallory asked.

“Both,” Emily repeated.

“Both is good,” Coco finished, the three falling into giggles once again.

.

.

.

Emily was unsurprised when Cordelia cornered her later in the day. Classes had been canceled for the day, older girls put in charge of amusing the younger ones. The brunette had dozed until 12 o’clock when the cheerful laughing and screeching from the lawn kept her from falling back asleep.

Book in hand, Emily had nearly made it to the greenhouse when Cordelia intercepted her. The blonde woman had been leaning against the door of the rotting shack. Emily wondered how long the headmistress had waited for her out in the sun.

“Walk with me,” was all she said as the brunette got within earshot, her tone filled with bad news. They strolled in silence for a good while. When the playful yelling and screaming was muffled by distance and the trees around the property, Cordelia finally spoke.

“I’ve been to hell myself. It changes a person… for better or worse.”

Emily’s eyes were trained on the ground, navigating over twisting roots and rocks that jutted from the dirt. She spared Cordelia a brief glance. “Which was it? Better or worse?”

“That’s the thing,” Cordelia said, head high and eyes steady on the path ahead of them, “you can never tell which. It’s something only others can see.”

“Is this an intervention or something?”

A smile tugged at the blonde’s lips, “Or something.”

Silence consumed them once more. It became clear that Emily could either talk or they would walk until she did.

“Hell was like a dream,” the brunette relented after a minute or so, “Dreams always feel so real until you wake up. Then, you mourn the reality you lost.”

“Even with nightmares?”

“All I ever have is nightmares.”

Cordelia spared the woman a look. Emily’s eyes were trained on the ground as she took a step over a fallen trunk. Dark circles ringed around her eyes, the purple somehow making the green even brighter. Cordelia realized she had never seen Emily without them. Were her dreams something more? Something that paraded around as sleep when it was really anything but?

Emily’s words were hardly louder than a whisper, “It isn’t the situation I mourn, but the power I have.”

The book in Emily’s hands suddenly felt like it weighed a hundred pounds. It was one of her many journals, each page dedicated to the carefully worded and detailed recollections of the visions her mind procured in sleep. The voice said her dreams were something more. Emily feared the implications. She was a stickler for a little thing called proof, however. Spirits can lie and trick just as well as humans could.

Cordelia regarded the girl beside her, “Powers such as what?”

“In hell, I could pull a weapon to me as if I reached out and grabbed it with my own hand. I could conjure flames and move them to my will.”

Her words were like a snarl on her lip, a frustration that plagued her every hour. Then, the snarl faltered and the grief set in. “Everything was so much clearer… simpler.”

The headmistress stopped and placed a hand upon the girl’s shoulder, squeezing it for good measure. Emily wished she hadn’t. It was easy to hold back tears and emotions when you didn’t have to look someone in the eye.

“You went to hell and brought back my dearest friend,” she pressed, hand trailing down Emily’s arm and taking her hand, cupping it in her own, “just because you cannot perform grand acts of magic does not mean you cannot fight.”

Emily looked at Cordelia, searching for something in those brown eyes. Everyone’s eyes were covered in a fog of optimism. It made real-life feel more like a dream than her dreams did. Their gazes never failed to make her shudder. Coco was the only one who did not succumb. Thus, the only one she somewhat trusted. Carefully, Emily pulled her hand away.

“Michael brought back Misty, not me.”

It was something she had said a thousand times since her return. The people here either didn’t listen or didn’t care. Which was worse?

“With your aid.”

For a moment, Emily contemplated telling Cordelia everything. She was so desperate for answers — so desperate to cut through the fog. She was reminded of The Odyssey, Odysseus’s travel to an island where everything seemed perfect. It was so tempting to give in, to be alright with not knowing.

What was Michael?

Why did the voices speak to him?

Why did she understand their words while Misty did not?

“I had a weird dream last night,” she found herself speaking, her silence lasting a little too long, “I know it means something, but I can’t quite place it.”

Cordelia seemed content in her words, a small smile telling Emily that she had chosen the right words… even if they were not the words she had intended to speak. There was trust to be built before Emily could talk to Cordelia about hell.

“Tell me about it,” her Supreme commanded, gently ushering Emily back the way they came.

“I was in a field,” Emily started, an air of distance taking over her voice. When Cordelia looked to her, she was miles away — eyes filled with fog. “You were there just… waiting. For me, I think, but I could be wrong.”

“What happened?” Cordelia asked, “in the dream?”

“You were standing next to a girl. She saw me first… said her name was Nan.”

Cordelia’s gasp was quiet, but still loud enough to draw Emily from the fog. A manicured hand came to her mouth before going to her stomach as if the woman had been punched. Emily was afraid Cordelia might pass out again.

“Nan,” Cordelia said, speaking around a frog in her throat.

The younger witch felt a surge of anxiety. She should have said nothing, kept her mouth shut. Why couldn’t she keep her mouth shut? It had been an easy feat until she came to Robichaux.

“She was sweet,” Emily found herself saying, “told me not to worry.”

Cordelia leaned on a nearby tree. Emily wrung her hands, biting her lip and waiting for the woman to say something. Her heart leaped into her chest when she heard the woman sniffle back a tear.

“Did I say something wrong?” Emily asked, heart hammering. Cordelia didn’t answer. Should she get closer? Should she squeeze her arm as Cordelia had done to her many a times? Emily had never been good at consoling. “I’m sorry.”

The woman finally shook her head, the heels of her palm swiping away the few tears that had trailed down her cheeks. “No… no, you’ve brought me a great deal of peace.”

Curiosity always got the best of her.

“Nan…” Emily said, “You recognize her?”

“She used to be a student here… before her untimely death.”

“I’m sorry.”

Cordelia sighed and straightened her shirt, quickly taking back the decorum Emily had managed to peel back. At that moment, Emily realized something darkened in her Supreme. The fog left the brown eyes and hardened into something more tangible, her jaw clenched ever slightly, and the mother-like tone left her voice.

“I’d advise you not to approach her in your dreams again.”

Emily faltered for a moment, too caught up in the change to process the woman’s words.

“Why?”

“For your safety.”

“She hardly seemed dangerous.”

“It is not her I worry about.”

Her lips opened to ask more questions, but Cordelia quickly overtook the conversation. “Tell me about the rest of this dream.”

It was probably best if she didn’t argue. Emily went on describing, glancing at the woman now and again. Cordelia’s eyes lost their dark edge as the tale continued — flying, levitation, conjuring of fire and wind — until they once again held the optimistic fog Emily had become accustomed to.

“And when I wake up,” Emily concluded, “I felt like I was not myself. That my real self lies within these dreams.”

Cordelia simply nodded.

“Dreams are more powerful than we can imagine,” she said, “it is, in short, an insight into our true nature — witch or no witch.”

“Then what is my true nature?” Emily asked, jumping back as a boisterous toddler ran past her, two more hot on her heels. They had made it back to the garden.

Cordelia smiled at her, giving her shoulder one more squeeze before she trailed after the children.

“That is something only you can answer.”

.

.

.

Cordelia paced her room, thoughts writhing like a snake that had worked its way into a knot. Unable to move forward or back, she wondered how long she had until death. Do nothing and she would starve — giving into the circumstances like a beast baring its belly to the knife. Tug too harshly, however, and she would sever her own spine.

“I do hope you have good reason for waking me in the middle of the night,” Myrtle sighed as she entered the room. She carefully closed the door, the only sign of her entrance the dulled click of the lock behind her.

The Supreme ceased her pacing, taking to wringing her hands instead as she came to a stop before the redhead.

“I can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong.”

“You just put a petulant boy in power,” Myrtle scoffed, “What can be more wrong than that?”

“I did it for the best of the coven.”

Myrtle let out a sigh, unable to keep up her irritation. Tense shoulders and crossed arms relaxed and rested at her sides. “My dear, what good are you if you keep working yourself into a fit of hysterics?”

Cordelia either didn’t hear her or didn’t care to address the topic. Hurrying over to her desk, she pushed papers this way and that until she found what she was looking for.

“Were you able to look into the matter we discussed?”

It took all Myrtle’s power not to roll her eyes.

“Evocation rituals of that nature aren’t exactly common if they exist at all.”

“But they do exist?”

“None that I could find.”

“What if we modified a resurgence spell… combined it with dreams. That’s where her skill shows the most, after all. If we could get into that otherness—”

Cordelia had thrown the idea around with the woman multiple times before they visited Hawthorne. Seeing the aftermath of the Seven Wonders, particularly in the trial of Descensum, had made the Supreme all the more convinced of her path. If Cordelia shared any traits with Fiona, it was her stubbornness.

“I still don’t see how her power, any power, could be trapped inside her,” Myrtle insisted once more, “That family of hers didn’t have a lick of magic in her bones. Her mother has no magical talent whatsoever and don’t get me started on that father of hers.”

“Then why is she here at our school?”

Myrtle spared her a pointed look. Cordelia huffed and leaned on her desk, keeping her eyes locked with her mentor’s.

“Emily’s powers have to originate from somewhere,” she said, shaking her head and averting her gaze for but a moment, “Her grandmother died. Maybe she used the last of her power to protect Emily. Delphi had yet to be disbanded when she passed.”

“If that were the case, she wouldn’t be able to go to hell, dear. Maybe it’s as you said; her magic is tied to the other — dreams, visions, prophecy, the whole shebang.”

Cordelia shook her head, “That doesn’t feel right.”

Myrtle was now the one to pace. The carpet was sure to be filled with holes if the issue loomed over their heads any longer. If Cordelia could not let go of this vision, the coven would be doomed. How many more dead ends did Delia need to hit before she recognized the futility of—

“Why are you so adamant about this?” Myrtle found herself asking, more out of desperation than curiosity.

Cordelia gave her a pointed look and the woman scoffed. “Mallory—”

“Mallory didn’t go to hell.”

“And our dear Emily can’t make a butterfly out of petals. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. One false step and they all shatter.”

“Then help me eliminate this option,” Cordelia said, voice pleading, “Let's perform a ritual and get our answers before too much time has passed.”

“Alright,” Myrtle relented, “let's pull out the books… and the booze.”

.

.

.

Emily sat on one of the tables in the greenhouse like she was waiting at a doctor’s appointment, picking absentmindedly at the thin layer of paint atop the table. The inner circle of Robichaux stood around her watching Cordelia and Myrtle as they gathered material and passed it out.

Misty sat at Emily’s side, holding her hand and offering reassuring smiles whenever the brunette turned to look at her. Part of e was afraid they were going to kill her… or something worse. Death certainly wasn’t the worst thing the lot of them had experienced.

“We believe there is something blocking out our dear Emily’s powers,” Myrtle explained, placing jars of… something around the table.

“Or she just doesn’t have any,” Madison sighed, obviously wanting to be anywhere else as she studied her nails — she just got a manicure. The others stared at her in annoyance. “What? We’re all thinking it.”

“She saw Nan,” Cordelia spoke. She had been silent the entire time and didn’t even greet Emily when she was escorted into the greenhouse by Myrtle. If her silence was out of concentration or concern, no one could tell.

Queenie’s eyes nearly bugged out of her head. Her arms fell to her sides and all she could do was look between Emily and her Supreme. “She what?”

“I didn’t know who she was,” Emily said, glancing to Misty who held a similar expression to Queenie, “Not until I talked to Cordelia.”

“Is she alright?” Zoe asked. She stood opposite to Misty, carefully watching Cordelia and Myrtle as they prepared. “Did she say anything?”

“Nothing of note.”

“But she did say something,” Queenie said, a silent command in her voice.

“Only that I shouldn’t worry.”

Zoe’s brow furrowed, “worry about what?”

“… I don’t know.”

“If we are able to unlock your powers,” Myrtle said, ignoring the scathing look Cordelia sent her. The redhead still held her doubts. “Perhaps we can find out.”

Her words seemed to motivate the other girls. One by one they fell into place around the table, taking a string as Cordelia handed it to them. Misty and Madison stood at Emily’s left, Queenie and Zoe at her right. Myrtle stood in front of her, a large tomb of a book in her hands as she watched Cordelia work.

“Lay down, my dear,” she told Emily, who hesitantly did as she was told, “We will be delving deep into your subconscious and I’d rather you didn’t wake with a concussion.”

Cordelia came to a stop at Emily’s head. The brunette looked up through her lashes and watched as the woman lit a stick of incense, quickly blowing it out and placing it in a cup of sand. Emily really hoped they wouldn’t have a fire accident. If her hair were to be cut even shorter, she’d look like an egg wearing a toupee.

“Concentrate on the power you had in hell,” She whispered, so low that only Emily could hear her, “Visualize it and keep the sensation in the forefront of your mind.”

Emily felt if she were in some weird baptism, one you’d see on a TLC show about those weird Mormon cults. Shaking her head, she reminded herself to focus. She thought of hell, of that classroom — the fire, the words, the void. Emily felt her eyes become heavy before they closed. She saw Michael, blue eyes only showing a brief moment of alarm as fire raged around him.

Cordelia looked to Myrtle. The redhead began to chant. One by one, the other girls echoed her words. Emily was only slightly aware of their actions, their voices sounding miles away. Finally, Cordelia echoed the words. Her hands cupped over Emily’s face, covering her eyes and centering the spell between her brows, the third eye.

Once again, Emily fell into a slumber. Cordelia prayed that, when she awoke, her questions would be answered.