#the last part I watched was with Joseph so I’m going out of order but I gotta stay for Anastasia

[princesscallyie]

Was watching Jojo so I could have something to watch while drawing and this man had me like this lol

[napoleondidthat]

Napoleon, The Director’s Cut

The added material makes the film better but that doesn’t mean it’s good.

So I did it. I rewatched the Napoleon movie with the added material. I was wondering if a second view would salvage it, maybe it ages well.

That answer is no.

It has been awhile since I saw the theater version, so I am not 100% sure that what I will say isn’t maybe a few scenes that were in the movie and I just don’t recall. There are new scenes and old scenes that are longer now.

From the beginning to Toulon are about the same as far as I can tell. One thing I will note: it is curious that they chose as the Bonaparte family representative Lucien. I am happy to see Lucien get some love as he’s my favorite of the dysfunctional clan, but it seems a weird choice. Joseph is usually chosen because he and Napoleon do have a different dynamic of an elder brother who has such a stronger personality younger brother. But what is equally weird is that Lucien serves no purpose. He’s there in a military looking uniform listening to Barras talk about France’s military challenges, he just pops up in Toulon (as does Barras who apparently just hangs around on the perimeter of the battlefield) so Napoleon can hand him the cannonball he fishes out of his poor dead horse (I’m traumatized all over again), and then disappears completely after the coup d’etat.

There might be some new stuff in here but I am not remembering it.

The most backfill is the Josephine arc, and that does actually help the film somewhat. In the theater version Josephine launches on screen stumbling out of prison.

Scene one shows her at her home and some asshole guy is questioning a five year old Hortense about the whereabouts of her father and the Revolution. Eugene stands back with Lucille, the maid. Josephine watches the scene from the top of the stairs wrapped in a shawl. Little Hortense is obviously scared and says that her father is in prison and the Revolution is against the nobility. The man asks her about her and the father (I think) loyalty and is she a noble, and she looks to Josephine for guidance, Josephine nods at her to answer. She says she is noble, her father does support the Revolution, and so does she. The man warns her not to lie because he can tell. Josephine pipes in saying that she’s a five year old child leave her alone she tells the truth etc.

That scene bleeds to the next where Josephine is in the back of a cart of other prisoners and is being unloaded at Carmes prison. She is processed through by a gruff woman who strips her of her rings and demands to see in her mouth. She wanders around the prison and at all the chaos. A woman comes out and calls her name and they embrace. It’s Therese Tallien. She leads her through the prison and acts a bit of a tour guide. The watch some prisoners get in the cart to meet the guillotine. Therese says there is no tears….moving on. They pass cramped quarters where they pass a couple having sex. Therese says if a woman gets pregnant she can avoid the blade and “since when do men need a reason to fuck?”

The next scene is that night and Josephine lays in Therese’s bed and watches her doll herself in the mirror as much as she can. She ties a red ribbon around her neck and tells her how it represents the blade. Therese states she will survive this and Josephine can too or she can die pure. Josephine stays silent in all these scenes.

Next scene is Josephine cutting her hair short, looking a little more sexy in her dress and walking down to the lower part of the prison where she goes to a man waiting for her on a bed. And fade to black.

There is a rather powerful scene of an order of nuns being led to the guillotine. The crowd jeers and screams at them just like they did for Marie Antoinette. But these nuns look pristine in their habits and they go to their deaths calm and cool and singing a hymn in French. The last nun is just a young girl and she watches as all her order meets their end and she goes up the platform and they rip her veil from her and put her down on the bench for the blade and she never misses a note. Her song only ends when the blade falls. The crowd that was bloodthirsty just goes deathly silent and exchange looks with each other.

That follows the scene of Barras confronting Robespierre over his actions. Same as the theater version. Robespierre shoots himself again but the scene doesn’t end with Barras saying “the guillotine for you my friend” the added scene is Robespierre’s death as he is dragged with his bandaged face up to the guillotine with the crowd cheering. He is beheaded.

The scene with Josephine leaving prison is longer. She walks around the city and it’s rather strangely deserted and messy streets. She comes to her house and enters to find it’s been ransacked. She goes up the stairs calling out to her children and Lucille. She is eventually confronted by Lucille who takes her to be an intruder but then recognizes her and calls for her children. They appear and approach her slowly as Josephine takes off her hood and they all reunite.

The party scene where Napoleon and Josephine meet is longer. Napoleon runs into Barras who cheers him but Napoleon like the buzzkill he is refuses to show a smile and Barras eye rolls him off. The scene of the play that they are putting on is a bit longer with Josephine and Napoleon first noticing each other in this setting and exchanging glances. Josephine is sitting at Barras’ table. Napoleon is hanging out with Lucien.

An added scene is that after the party there is a scene of a naked Josephine having sex with Barras after the party. She watches herself in the mirror. Barras tells her she accumulated a lot of debt at the party that night and gets up to get some money for her debts. She quips she should charge him more for the attention she brings him. He tosses the money at her and says he will pay for her debts this time but he’s done. She needs to get to know Bonaparte.

Fast forward to Napoleon and Josephine courting. Lucille and Josephine talk about whether Josephine likes Napoleon that way or not. There is an extended scene of Napoleon receiving her invite but this time it shows him standing outside her door killing time in the street by reading a newspaper. Lucile watches him from the door discreetly. She closes the door when he come across the street. He rings the bell and Lucille stands inside the door smiling. She makes him knock again before she opens and smiles and welcomes him in. I am not sure what this is supposed to be implying? Lucille has a crush on him too?

The wiff of grapeshot is the same but there is an added scene of Napoleon, Barras and other random military men singing a song and toasting their success. They all congratulate Napoleon as the savior but he shrugs it off and plays humble.

The wedding scene is slightly longer I think. The guy talks about their birthdays that I don’t remember from the original.

Italian campaign is merely what they show in the released footage that I posted. There is the dinner where Napoleon notices Hippolyte and Josephine chatting it up at the dinner table.

There are more scenes with Hippolyte and Josephine. Mostly narrated by Napoleon writing to her his love etc. One scene of Josephine buying hats and Hippolyte sits in a chair and watches her. She looks sad like she does through most of this film. Hippolyte puts on a turban and clowns around. The two maids find it adorable and laugh. Josephine seems mortified and keeps telling him to stop and to take it off.

There is an extra scene of Napoleon and Josephine lying in bed and she tells him that the trouble is that he is always off to battle and she is alone and never knows if he will return or not. He assures her he will always return and not to worry. He kisses her all over her face and she looks on gloomy. I don’t remember where this scene is, but it’s around the Italian campaign scenes.

Another Josephine and Hippolyte scene where he is in her garden chatting up people and Josephine sits inside by the piano listening to the musician play. He watches her as she looks visibly upset.

Napoleon in Egypt is pretty much the same as the original. His return is slightly different. He returns to find the house empty and blows up at Lucille. There is an added creepy scene of Napoleon eating alone at the dining table and Lucille comes in with a plate. Napoleon stops her and apologizes for his outburst. She understands. Be great if they stop there. But no. Napoleon slides his chair out and asks Lucille to sit on his knee and she does. He tells her he’s sad and needs comforting what can be done? She tells him she can get him some desert or draw him a hot bath and she will console him. Napoleon just lays his head on her shoulder.

The scene where Napoleon confronts Josephine over the affair is for the most part the same except there does seem to be some added dialogue. Josephine the following day asks Napoleon if had affairs and he admits he did. She asks if they were pretty and did he love them etc. He says they were pretty because they didn’t cry. She then says she doesn’t care as long as he doesn’t leave her. Please don’t leave me. I don’t recall this in the original film but maybe it was there and I just blocked it out.

The scene where Napoleon confronts the directory is longer to me it seems with some additional dialogue but that could be wrong.

There is an additional scene of Napoleon cleaning his guns at the dinner table with Lucien. They are a bit drunk and Lucien says he doesn’t get why Napoleon is going along with the plotters plans. He doesn’t need them. Napoleon says he will need ladies in waiting, right? Lucien says they aren’t good except to lick your balls and Napoleon laughs and says that he will need one of those. Josephine stands on the balcony watching and listening. She leaves, Napoleon hears the sound and swings the gun in her direction but she’s gone.

There is a new scene I think of Napoleon designing the Consulate uniforms. There is also a scene of Napoleon and Josephine hosting a party and mingling along the table where Napoleon kinda flirts and Josephine watches him and the flirts with whoever she talks to.

The assassination attempt scene is pretty much what has been released. It happens incorrectly and Napoleon yells at his advisors. They do show the execution of the Duc d’Enghein out in the forest and not in a moat. He’s some poor sweaty looking guy. He messes with the gravel he’s standing on and turns and there is the firing squad. He reminds them he is a Frenchman and some other nobles stuff and asks to command the execution. The guy who I assume is General Dumas ignores him and commands ready…aim…but then tells the duc that he can go ahead. The duc instructs to aim at the heart and the guns fire.

It’s the scene right after the coronation that Napoleon and Hippolyte Charles have their conversation.

A lot that comes after this is the same I think. There is a whole scene in Russian between the Czar and God knows who. And they only subtitle half of the scene. So you listen to the rest and don’t know what the fuck anyone is saying.

There is a scene of Napoleon huge ass map being painted by David. Napoleon wanders in in his nightgown and starts walking on the map. David tells him it’s not dry and if he must walk on it, he can step on Italy. Cut to the new scene of Napoleon and his generals on the map planning Austerlitz and Napoleon hopping on Italy so as not to disturb the now dry paint? I don’t know.

There is a scene of Napoleon on the toilet before battle, I believe it’s Austerlitz. He gets up and then buries his head in a bowl of water. He strips down and asks I guess the valet to brush him like a horse. Harder etc.

The next new scenes seem to be Napoleon on Elba. There is a scene of him walking down a street by himself and he draws his sword and starts practicing fencing moves but trips over his own feet and falls down in a doorway.

There is a scene of a boy bringing his boots that he shined in and dropping them unceremoniously on the floor. Napoleon chuckles and asks him to go get him wine. Napoleon sees in the paper Josephine is wining and dining Alexander. He gets mad but this time the boy enters the room and Napoleon asks him if he knows who Alexander is. The boy says no. He asks but you knew who I was? The boy says yes. Napoleon dismisses him.

There is a new scene of Napoleon and his mother serving him lunch. She quips she didn’t come all this way to sit and have lunch with her son who is a moody SOB. Napoleon doesn’t react but just broods. She tells him he wasn’t meant to die on this island and puts her arm around him. Napoleon tells her his wife is entertaining the Emperor of Russia in his home. Madame Mere hugs him.

Except she isn’t your wife. It isn’t your home. And she’s dead. And what has happened to his son and Marie Louise? Never mentioned again.

The scene where he learns of Josephine’s death seems longer. There is a scene where he goes into her bedroom and crawls into bed. That might be in the original and I forgot.

There is a small scene of him on the toilet again before Waterloo. He wipes his tush and look into the bowl to see nothing but blood.

There is an additional added on scene of Napoleon showing the St. Helena girls how to fence before he just drops dead at the picnic table.

I think those are all the added scenes. I may have missed a few.

This movie feels like a bunch of baggage the British have yet to unload from Napoleon to me. Like an angry ex who can’t understand why the guy they broke up with is still so popular and why we aren’t writing odes to Wellington. It also feels strangely like English cartoon propaganda come to life. Like all those English cartoons now filmed with people.

I say this because the obnoxious hit you over the head stats at the end tallying up the war dead is just so cringing. I am no war lover but laying the blame at Napoleon only seems the worst of takes. Not only does it ignore that a lot of history is people waging war and killing each other, it’s not as if Napoleon is a serial killer racking up all these deaths on his own. If Napoleon is to blame, then so is Wellington for dragging his army out at Waterloo. He could have stayed away and look how many people would have lived? And a nation that was at one time killing people left and right all over the globe as it expanded empire saying “yeah but Napoleon did…” seems a bit too hypocritical.

Second, if Napoleon is such a baddie, then why portray him as such a buffoon? It’s hard to hate him in this movie because he’s a cartoon. This Napoleon if anything makes me want to flick him off the screen. And that sucks because Napoleon is so much more compelling than this hot mess.

What story are they telling? That Napoleon was a warmonger but also a cartoon? That Napoleon was a serious threat? That Napoleon had mommy issues? That Napoleon and Josephine were toxic were they some great romance?

They keep trying to point to Napoleon having some weird Mommy issues but never follow the thread except for some characters making statements out of nowhere.

The actors do the best with this crap, but they all suck including Vanessa Kirby who usually gets praised. Sure, she does alright if you don’t know the real character of Josephine.

Kirby and Phoenix seem to try to be overly serious about these characters to the point that they become melodramatic jokes. You can make an argument that Josephine did suffer some form of PTSD after the Revolution. She probably did. Except it didn’t last her whole life. The historical record of her is as gracious, cheerful, warm, loved to spend and party, happy for the most part. She also could be a drama Queen and manipulator. Did Kirby just not read this and instead picked up some emo biography that I’m not aware of? He constant “fuck off and fuck you and the horse you rode in on” is so unlike the real woman.

Phoenix I think honestly doesn’t give a shit. He was way too old for the part but he is a gifted actor so I though he might be able to pull it off. Clavier was way too old too but somehow shines better than Phoenix. And Clavier wasn’t that great of a Napoleon either. But when Phoenix was quoted as sort of saying Napoleon was a little weirdo with a small coat that he wasn’t really concerned with playing a historical figure but just a cartoon character.

It could be also because I think the chemistry between Vanessa and Phoenix is in the negative territory that the characters fall flat.

In closing, this a film I can’t see myself really watching again. It has its moments, and it does look like an Assassin’s Creed Unity decorated set (and that is a compliment). It’s just too much for a mess and not really a fun mess. I’m glad I got to see it in the theater because Lord knows when that will happen again, the opportunity to see a movie about something that I live with in my head.

But this is a British cartoon take on a man that they seem to still be angry with and they want you to remember he is a villain, a terrible killer but also a silly man child who is a buffoon somehow.

Oh and he is a shitty lover too who doesn’t know anything about it.

[sweetprfct]

Sad Beautiful Tragic

Joseph Quinn x Fem!Reader

Summary: Sometimes things just doesn't seem to work out and maybe sometimes that's okay.

Author's Note: Here's one of my angsty fics. So, I apologize.

Wordcount: 2.9K

Six months.

That was exactly how long it has been since you have last seen him. Since that night. You haven’t fully found yourself yet, but you took it day by day. The first two months since he left were the worst parts of your life. You would stare into nothingness, while you sat on your sofa. You would barely eat. You would barely move. You would barely go out with your friends. Busy, that was what you would tell them. You have been busy with work. But weekends were spent on your bed, sleeping all day, or crying at certain times when you would find a piece of him around your flat. An old t-shirt tucked into the corner inside your drawers, his scent still lingering on the fabric. A piece of paper where he would doodle little flowers or hearts for you. It all consumed you in a way where you couldn’t move the moment you found little pieces of him in your place. 

You should start cleaning around.

You told yourself that, but you never got around to it. It was almost like you were too scared to throw away the things he had left because you knew that the moment all of his things were gone, you knew that you had to face the reality that he really wasn’t part of your life anymore. That you would never see him again. It was four years of you two being together and in one blink of an eye, he was just gone. It was like those four years didn’t exist, but in your heart and in your mind, those four years were still crystal clear. 

“Hey,” He would appear behind you after a long day of filming. 

He would come home, and he would find you cooking dinner in the kitchen. There was something about having these domestic moments with him that made you feel warm and cozy on the inside. His lips would linger at the back of your neck, his warm breath creating goosebumps on your skin and you would lean back against him and sigh happily.

“Joe.” You warned. “I’m cooking dinner. Don’t distract me.”

A small giggle would come out of you, and he would make it even worse as he would start kissing down your neck and on your shoulder. 

The kitchen was always a special place for you two. Joe loved to cook and when he was not filming, he would show you his love language and that would be spoiling you with some delicious homemade food and spending the day watching movies in the living room. Sometimes, you two would find yourselves taking a nap on the sofa. It was little moments like these that made you love him even more. It was little moments like these that made your heart ache every time it reappeared in your memories. You couldn’t bring yourself to enter your kitchen in the first two weeks since he left. You would order take out and completely avoid it unless you really needed something. You even bought yourself a mini fridge to store your bottles of water in your room just so you could avoid that one room in the flat.

The kitchen may have good memories, but it was also the last memory you had with him, and it wasn’t a good one. You knew that things between you two had been distant lately. He had been busy booking more roles, and you had been busy with your own job. After you got promoted in the office, you saw less and less of each other. Joe would fly to the States for filming, and you would sit in the flat alone, eating dinner by yourself. It didn’t really occur to you at the beginning because of the fact that you were also busy. Supporting each other’s careers were one of the strongest traits you two had in the relationship but how did it become like this? How did it end like this? 

It took about two months of Joe being away from you that you started to feel the distance between you two. Not just the fact that he was across the pond but how he was starting to be distant to you even if he was home. He would text or call on the first few weeks of his filming in the States but then, he started to go silent on you. The only time you would see him would be paparazzi pictures of him and his co-stars hanging out at a bar or at some concert. 

It bothered you. It bothered you that he couldn’t reply to one text or pick up his phone when you would call after not hearing from him for a week, but he had the time to hang out and go have some drinks with his newly found friends. It bothered you even more when he was seen with one of his co-stars getting too close. The picture you saw on the internet made your stomach drop. They were in a concert with his other co-stars, and she was sitting next to him, whispering something in his ear, while her hand was on his thigh. Joe had a smug smile on his face, and you immediately exited Twitter as soon as you saw it. 

It hurt. It hurt a lot when you saw that.  

After that, you didn’t hear from him. A month of you indulging yourself on the internet and staring at every new picture of him and the girl. You wanted to scream. You wanted to say something to him. You wanted to call and ask him what was going on, but you didn’t bother because he didn’t even bother replying or calling you back. That was until he came back home to London. You just had a long day at work, and you stayed later than usual in the office and when you came home, you saw Joe sitting on the sofa. You couldn’t look at him. You felt disgusted. So, you muttered a hello to him and made your way to the kitchen to heat up some leftovers. 

“How are you?” Joe asked you, following behind you.

He slipped his arms around your waist and gave you a kiss on the cheek, but you pushed him away. You occupied yourself by taking the bowl of leftover chicken from the microwave and pulled out some utensils. 

“What’s wrong?” Joe asked. “Look, I’m sorry I haven’t called. Filming had been really busy and–”

The sudden clang of utensils got Joe’s attention as you let out a sharp breath. Tears were starting to form in your eyes, but you held it in. You couldn’t let him see you like this. Your back was still turned to him as silence took over the both of you. 

“Busy filming, huh?” You finally said, your tone of voice sounded angry. 

“Yes.” Joe’s eyes stared at you as you turned to face him. 

“Tell me, Joe. Is that it?” You raised your brow, holding the spoon tightly in your hand. “Is that the only reason why? It’s not because you were cuddling with some girl in the States?”

“For fuck sake!” Joe shook his head. “Is this what it’s about?”

“No, Joe!” You exclaimed. “This isn’t just about her! It’s about how you don’t reply to my texts or when I call, you never answer! It’s the fact that I haven’t heard from you in a month, and you come back in here like there’s nothing wrong!” 

Your voice shook. Your whole body trembled in anger as you stared at him, tears welling up in your eyes. Joe didn’t say anything because he knew. He knew you were right. Both of you had been distant from each other, and he had denied it. You both had denied it. It didn’t mean that he had stopped caring. Things had just been different lately with all the things he needed to do for his career. 

“Hey.” He walked around the kitchen island and wiped the tears that started rolling down your cheeks, but you pushed his hand away.

“Don’t!” You warned him, taking a step back. “Don’t act like you care because I know you haven’t cared for a while now.”

“That’s not true!” Joe barked. “I care about you!”

“Not like the way you did before!” You argued, your eyes widened.

You felt stupid. You have been denying this for months now, and you knew that things had not been the same lately. That things had changed. You just couldn’t face that reality and maybe, Joe couldn’t either that was why he was still here standing in front of you. 

“We kissed.” Joe admitted, his head hung low. “Once. But that was it. It didn’t mean anything!”

You nodded your head as reality creeped in slowly. You couldn’t move. You felt angry. You felt that knot in your stomach, and you felt like vomiting as you heard those words came out of Joe’s lips. Four years of being together just all washed away by those words. Those words that stabbed you right on your chest as you grabbed the bowl of chicken and threw it at Joe. Fortunately, for him, he had ducked just in time as the bowl shattered on the wall behind him, leaving the chicken a mess on your floor. 

“I’m sorry.” Joe tried to walk towards you, but you kept stepping back as you sobbed in front of him. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

He shook his head as he tried to cup your face and looked into your eyes, but you were pushing him away, hand scratching and grabbing the fabric of his sweater as you slapped his hands away from your face. 

“I’m sorry.” Joe cried, tears rolled down his face too. 

You shook your head as you sobbed in front of him as you started pacing back and forth in front of him, while Joe tried to reach for your hand. So many questions were running in your mind and so many emotions washing over you. 

“Please.” Joe murmured. “I’m so sorry.” He pulled you in his arms as he hugged you from behind and buried his face on your shoulder.

You closed your eyes, feeling his strong arms around you, while tears streamed down your face. Joe continued to murmur his “I’m sorrys,” but the image of him and that girl just kept flickering in your mind, and it made you angry and disgusted. How could he do this? How could he just easily throw away everything you both had? 

“It didn’t mean anything.” Joe turned you around, his hands sliding down your arms and taking a hold of your hands. “I know I have been distant, and I’m sorry. Work had been stressful, and I didn’t want to drag you into it.”

“We’re partners, Joe.” You sniffed, sliding your hands away from him and wiped the tears on your face. “I thought we knew how to communicate with each other. I thought we knew how to be there for each other no matter what the situation was. You were the one person I thought that would never hurt me like this.”

“I know. I just…” Joe sloppily wiped his own tears. “I just couldn’t bring you into this crazy world that I entered, and I… I know. I’m so sorry. I was drunk and it happened so fast.”

Another silence took over before you asked him the one question that had been repeating in your mind for the past month.

“D… Do you still love me?” 

Silence.

It hit you like a ton of bricks when he couldn’t answer your question. The silence was enough for you to know the real answer from Joe. No, he didn’t love you anymore. It was the silence that you never thought would make you feel that sharp pain in your chest. Joe took a step forward to you, his hand reaching, but you couldn’t look at him any longer. He was a different person to you now. He wasn’t the same Joe that you knew for the last four years. 

“The kiss meant nothing to me.” Joe repeated it again, but you weren’t listening anymore. “I’m sorry.”

“It doesn’t matter.” You sniffed. “I know how you feel about me and the fact is you don’t love me anymore.”

Another silence. 

“I think you should go.” You stated, wiping the last remaining tears on your face. 

“What?” 

“I think you should go.” 

And just like that, it was the last time you saw his face. You walked away from him and went to your room. You never saw him again. You only heard the sound of him packing his things and the door closing behind him as you sobbed in your bed that night. Ever since then, you haven't gotten any sleep at all. That was six months ago though. You have been okay since. At least that was what you thought until you had walked by a coffee shop one day and the sight of Joe had given you that negative feeling in your stomach again. He was with another girl, kissing her softly as they waited in line inside. You stood there outside by the window as you felt yourself breaking down again.

You couldn’t breathe. 

You couldn’t move. 

You shouldn’t be here. 

You thought that the feelings were gone. You thought the hurt that Joe had caused you was enough for you to hate him, but you were wrong. You still loved him. Perhaps, you always will. He was always going to be a part of you no matter what but seeing him with another girl made you face the fact that you needed to also move on with your life. You needed to stop dwelling on him. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. 

So, that was what you did. You worked on yourself for weeks and weeks turned into months and months turned into a year. You started going out again with your friends. You started smiling little by little again, and you finally had brought courage to yourself into stepping into that kitchen again. The mark on the wall where the bowl had shattered that night was still there. You ran your fingers through it, but you felt okay now. You didn’t feel anything. You had told yourself to fix that hole on the wall and maybe re-decorate the kitchen and so, you did. It was almost like the more you had fixed that kitchen, the more you were fixing yourself too. 

You saw an ad of Joe on the internet one day, and he looked different. A good different. He looked okay. Just like you. You were okay. You have moved on. You have focused more on your career, friends, and family for a while now. Another year passed and you were more than okay. You were good. 

Two years.

Exactly two years since that night. If only you could go back in time and tell yourself that you were going to be okay, you would. Though, you wouldn’t have had it either way because it taught you lessons. It taught you new things about yourself that you never knew before. Your only hope was that Joe was okay too. Even if the relationship didn’t end well, he was still Joe. Your Joe. The Joe that you knew for four years and loved you then. The Joe that you loved.

You were walking down the streets of London one day just right after office hours when you had heard that familiar voice call your name. You froze in place as you slowly turned around and saw Joe standing there in front of you. He looked different. You couldn’t explain it, but he just looked different. He looked more mature and older.

“Hey.” You gave him a small smile.

“Hi.” He gave you a tight lipped smile as he slid his hands in his coat pockets.

“It’s… It’s been a while.” 

You didn’t know exactly how to react. You didn’t expect to ever see his face again, but you were glad that you did. Somehow, you didn’t feel that pain in your chest anymore as you looked into his brown eyes. You didn’t feel that knot in your stomach. You just felt content and relaxed. 

“Yeah, it has been.”

“How are you?” Joe asked. 

“I’m good. How are you?” Your eyes studied him. “You… You look great.”

“Thank you. I’m good. I just got back from the States. I had a movie premiere that just finished.” 

“Oh? Well, congratulations.” 

For a moment, you two just stood there, looking at each other. Both of you knew that the pain had washed away. That both of you had learned something from it. That both of you had grown from it. That maybe the two years had healed the both of you. That maybe the two years had made you both mature. 

“Listen,” Joe started. “I just want to thank you for always being so understanding and supportive of me. I truly am sorry for giving you the pain that I know you didn’t deserve.” 

It was closure.

Something both of you needed after that night. 

A small smile appeared on your face, your eyes twinkled for a moment. “It’s alright. I didn’t regret being with you.”

Joe’s lips also curved into an understanding smile. “Well, I guess I’ll see you around.”

“Yeah, I’ll see you around.” 

Both of you walked away in opposite directions and for a minute, you stopped in your tracks and looked over your shoulder to see Joe doing the same thing. You gave each other one more smile before completely walking away. 

The End.

Taglist:

@palomahasenteredthechat @sunvick @eddies-acousticguitar @demonsanddemogorgons @joesquinns @mmunson86 @ghostinthebackofyourhead @corrodedcoffincumslut @figmentofquinn @tlclick73 @browneyes8288 @bylermaxmayfield @ali-r3n @ficsbypix @capricornrisingsstuff @missonlypost @ali-in-w0nderland @amberolivia666 @lalalala-melmosworld @niallersfreckles @nanas-lasagna

[oldiesstationlover11607]

okay your vampire fic was so scrumptious

would you ever consider tyler & josh & reader zombie apocalypse fic?

🕸🕸🕸🕸

Apocalypse - Tyler Joseph + Josh Dun X Reader (Zombie Apocalypse AU)

Warnings: Death and zombie apocalypse stuff

Word Count: 1571

A/N: I love your requests 🕸️ you're one of my fave anons bc of the amazing AUs you request ;) enjoy this one hun!

Part 2

The road was dark, cracked with deep, twisting roots breaking through the asphalt, and my lungs were on fire, each breath tearing through me like knives. My legs wanted to give out, but I knew that stopping now would mean the end. My friends… my family… the sounds of their screams still rang in my ears, echoing through the empty night.

Up ahead, through the haze, I saw two figures. They moved with purpose, their flashlights slicing through the darkness. One of them was tall and broad, his posture rigid, his face shadowed but unmistakably alert. Beside him was someone slightly shorter, with a buzz cut.

The taller one—Tyler, I realized—raised his hand, signaling me to stop. His expression was hardened, his jaw set, and his stance was tense, protective. The buzz cut one—Josh—looked at him as if waiting for an order.

“Wait,” Tyler said in a low, commanding voice. “She could be infected. Check her.”

I barely had time to react before Josh stepped forward, his expression softer, but still cautious as he scanned me. “You okay?” he asked gently. “Any bites?”

“No,” I managed to choke out. “Just… just ran into a horde. They… got everyone else. I’m the only one left.”

Tyler’s eyes narrowed, studying me with a gaze so intense I felt like he was looking straight through me. After a moment, he jerked his head toward the tree line.

“We don’t have time for this,” he said curtly. “We’re heading to shelter. If you can keep up, you’re with us.”

I nodded, too exhausted to do much else. Before I could even gather myself, Tyler had turned and started striding through the trees, his movements silent but deliberate, as if he knew the woods by heart. Josh stayed close by my side, a supportive presence as I struggled to keep up.

“Tyler’s… well, he’s serious about survival,” Josh said quietly, glancing over at me. “But he won’t let anything happen to you. I promise.”

“He doesn’t seem too thrilled I’m here,” I whispered back.

Josh shrugged, a sympathetic look on his face. “That’s just how he is. He’s had to be tough—keeps us alive.”

After a few more minutes of pushing through dense underbrush, we came upon a small shack, nearly swallowed by overgrown vines and creeping ivy. Tyler didn’t hesitate, scanning the area for any signs of movement before gesturing us inside.

“Josh, you cover the back,” he ordered. “I’ll block the windows. You”—he pointed to me—“sit down. Rest up, but stay quiet.”

I sat on the cold floor, my body slumping as the last of my adrenaline faded. My mind replayed the scene I’d just escaped from, the faces of those I’d lost haunting me. Tears pricked my eyes, and I struggled to keep my emotions in check, but it was impossible. The pain in my chest was too much to bear.

“Look,” Tyler said, his tone a little softer but still guarded. “We’re all going through hell right now. You’re not the only one who’s lost people.” His eyes held a hardness that told me he knew loss just as well as I did—if not more. “But out here, you need to be strong. Weakness gets you killed.”

A sob broke from me, and I looked away, clutching my hands to keep from falling apart completely. I felt Josh’s hand rest on my shoulder, his touch warm and comforting.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered, the words barely making it past the lump in my throat. “I just… I don’t know if I can keep going.”

Josh knelt beside me, his face soft with understanding. “You don’t have to apologize,” he said gently. “Losing people… it never stops hurting. But Tyler’s right—we have to keep going, for them. For ourselves.”

Tyler watched us, his expression unreadable. “You don’t have to thank us for saving you,” he said, his voice low but steady. “We’re better off together, especially if you pull your weight. This isn’t a charity.”

I nodded, wiping my face. “I get it. I don’t want to be a burden. I… I want to survive.”

His eyes met mine, his face unreadable. “Good. Then you’ll listen, follow orders, and we’ll all have a shot at making it through the next few days. Trust is earned out here.”

“Tyler,” Josh said, his tone a touch reproachful. “She’s been through a lot. Cut her a little slack.”

Tyler sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “Fine. Look, I don’t mean to be cold,” he muttered, his gaze softening just slightly. “But out here, I’ve seen people get killed because they lost focus or trusted the wrong person. I don’t want that happening again.”

The weight of his words settled over us, and I realized he was speaking from experience. Tyler’s no-nonsense, tough demeanor wasn’t just an act. It was armor, forged from surviving in a world where compassion often meant vulnerability. But Josh’s hand stayed firm on my shoulder, and his presence softened the harsh edges of Tyler’s words.

“I’ll do my best,” I said quietly, meeting Tyler’s gaze. “I’ll follow orders. And… I’m grateful. I know I’d be dead if you hadn’t helped me.”

Tyler nodded, his face easing into a look that might have been respect. “Good. We need to keep each other alive. That’s all that matters now.”

Josh gave me an encouraging smile before standing up and glancing around the dim shack. “Well, since we’re all here… we should figure out the next steps.”

Tyler nodded, looking between us with a sense of practiced authority. “We’re low on supplies, and this place isn’t safe for long. We’ll head out at dawn, find some shelter with more protection, and stock up on food and water.”

He turned back to me, his expression serious. “You said you were on your own for a while?”

“Yes,” I said, swallowing hard. “I… my group was attacked last night. They… they didn’t make it.”

For a split second, Tyler’s expression shifted, a flicker of empathy breaking through. “I’m sorry,” he said quietly, his tone softer than before. “It’s a brutal world out there.”

“But you’re with us now,” Josh interjected, his voice a soothing contrast to Tyler’s intensity. “We’ll stick together, help each other. We’re a team.”

Tyler glanced over at him, his mouth quirking up in a half-smile. “Yeah. Guess we’re a team.”

Something in his voice told me he meant it, even if he couldn’t quite let go of his guarded edge.

We spent the next hour in relative silence, listening to the sounds of the woods, each of us keeping watch at intervals. Tyler stayed by the window, his gaze fixed on the perimeter with a focus that was almost unnerving. Josh, on the other hand, sat by me, his presence warm and reassuring.

“So, you got a name?” Josh asked softly, leaning close enough that Tyler wouldn’t overhear.

“Yeah,” I whispered, telling him my name. It felt strange, saying it out loud in the silence of the night, as if it belonged to a different person.

“Nice to meet you,” Josh said, a small, genuine smile on his face. “I’m Josh, and the guy with the whole ‘leader of the apocalypse’ routine over there is Tyler.”

I stifled a small laugh, but it still slipped out. Tyler looked over at us with a raised brow. “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing,” Josh said quickly, shooting me a wink. “Just trying to lighten the mood a little.”

Tyler rolled his eyes but didn’t say anything more, his attention already shifting back to the window.

As dawn approached, Tyler turned to us, his expression serious as he shouldered his bag. “We’re heading out. Keep quiet, stay close, and don’t do anything reckless. Got it?”

“Got it,” I said, matching his tone. This was life or death, and I was done being scared.

We moved through the forest in tense silence, Tyler leading the way with sharp eyes and careful steps. Josh stayed close behind, his presence reassuring as we weaved through the dense trees and overgrown trails. The sun was just breaking through the canopy when Tyler held up a hand, signalling us to stop.

“There’s a house up ahead,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “We’ll check it out. Could be empty, but don’t let your guard down.”

We approached cautiously, and Tyler gestured for us to stay back as he slipped inside. A few moments later, he reemerged, giving us a nod.

“Clear,” he said, his voice low. “It’ll do for now.”

Once inside, Tyler immediately began setting up defenses, pulling furniture in front of the doors and windows with practiced efficiency. Josh handed me a canteen of water, his eyes warm with encouragement.

“Drink up. Tyler might be intense, but he knows what he’s doing. With him around, we’ll be alright.”

“Thanks, Josh,” I murmured, grateful for his kindness.

Tyler glanced over at us, a slight smirk breaking his usual stoic expression. “You two gonna keep chatting, or are you gonna help out?”

Josh chuckled, nudging me as he stood up. “Come on. Let’s not make the boss mad.”

I laughed, a real laugh that felt strange and wonderful after so much pain. With Tyler’s tough guidance and Josh’s warmth, I felt something I hadn’t felt in weeks—a reason to keep going.

For now, we were safe, together, and in a world that had taken almost everything, that was enough.

//

REQUESTS OPEN

[jennay]

Play Pretend (2)

An: I was thinking about a mini series? What do you think? Anything you’d love to see? Angst, fluff, whatever? I can suggest smut but I’m not huge on writing it. Anyways if you enjoy and want more please reblog comment and let me know 💜

Master List

Part 1

Months passed before you gave in to Joseph and agreed to lunch. It's not that you didn't want to see him, but with how your life was going, it was easier to lie through a text message. You didn't want him to know for the past few months you'd been out partying and drowning any emotion you had with alcohol and any pain relievers you could get your hands on.

Joseph had asked if it was ok that Jamie came to lunch, and for a brief second, you were upset, and then you were excited to see him. You looked fabulous and could easily convince him you were doing fine without him. You'd be lying if you said you didn't miss Jamie's company, but there was no chance in hell that you would be the one to reach out.

When you round the corner, it's not hard to spot your dorky friends sitting around a table outside the restaurant. Jamie looked like a rockstar out of place, and Joseph looked like he was going to a photoshoot.

You quietly sneak up behind Joseph, giving Jamie the universal sign to be quiet by putting your finger to your lips. You abruptly grab Joseph's shoulders and yell, "Boo!"

Joseph spills his water on his lap, which causes Jamie to clap his hands together and laugh. "She got you."

You bend down and wrap your arms around his shoulders, leaving a slobbery kiss on his cheek. "Hello, darling, did you miss me?" You pull one of the chairs out and sit next to Joseph. You hand him a few paper towels. "We can't take you anywhere without you making a mess."

He glares and continues cleaning up his pants. "I didn't think you'd be so cheerful considering how drunk you were last night." He laughs, "Babbling on about your new lover."

Your mouth drops. "I told you about that?" You look around the table searching for water, your mouth feels dry, and you can feel hangover anxiety reaching your throat. You grab Jamie's ice water and take a drink. "Honestly, I'm hungover as shit, and I don't remember much from last night, so disregard anything I said." You say, taking another drink of water and

Jamie grabs his cup back from you. "I've got cooties, you know?" He chuckles at his own joke.

Shrugging, you say, "I've had grosser things of yours in my mouth."

Jamie's face scrunches, and he looks offended by your words. "I'm not gross!"

Joseph covers his mouth, making gagging noises, "That's not an image I wanted in my head."

"Sure you didn't." You wink in his direction.

He groans at your gesture, "I honestly could've done without, sweetheart."

"Are you ready to order?"

Your eyes shoot to the waitress, "I'll take a vodka cranberry and an ice water, please." You hand her your menu, not bothering with the food. You weren't hungry, but you needed something to kill the hangover. The two men watch with concern. "Look, I need you two to put those judgy eyes away. I can't handle any more anxiety today."

"I'll have the number twelve, please."

You find yourself admiring Jamie while he studies the menu. His finger taps his full lips, and he scrunches his nose every time he almost decides something.

His eyes raise to the waitress, "The number six sounds outstanding."

Joseph gently kicks your leg under the table, snapping you back to reality. You shake your head away from Jamie and meet Joseph's gaze, "So," He says, "Tell us about the new guy."

"Thank you." You say to the woman who brings you your drink. "Well, he's an actor. He's charming, funny, and the sex!" You say, emphasizing the last word.

"I don't want to hear about your sex life." Joseph says, "Not with Jamie, strangers, or yourself."

Jamie laughs, "We did have good sex." He teases Joseph.

Smirking, you say, "Maybe good for you." That's right (y/n); keep hitting him where it hurts the most. You give him the sweetest sarcastic smile you can muster up. "Anyhow, his name is Alex Shepard, and we actually haven't had sex. I'm saving the goods for now."

Joseph's brow crinkles, "The Alex Shepard?"

Jamie's body stiffens, and out of the corner of your eye, you see his look of disgust. "Alex is a pig. Do you know how many women have come forward saying he's abusive? You'd think you, of all people, would believe the victims."

"He was never charged, and it was a miss understanding. The two girls took back the claims and even said they were doing it for his money." You roll your eyes and chug the rest of your drink. "I shouldn't be surprised that you would have such a negative attitude about someone I'm dating." You set your glass down roughly. "You had your chance, Jamie. Now fuck off and let me find my person."

Jamie scoffs and pushes his food away, "No, absolutely not! You have no idea who you're dating. This has nothing to do with my feelings (Y/N). This is strictly because I care about you!"

"Guys." Joseph tries to intervene, but it's too late. "Lower your voices."

"You sound like a jealous boy." You taunt.

Jamie tilts his head, slightly annoyed by your assumptions. "Someone needs to look after you! Joseph is too nice to tell you, you make bad choices. Everyone sees it besides you. It's insane!" He yells.

You scoot back in your chair, aggravated by his words. You stand up and throw cash on the table. "It was nice seeing you guys and not at the same time. Seems to be a running theme, so I'm gonna go." You start down the sidewalk, not giving them any time to react. "Don't bother me anymore."

Part 3

Tag list - @cat-loves-music @lma1986

Thanks for reading!

[garciaasfluffypen]

bright beginnings pt 2.

its what brings you closer to those around you, you know? the chaos of everything, the timing... it’s never perfect, but the universe knows what it’s doing, and i’m so glad the universe led me here.  

pairing: single dad!joseph quinn x fem!reader  wc:  1.7k warnings: this is literally pure fluff, probably one of the more fluffier things i’ve written in a while (: 

part one • part three 

oh no. he’s hot. 

that had been your only thought for approximately the last ten minutes as you sat with some of the kids during snack time, trying your best to not think about the fact that your boss was hot and you only wanted to do things that were not professional with him. you’d most definitely have to talk to your cousin about it later. pushing those thoughts to the back of your mind, you put your attention back on the kids and made sure to give all your time to them, stopping for the day when the last kid -minus thomas, now that you knew his dad was the boss- left for the day. thomas was chilling with you at the front desk when mr. qui- joe walked out, a bit more unruly than he looked earlier that afternoon. thomas automatically perked up in your arms as he saw his dad, reaching out excitedly and babbling as he got closer.

“how was he today?”

“a perfect angel. his temperature has been normal all day, and he played amazingly with leah and stanley in the ballpit earlier.” donna smiled. “quite a brilliant boy, this one.”

“oh, i’m glad to hear. you were a good boy today, huh tommy?”

your heart absolutely swelled as you watched joe lightly scratch thomas’ chest.

“can i ask how riley is doing?”

“she’s been asleep for a few hours now, i actually was going to ask if i could borrow the thermometer so i could check her temperature again.”

“no, of course, be my guest.” you reached around the desk to grab the thermometer. “we also have-”

“tylenol, yes, i ordered it the other day.” joe smirked. “which reminds me, if you lot ever need anything please don't hesitate to come ask me about it. my office is just down the hall.”

“wait wait wait. you’re our new boss?”

“the one and only.” joe chuckled. “as i was telling y/n earlier, i had planned to introduce myself but i got the daycare in the midst of a divorce. so i’ve been holed up in my office dealing with paperwork and stuff for that.” he sighed as thomas patted his face. “but, i should have filed the last of it as of ten minutes ago, so hopefully i’ll be able to be more involved.”

lucille cleared her throat. “can i ask how you got the daycare?”

“yeah, so john, the previous owner, he’s a good family friend of my ex. when julia and i started dating, i had just applied to work here as the front desk guy, and soon as he found out i was dating julia it was an automatic hire. ‘any friend of julia is a friend of mine!’ he would say. anyway, after he announced his plans to retire i was one of the first people he reached out to to ask if i could take over.”

oh, so her name was julia. not that it mattered.

“has he found out?”

“about the divorce? by now, probably.” he shrugged. “it’s no big deal though, he left me with a great staff.”

“well i’m glad to hear you think we’re amazing.” donna smiled. “but i have to start heading out for the night, my pup is at daycare herself and the owners close shop at seven thirty.”

“ah yes, don’t let us keep you!” joe seemed to turn back into parent mode within seconds. “i’ll just take thomas back to the office where riley is, and let you guys close up. don’t worry about locking up when you leave, i’ll leave after you guys.”

with that, you all split up into your typical closing positions for the night, each of you cleaning a certain section of the daycare. john had it set up that way so it was time effective, rather than having everyone clean the same area. it always went faster when multiple people were cleaning as well. everything was properly sanitized and put away by seven fifteen, leaving you and the girls in the lobby gathering your things.

“do you want to head out for a drink?” lucille looked between you and lauren.

“i would, but i promised my aunt i’d be home for dinner.” you smiled. “and i have a few chores and stuff i need to do.”

“you wanna raincheck? what about friday instead?”

“i think that might be best, then we can invite donna and the other girls as well.”

seeing as the daycare had a pretty small staff, with four in the morning and four in the afternoons, you became pretty close with everyone quickly. you weren’t quite sure how the daycare actually made it's money, considering how small it was, but it was up and running and that’s all that seemed to matter to joe. yes, there were some small repairs that needed to be done, but none that someone who had a good handiness skill couldn’t fix so they didn’t have to call anyone in. and besides, the staff needed to focus on the kids and their well beings, not the silly little problems the old london building had.

you said goodbye to the girls and ran off to the bathroom real fast, which happened to be across the hall from joe’s office. you did your business as quick as you possibly could, hoping to make it out before him so you didn’t get locked in the center. it wouldn’t be the end of the world, but you did want to get home so you could talk to your cousin right away. it was one of the plus sides to living with your aunt, seeing as you could walk right across the hall to your cousin and spill all the tea in the world instead of waiting for a socially acceptable time to call her. you and your cousin have been best friends since you could walk, and did your best to stay in touch when you and your parents moved to america back when you were two. you turned twenty one and decided on a whim to pack up all your stuff and move back to london, where your aunt welcomed you in with open arms. as much as you loved living in america, it was such a shit show and the healthcare was horrible. your heart was in london, tucked away in the little flat your aunt and cousin lived in. while you still kept in touch with your parents, it was hard to only see them in person every few months, but you were saving up to surprise them over the summer and spend two weeks with them. they had recently moved to new orleans for your dads work, and you had been dying to explore there since you were a kid. it was only fair that you do that exploring with your parents by your side.

you were jostled out of your thoughts when you walked out of the bathroom to see joe struggling to carry not only the twins, but a folder of papers and the diaper bag. he locked eyes with you and visibly relaxed, glad to see someone was still here.

“y/n, a lovely-”

“do you-” you cut yourself off. “sorry, you first.”

joe chuckled. “i’m not saying anything until you go first.”

“then we’ll be here a while.” you joked effortlessly. “or until one of them wakes up.”

“they sleep through the night, so we will indeed be here for a while.”

there was a small moment of silence. “do you want some help? i was just about to head out.”

“if you wouldn’t mind, that would be fantastic.”

joe maneuvered himself so you could grab the diaper bag, as well as the folder he was holding. he re adjusted the twins in his arms, both of them having fallen asleep on a shoulder. the two of you walked into the front lobby, shutting off the lights as you went. as you held the door open for him, you couldn’t help but tell how tired he looked, and a pang of sadness flew through your body. you couldn’t begin to imagine how much he had been through in the past few months, with getting full ownership of the daycare plus the divorce on top of having twins. you watched as he expertly locked up shop with the two kids in his arms, his head tilting you in the direction of the car park he usually parked in. the walk was pretty quick, and you found yourself helping him get the twins into the car within a few minutes of leaving the center.

“thank you for your help, y/n, i don’t know how i would have been able to do that myself.”

“it’s no problem-”

joe let out a dramatic groan. “oh not you too. i absolutely hate it when people say that.”

“well it really isn’t-”

“ah ah. nope. don’t say it. i will kick your ass if you do.”

“i’d like to see you try, mr. i wear designer suits to work.” you smirked. “you probably couldn’t even catch up to me, i had the fastest mile in high school.”

a chuckle. “you’re feisty, no wonder john liked you.”

“my parents didn’t call me a spitfire for nothing.” you shrugged.

joe smiled. “it most definitely suits you.”

“well, if you don’t need anything else i best be going, my aunt’s going to wonder where i am.”

“yes, of course, i probably should get these two home in bed as well. have a good night, y/n.”

“you too.” you made it approximately five steps before you turned around to face him, walking backwards as you talked. “the girls and i are going out for drinks on friday if you’d like to join.” you paused for a split second. “if you can find a sitter, i mean. don’t feel like you have to either i-”

“i’d love to. text me the deets?”

“i don’t have your number. and never say deets again, for the sake of everyone's sanity.”

“i’ll have a sticky note in your cubicle in the morning. get some rest!”

“you too! see you tomorrow.”

as you walked away, it hit you. oh my god, was he flirting with me?

[feirceangel]

Imagine | Love (Jean Pierre Polnareff

A/n: the gif is not mine!

Warning: this does get steamy but there aren't any details, it's just implied for the most part 

M/n = male name

Word Count: 2269

~

It's been a week since you were defeated by the Stardust Crusaders and freed from Dio's mind control. Since then, you've sworn allegiance to their cause, vowing to help them vanquish Dio and save Jotaro's mother (who you have never even met).

For the most part, everyone was very welcoming when you switched sides, albeit Jotaro was standoffish and they did take time to fully trust you.

Polnareff and Kakyoin were very open with you from the start, seeing as they had been under Dio's spell before. They sympathized with your predicaments and you with theirs.

Now, you are close with each member of the group, having earned their trust many times over.

In particular, Polnareff has grown extremely fond of you.

Every chance he gets, he is by your side. Whether it be sitting next to you, walking beside you, or requesting to share a room with you.

When this behaviour started, you didn't really give it much thought. He simply liked your presence, and you certainly didn't mind his.

As the journey goes on, though, you are beginning to feel crowded by the Frenchman. He never lets you do anything without him (apart from using the restroom), claiming that it's for your own protection.

Currently, you're trying not to get angry at the white-haired male as he gives you a lecture on sticking close to the group until Dio is defeated.

"For the last time, Polnareff, I am not a child. You cannot continue treating me as such," you manage to say calmly, fixing cold eyes upon his.

He flounders, "I know you're not an enfant, cherie! I just want to keep you safe! You understand, don't you?"

His eyes contain hurt, as if he's insulted that you think that he thinks you are a kid. At his last statement, you think for a moment. You realize that you're being a bit unfair.

After all, when the team 'lost' Avdol, Polnareff was inconsolable and started really keeping an eye on you. He lost his sister as well, undoubtedly giving him some abandonment issues.

You sigh and gently rest you hand on his arm, "I understand, Polly, but I need space to breathe sometimes. You can't keep suffocating me because you're scared I'll get hurt. I can take care of myself."

Before he can argue further, you walk out the hotel door, "I'm going for a walk, alone. I'll be back later. You guys can eat without me. Can you tell the others for me?"

He watches you walk away without looking back, "Okay."

Turning, he goes to the rest of the group.

"Where's Y/n?" Joseph asks, handing the Frenchman a key.

"She went for a walk, she said she'll be back for later and to eat without her," he tells them, his usual smile gone.

Avdol notices his dour demeanour, "Are you alright, Polnareff?"

"Of course," he nods and forces a smile.

|||||

As you walk, you keep checking your surroundings to ensure that you're not being followed. With no enemy Stand users in sight, you relax immensely, enjoying the peace.

After a time, you return to the hotel and head straight to the restaurant. You sit at the bar, placing your order and waiting.

Your thoughts rest upon the subject of Polnareff.

It's no secret that he feels something towards you, seeing as he flirts relentlessly and calls you pet names. But, how do you feel about him?

He's honourable, kind, sweet... the list of wonderful things goes on and on. Even if he is a bit clingy, his good qualities overthrow that.

You respect him, and he seems to reciprocate your mutual bond of respect and trust. Out of all the others, you're closest with him, but is that simply because he never leaves you alone?

Sighing, you sip your drink idly as someone sits beside you.

You pay the man no attention, going so far as to tilt away from him. You're not in the mood for company, especially a stranger's.

"Hey, baby. How about I buy you a drink?"

Not wanting to be entirely rude, you shake your head, "No thank you. I have one already."

"I can buy you another, if you want," he grins.

He's not bad looking and he appears to be around your age. His smile is easygoing and you don't feel threatened by him at all.

Your lips twitch into a small smile, "We'll see."

Taking the opportunity, he introduces himself and strikes up conversation. You talk with him, actually enjoying yourself.

Your food arrives and so does his. As you eat, you continue conversing, mainly about yours and his home countries.

The meal is over and you smile cheekily, "I suppose I could have another drink."

"It would be my pleasure to buy you one," he chuckles and gets the waiter's attention.

Unbeknownst to you, a certain Frenchman has been observing the whole encounter since the beginning, his rage growing by the minute. Seeing another man flirt with you and make you smile fills him with burning jealousy.

How dare that stranger try to take you away from him!

You thank the man for the drink and move closer to him, excited that this night is going so well.

Polnareff barely suppresses a growl as you lean playfully against the handsome stranger. He can't just stand by and do nothing.

Determined, he approaches the bar.

You look up in surprise as Polnareff makes an appearance. Inside, you wish wouldn't ruin your unofficial 'date'.

Unfortunately, he comes right to you with a false smile, "Hey, Y/n!"

"Who's this?" M/n asks.

"This is Polnareff. He's in my travel group," you say, dying on the inside.

Why is he cock-blocking you?! Don't you deserve some fun after all you've been through?

"Pol, this is M/n," you finish the introduction, trying to silently tell Polnareff to go away.

Your attempts go unnoticed by both parties as the buff Frenchman seats himself beside you.

"So, where have you been?" Polnareff questions you, losing some of his joviality.

Narrowing your eyes, you respond, "I told you, I went on a walk around town. Didn't you eat already?"

He shrugs, "I'm thirsty so I thought I'd get a drink. Is that a crime?"

M/n seems to pick up on your irritation, no doubt experiencing some of his own. "I think we were actually going to take this elsewhere, right, Y/n?"

You nod, thankful to M/n, "Yeah. See you tomorrow, Pol."

He watches you leave, grinding his teeth as you slip your hand into M/n's.

He won't let you slip through his fingers like this, and he especially won't let that stranger touch you when he himself hasn't laid hands on you yet.

Standing, he follows a safe distance behind, anger fuelling his actions.

|||||

M/n leads the way to his room, which is stationed on the opposite side of the hotel from the rest of your group's.

He grins and opens the door for you.

You waste no time and enter the clean room with confidence before turning to M/n. Before you can do anything, M/n drops to the ground, eyes shut.

Confused, you crouch down and examine him. He's still alive.

Is this the work of an enemy Stand?

"Mon amour," a husky voice answers your unspoken query.

Looking up, your startled eyes meet Polnareff's.

"What the hell?!" You leap to your feet and glare at the larger man. "What did you do?!"

"He's alright, I simply knocked him unconscious, not that you should care."

He steps over M/n's sleeping form, moving closer to you. You step back, the back of your knees hitting the edge of the bed.

"I shouldn't care? Of course I care, he's innocent! Unless you have proof he was an enemy Stand user..."

He makes a tsk sound and leans closer to you, too close for comfort. "I had to deal with him, amoureux. He was coming between us."

You instinctively bring your hands up and try to push him away. He doesn't budge as a smirk taints his soft pink lips.

"Pol, you're scaring me," you feel trapped.

That statement seems to snap him out of his odd behaviour, at least a bit. He backs off of you and lets you pass him.

"You shouldn't have done that, Jean Pierre Polnareff," you scold, angry and a bit frightened. "We're not dating or anything. I'm allowed to do whatever I want in my spare time."

Your words simply add fuel to his angry flame, "Do I have to teach you, ma cherie, that you're mine and no one else's?"

He gently trails his hand across your shoulders before gripping your arm tightly. Eyes wide, you are dragged alongside the Frenchman to your shared room.

"Let me go!"

He ignores your protests, locking the door behind him as he finally releases you.

Your Stand appears, ready to battle it out, "Is this the work of an enemy? What's happening?!"

He chuckles, Silver Chariot at the ready. "It's not an enemy, ma chere Y/n."

You stare at him blankly.

"I love you, Y/n. I love you so much! I couldn't let some other man take you away from me."

"I'm not yours, Polnareff. I don't belong to anyone!" You refute, "Now move, I'm not spending the night anywhere near you!"

"Tsk, no can do, l'amour. I'm not letting you leave until I prove my love," he moves closer to you.

While you're distracted, he uses Silver Chariot to restrain your weaker Stand. You can't move as terror strikes you.

"Don't," your voice shakes, "Polly, don't do this."

He ignores you pleas, slowly melding his lips to yours. Tears flow down your cheeks and he swipes them away with a caring touch. He rests his forehead against yours, "I won't do anything you don't want. You can't tell me you don't like this."

You tilt away from him, "Polnareff, you have to know this isn't right! I'm sorry if I've lead you on, but-"

"I know you feel the same way that I do," he says again, gaze hardening. "You were going to sleep with that man when you'd only just met! I love you, Y/n. Surely that means something to you!"

Ashamed, you can't stop the waterworks. "This is different. You're trying to control me."

"I only want to protect you. I love you, amoureux. Only you."

He kisses your cheek, and you'd be lying if you said you hated the action. But, you hate how he's acting as if you don't get a say.

"Just because you may love someone, doesn't mean you can attack someone they show an interest in! You're acting crazy."

Again, his gaze hardens. "You don't understand."

"No, I don't. You need to let me go, Polnareff," you feel like he's caving in. Maybe you can talk him out of this foolishness.

His grip on you tightens, "I love you. It might take awhile but I know you'll learn to love me back."

"Let me go."

"I could never do that, Y/n." His hands trail down your back, "Please give me a chance. I know you won't regret it and if you do, I promise I will leave you alone. Just give us a chance."

He looks pleadingly into your eyes, which are now devoid of tears. Is he giving you options or is this a trick?

He releases you and steps back, expressing his desperation on his handsome face. Silver Chariot also releases your own Stand.

Earlier in the day, weren't you thinking about how you would consider Polnareff as a romantic partner?

But, he's acting crazy.

But, he loves you.

But, he attacked M/n.

But, he's usually so sweet.

Conflicted, you don't move. What should you do?

He waits patiently, terrified that you'll reject him.

You come to a decision, albeit, a very controversial one.

"I'll give it a chance, but you cannot repeat what happened tonight. If you hurt anyone else, I'll leave you," you state, still a bit uncertain.

A huge smile brightens his face, "I won't. Je ne peux pas exprimer à quel point je suis heureux!"

You can't help but feel happy that he's so excited.

He approaches you, less menacingly this time, and wraps his arms around your smaller frame. You look into his eyes, not seeing any ill intent.

"If you don't want to-" he begins.

You brings your hands to rest against his defined abs, "I want to, Jean. I... trust you."

Just don't let me down.

|||||

[Bonus]

You wake up in his arms, warm and comforted. His hair is uncharacteristically down, creating a truly gorgeous scene.

Last night had been passionate and unrestrained and you definitely feel the after effects.

Polnareff wakes up, peppering you with kisses before you both pack your things and head off to meet the others.

You wince as you walk, trying to ignore the subtle ache as you greet the Crusaders.

"Good morning," you smile shyly.

Mr. Joe star's eyes widen and he begins to laugh. Avdol chuckles and so does Kakyoin. Jotaro smirks the tiniest bit.

You frown, "What's funny?"

"You finally got lucky, huh, Polnareff?" Mr. Joestar grins.

A hot blush attacks your face as the Frenchman snakes an arm around your shoulder. You turn to see him also blushing furiously.

Then, you realize what gave it away: the purplish splotches that mar his white skin.

You must have twice the amount of hickeys on your own skin.

Tugging at your shirt collar, you push past the chuckling men, "Shut up!"

[shirophantomvox]

First Date with Chrollo (Human Diary)

Hello everyone! I am back with another “First Date” post featuring the Prince of Darkness. This was an anon post but I can't find the ask anywhere! I have been watching JoJo’s Bizarre Adventures lately and it is a very interesting show. Dio turned into a zombie and he’s so mean to Joseph. Anyway, let’s get into the post. The end is a bit angst-y but I did that to take a slight turn from all Fluff. I hope you enjoy! Part 2 coming sometime this week.m

It is common knowledge that Chrollo loves to read many books. When he was a child, he had time to read and that provided a great source of comfort. Although he seems to be ruthless, every human has the ability to seek compatibility and compassion. Both Hisoka and Chrollo enjoy the romance genre except Hisoka prefers to watch movies while Chrollo loves to read stories. You've known Chrollo since elementary school. You were fortunate enough to be able to move out of Meteor City and attend a better elementary school. As a child, you were an outcast and made few friends but on occasion, Chrollo would see you at a local arcade. Of course, your mother paid for the both of you to have fun but once it was over, it broke your heart because you knew about the conditions he’d return to once he left.

As time went on, you entered college and decided to invite Chrollo on campus so he could be something like a driving force for future success. You’ve been accepted into Yorknew University planning on majoring in Computer Science with a minor in Digital Art. Reaching Chrollo posed a challenge. He never responded to a few messages but on the third try, he answered with an excited response.

“Please forgive me y/n for not responding soon enough. I am more than happy to visit you. I am proud of you and your accomplishments. I do not see myself as a college man but, hey, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it right? I’ll be in touch.”

-Chrollo

At exactly 7 PM on a calm Fall night, standing outside of the campus’ most prominent book store, you began to sweat and your makeup began to drip. Just as you were about to wipe it off, you heard a voice call your name.

“Y/n? Is that you?” He chuckled as he questioned your appearance.

Turning around, you jumped a little at the sight before you. This wasn’t the same Chrollo you remember, of course. He had grown several feet, his face was much sharper, his arms were much bigger, had a bandana tied on his forehead, and he had a few rings on. He was dressed in a white polo shirt, black pressed slacks and black dress shoes. It’s weird. It felt like an arrow was shot through your heart.

“Are you ok? You act as if you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I’m fine! I’m just---You--look…”

“Ah, I see. There’s no need to be flustered. I am the same as when we were kids.”

The Yorknew Sailor Store was designed something exactly like a Barnes and Noble except the walls were painted to match the school’s colors.

The bookstore had a perfectly designed Starbucks, with a wooden finish, black and brown metal tables, beige tile floor, and glass doors.

Chrollo immediately noticed the change in behavior, one he wasn’t used to.

The students were snooty according to him and reminded him of how the city council would act towards him, his family, and those who were like him.

First, you offered to buy him a drink. The good thing about Chrollo is that if you or anyone else offers to buy something, He will not reject it. There is no such thing as having too much pride regarding him.

“Do you drink coffee?”

“Of course I do,” he replied. “But I don’t think I’ve had any of these drinks. A Caramel Macchiato? That sounds good.”

“Order it then! That will give you just the right amount of energy for today’s reading!”

To you, this was just two friends reuniting with each other but something else told you that Chrollo thought it was something more. He only dressed up like this if he was going out with someone special and even then it wasn’t an expensive Polo Short, It was his best t-shirt and jeans.

It boggles your mind how Chrollo acquired his expensive clothing but maybe he obtained a great job and is able to make a living for himself.

“I’d like to order a Caramel Macchiato.”

“What’s the name for this drink?”

“Chrollo,” you responded.

“And for you?”

“I would like a caramel Frappuccino with soy milk and no whip cream.”

“Alright. That’ll be $15.00.”

Chrollo glanced at you wide-eyed.

“It’s ok. I got it.”

You take out your card to pay and as you move out of line you bend over to whisper in his ear. “Maybe you can pay for dinner though.”

He laughed and smiled. “Of course, y/n.”

The bookstore was full of comfortable furniture ranging from light blue, dark blue, white in the lounge area. Both of you decided to sit across from each other on the blue chairs that swallowed you both as you sat.

As he read, he’d point out any interesting points in the book. He got tired of yelling across the table, so he decided to share a chair with you. He could feel the heat radiating from your body.

It was almost obvious that you all were involuntarily flirting with each other. The school was full of couples but occasionally seeing the goofy couple was the highlight of everyone’s day.

“This man was so devoted to a woman that does not know that he exists.”

“Sounds pointless,” you say, still trying to read your book.

“Well, she knows he exists but she is ignoring him and making him look like a fool in front of everyone. He says that there is something about her that he has never seen in any woman.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s her eyes, smile, intelligence, the shape of her lips, and her perfume powder aroma. Those are things that drive men wild.”

You smiled and laughed but came to a quick halt when you felt something along the ridge of your neck made you still. The hair on your neck stood up still as the invading force came in contact with your skin. It was Chrollo grazing his nose against your skin, slightly sniffing in your aroma; slowly breathing in and out.

Closing your eyes couldn’t make your sudden arousal fade. At this point, nearly everybody was looking at you both and looked away. This behavior was innocent for college culture, but it was taken as a cute gesture rather than naughty.

You blush. It was quite surprising that your childhood friend viewed you as something of the sort. It was both flattering and scary.

There’s no denying that Chrollo is handsome but if you dated him and the relationship didn't last, it could ruin your friendship.

At this point, Chrollo had his right arm resting lazily behind your back as his head and next aimed in a position that would allow his nose to lay carelessly on your neck.

“You smell delightful. I didn’t know you wore such expensive perfume. Is it….,” He sniffs again, “Flower Rose?”

“Yes! How did you know? Does your mother wear it?”

“She does now. I bought it for her a week ago and now the guys in the city can’t stay off her.”

Wow. The City. Even though it was a hell hole, it was your hell hole. How is everything? How is your mother? How did you manage to have such an expensive taste in clothing and fragrance?

Chrollo enjoys making others flustered. It's amusing to see them stutter when they’re either aroused or nervous.

On the flip side, seeing Chrollo flustered was the highlight of the century! The bad guys are used to being “bad” but expressing softer emotions makes it amazing and a reminder that they can experience them too.

Grabbing Chrollo’s left hand, you gently kiss it a few times and wink at him. He smiled, hiding his dumbfounded expression, and blushed slightly.

“I see you catch on quick.”

“I was raised in Meteor City. Just because I’m here doesn't mean I have forgotten where I come from. But I didn’t know you liked me.”

“You were the only one that trusted me and played with me when no one would.”

It felt like two magnets were pulling you closer. If he kissed you right here right now, you could just melt into a puddle but before anything happened, Chrollo’s phone rang loud and echoed throughout the bookstore.

Glancing at his phone, you saw an unknown number call, and judging from his actions he stood quickly to his feet.

“I’ll only be gone for a second.”

Hmm. That was odd. During this short intermission, you continue to read your book. Ironic enough, you weren’t into romance novels per se, you enjoyed action and comedy books!

Once Chrollo returned, his face was flushed and his soft demeanor had suddenly disappeared. He looked as if he was going to punch a wall.

“What’s wrong, Chrollo?”

He glanced at you with a somber smile, hoping to convince you that he was alright. “I am fine, y/n.”

“Are you sure?”

“Well, if you count my mother being seriously injured, then yes.”

“Oh no! We can leave now, it’s fine.”

“No, it's ok. She wouldn’t want me to leave you all by yourself at this time of day.” He pointed to the night sky.

Wow! That was quick!

“What do you mean?”

“My mother predicted that I could end up with you...she also predicted that someone would be hurt or in danger if that prophecy was fulfilled. It’s sort of like give or take. In order to make someone happy, someone has to surrender their happiness and I guess it was her.”

A single tear dropped down his cheek and nothing more. He didn’t care if other men singled out his “weakness” because he’d destroy them all and he didn’t want y/n to know about his abilities until later.

The comfort of your warmth against his head provided more than comfort. He felt safe, welcomed, not judged, and vulnerable. He knew that you wouldn’t make him out to be a bad person but instead welcome him home with open arms. You were his human diary.

[xavadak3davrax]

The Burden of Time

The Burden of Time

Vampire! Fred

Fred Weasley x Fem Reader

Warnings: Daddy kink, Dom fem reader sub Fred, Dom Fred sub reader. cum play? idk if I would call it exacly that, but they taste each other. There’s mentions of violance, blood and biting into the reader. Once again i’m sorry if I forgot something and please say something if I did :) 

Summary: Fred as lived on this earth for a long time, and y/n is the cute new worker at the local bakery. 

a/n: So hi! If you don’t like supernatural stuff you can just totally skip this. If this is your type but you’re not sure if you like it, that’s also totally ok! I just did this because my need for vampire stuff came into play and yeah... i just needed to get this out of my system. Also once again, I just really apreciate you all so much, thank you. 

Part 2 

Fred has lived on this earth for several decades. In all honesty he had lost count of how many years it has been since he was put into this state of immortality. For many this life is hard to get too, the denial phase for them prolongs for thousands of years, the idea of killing other people all because you desire their blood, their flesh. For Fred it was quiet the opposite. Fred had been turned at the ripe age of twenty five, he was working in the forest near the house he lived at with his family when he was attacked by something. At the time he was suspicious of a bear, or a tiger or any other animal that they might know it did not exist. He came to find out after that a vampire was roaming near by his house and had caught his scent and couldn’t resist, so Fred had become this. His family had never found him, the vampire made sure after he was well fed that Fred was kept hidden specially during the transition, because it was very hard on anyone. Fred would wake up with the thirst of a thousand animals and he his creator couldn’t bare for him to destroy his whole family.

After all, it wasn’t Fred’s fault of what had happened and of what he had become. It took a while after being turned came to the conclusion and acceptance that he wouldn’t see his family again, that he wouldn’t touch them or feel them, or talk to them ever again. After a while Fred became use to that life. He had always dreaded death. It was something that scared him and made shivers appear all over his body. He hated seeing people around him die, and think about where they were going, if they were going somewhere. Did their lives ended their? He couldn’t really bring himself to think of him inside that wooden casket and … it was just something he didn’t want to think about. So, after being turned and his creator, Joseph, explaining everything to him and of this new life Fred was at peace. He didn’t have to think about death anymore, in fact he gained peace when it came that. Of course there’s always that small chance that he can be killed, but Fred always made sure he wasn’t getting himself in ay trouble that would allow for that to happen.

Also one of the reasons Fred was so at peace was because he broke one of the biggest rules there is in his species. He had contact with humans after being turned. Can you blame him? He did promise to stay way from his family, so that they could cope his death and morn him and he could find some peace. But he had to break that when his parents were on death bed.

His father was first, dying of old age, in the last hours he would be on this earth, Fred came to visit, when he knew his mother or any other family member would be around. Although without a soul, Fred still felt all the love his parents gave him, and he swore if he could he would have cried there, seeing his father so helpless. He thought for a moment if he should…but then he would be condemning his father to something he never believed in, or probably never thought of. So Fred stayed in that room, held his fathers warm hand against his very cold one and spoke some loving brief words. He had to let him know he was okay, he knew their parents had never gotten over his ‘death’. So this was way of knowing when his father was gone, we would be at peace. Fred watched him take his last breath, a small smile on his father’s face , and his name was the last thing he had said before being gone completely. Fred left almost immediately because his mother had made an appearance not long after that.

His mother had left him a few years after. And this time it was harder for Fred to be close to her because since his father wasn’t here anymore, his siblings were the ones who were there all the time, and like the good kids their mother had raised them to be, they were by her side every second that was possible. It was one day, when his sister Ginny was in the leaving room playing with her daughter and the door of his mother’s room had been left closed that Fred took his chance.

He remembers, the look in his mothers eyes, she barely could speak, but she didn’t hesitate one second to, with all her strength, stretch her hand to him, and Fred took it and squeezed it and murmured how much he loved her, how much he had missed her and, like he had done with his father, that he was okay, that she could be at peace and could meet his father wherever it would be, and they could know he was good.

With his siblings he had to take another approach, he had to watch from afar at the funeral, mourning each one as he saw them pass, they all hurt like hell, but seeing his twin brother, George, go and not be able to be next to him and say goodbye was probably the bad thing at he top of the list Fred had to point, relating to this life. He didn’t have many to point.

After they were all gone, his immediate family he could finally leave that place, although he always made sure he got back and kept an eye on his family. Thru the decades he watched the family grow. Right now he actually lived close to one of them, he was a baker at Fred’s favorite bakery.

His main and most important source of food was in fact Blood, but sometimes to get thru life and situations he had to eat human food.  Although not poisonous and deathly it usually left him a little nauseous after. But he could never deny a good cake or sweet, so every morning after he woke up (when he could sleep) he would get dressed and go there.

He was already use to the smell of blood and Fred was proud to say that he had so much control compared to a lot of other blood thirst monsters he had encountered in his life time, and there were a lot. And the places he visited the most were places were the people who worked there had a neutral blood smell to him, something that he could take and live with and know he wouldn’t get into a horrible fit and cause a very bad scene.

But today, as Fred entered the warm cozy bakery at only seven thirty am, a strong sweet vanilla and mint scent hit his nostrils. His fists became a ball and he could feel his eyes wanting to become red. He had to stop at the door before fully closing it to regain his strength, and to think twice if he wanted to get in or not. But the cute boy behind the counter who Fred found very attractive since he had began working here years ago didn’t allow him to do that because he had already called his name.

“Fred, good morning.” The happy, pale guy, with blonde hair and the greenest eyes he had ever seen said. His name was Philip. Fred gave the best smile he could muster up.

“Good morning.” He was usually a very cheery costumer, he always made small talk with Philip and loved to see him squirm under his look, and give him that sweet smile of him. But today his mind could only think of who could have such a sweet scent that evaded everything in him, his smell, his mind and his thirst.

The bakery was still empty, they had only open thirty minutes ago, and Fred was almost always their first costumer, so it couldn’t be that. It had to be someone behind the counter.

“Today I’m not the one who you should ask what you wish, although I already know your regular.” He said, giving Fred a wink, any other time Fred would have taken a chance to actually do something about that small talk they always had, but today wouldn’t be that today. “y/n here will do it instead.” He said, and in that moment from the door that led to the kitchen and into the counter came out a girl, her hair was tucked behind, and tied in as to not get into the food. She wore the bakery’s apron, and underneath that she wore a very cozy black sweater, along with some black pants and some boots.

As she got out she gave her colloeague a smile and then looked at Fred and kept her smile.

“Hi, I’m y/n. I’m new here. What would you like for your order?” y/n asked, her hands close to the screen of the machine in front of her to register his order and then get onto it.

Fred cleared his throat at the same time he tried to clear his mind. Her scent was intoxicating and he couldn’t find anything to say, she was also extremely beautiful. And also a human.

“Ahm, it’s the red velvet cake with the hot chocolate, with caramel, please.” His voice came out strangled, and a little to low, stripped of the confidence he always had. He got closer to the register and although it was part of him but he didn’t really need to, he always made sure it looked like he was breathing, so people wouldn’t suspect. When alone he would only do that when he was hunting. He looked at Philip that had his eyes on y/n and what she was doing to make sure she was doing it right.

“You’re her first costumer.” He said, he put his elbow on the glass counter and supported his head on his hand looking at Fred with those cute puppy eyes, but unfortunately his attention was on the girl.

He could only nod, and when y/n got away from the counter to prepare his order his eyes followed her every move.

“So, the red velvet cake, and your hot chocolate caramel, that will be, six dollars please.” She looked from the screen to him, and now that he was closer to her she felt less confident. The look he had on him, dominant and dark made her spine cripple with shivers and her hands shake a little. He was also beautiful so to speak. He was tall, which y/n loved that on man, she loved a good tall man that could man handle her. His red hair and those yellow eyes were something out of this world.

Fred was able to keep his eyes yellow, which was a sign that his next feeding was close, because the reddish color they always had, had disappeared and been replaced with this yellow, brilliant color. That was always a problem for him to explain why he had that eye color. He wasn’t very much into using eye contacts.

He took the money he had in his pocked and put it on top of the counter. usually, with Philip he made sure to give it to him to his hands, and feel him get all red and blushy because they had touched. But he thought that if he were to do that with this girl right now, that the outcome would be a lot worst.

“Tomorrow we’re gonna have lemon cake, it’s very good and my favorite, you should try it.” y/n, although feeling intimidated by him, still kept her happy voice.

She was new here, this was her first day after being hired last week. This bakery existed since she was small and a baby, her mother always brought her here, and so working here was her dream job, specially since baking was her favorite thing. She was the one who always did those cool cakes at the parties and her friends and family would always come to her. When the spot had opened after one of the girls in the kitchen had been fired for stealing, she took this opportunity. She was still young, only twenty one, she had a small little apartment at the end of the street, where the cheapest and less expensive and modern part of the town started, but it was everything she could wish for and she made it work. She wasn’t in college, but her dream was to be able to go to culinary school. But she was still saving money for that one.

When Fred had finally gain all his confidence and make himself has presentable as he could in this situation he was finally able to give a genuine smile.

“Of course, if you’ll be here.” He said, but this time looked at Philip, gave him that smirk and then looked at y/n to see her eyes wide and her mouth fighting to stay closed. “See you tomorrow, loves.” He said, took the little bag y/n had put his things in and left.

As soon as he was out the door, the gasp that left y/n was huge and Philip was clapping his hands excitedly.

“Did you see the way he looked at you? Is he always this flirty?” y/n was genuinely curious, for a second when he got in he was so quiet, and almost scared, that this last interaction came to her as a surprise. Philip nodded smiling.

“I think he’s bi, you see.” He started, starting to organize some things that should have been done sooner but the Fred had came in. “He already brought many girls here, but I’ve also seen him with some guys. And he comes here since I can remember and way before I started working here. And then I started here and he always flirted with me. But that’s the extent of it.” y/n was nodding, listening closely. “But he also looked interested in you, did you see? They way he looked at you? I don’t think he’s ever looked at me like that.”

“He’s very beautiful. And looks rich too.” y/n looked at Philip, a puzzling look o her face.

“He lives on that penthouse, near the museum.” Shit, y/n thought, that guy was rich, rich.

People who lived in this area of the bakery and close to the museum were rich, rich. She could only ever dream of living there. And the penthouse, she remembers that old building being remolded a few years back, and the way it was town gossip because they had used millions of unknown dollars to build it, all while the poor were strolling to pay taxes and basic things to live. She remembers her and her mother doubling their time on the nearest shelter to help with food and clothes and things to keep the ones in need, warm. All while the rich were… well living their best lives.

Philip felt the need to continue, after a minute of silence from y/n and the frown that had appeared on her face. “He helps more than you know. He’s donated to every place around here and he’s the first to help if anything happened in those communities. I don’t know if you ever heard, or even remember, but that very bad weather we had, and pipes burst open and all, the responsible of the town took him weeks to help with anything. Fred came right up, presented a stupid amount of money and that’s how thing got better. He also hates the rich, every time he comes and talks a bit more he can only talk bad about them.” He laughed a little.

That somehow had made y/n a little less mad and sad. He cared and helped.

“What exactly does he do to have that much money?” y/n asked, curiosity coming to her. Philip shrugged.

“I don’t know, he never told and I never asked, and no one really knows around here because we don’t seem him actually working you know?”

All she could do was nod, but her mind a little lost, his eyes came to her mind, and his pink lips, dry from the cold weather outside. She shook her head quickly and brought herself back to reality and into her work place. She had a long day ahead of her.

--

The next, at six am y/n was opening the bakery along with Philip. Since they had left early the day before, they got the job to open today, and they had to be there on time because all the people in the kitchen who did all the baking needed to get started.

y/n was still sleepy, her eyes swollen from the lack of sleep. Her arms were bunched up around herself to keep her warm, even though she had layers of clothing and the warmest jacket ever, given to her by her mother last Christmas.

“Hurry up, I’m cold.” y/n said, pushing Philip playfully, and when he finally did they hurried inside and close the door again to keep the warm inside.

After getting herself ready, and since Philip was preparing the costumer area she was in the kitchen looking at everyone working. This was her second day but most of the people here were her family, since they all knew her since she was little. And since they also knew her love for baking, they, sometimes let her in and decorate cakes herself. Since working here, in these two day, well one, she hadn’t been asked yet, but she was hopeful they would.

“I hope mister Fred Weasley decides to eat here today and not take his food.” y/n looked at him, they were both behind the counter counting the last few minutes before they officially opened. “He doesn’t always, but sometimes if he brings company he does. He never ate here alone, though, so don’t get your hopes up.”

“I wasn’t gonna get any hopes up, Philip. I’ve had one interaction with him, that lasted all of three minutes, I think.” She gave a confused look, she wasn’t exactly sure of long she had talked to him, and between preparing his food and him paying and leaving. “You can have him all you want, I’m sure any cute girl can walk in here and I’ll be happy.” Philip looked at her a big smile on his face.

y/n was never closed about her sexuality. Her mother was always and had always been very loving even when she knew (before y/n officially told her) that her daughter was attracted to girls. y/n’s first ever romantic interaction had been with a girl. She was never scared of being her true self.

“Whatever, the way he looked at you? I’m sure you could punch him in the face and he would say thank you.” Philip smirked, and got from behind the counter to open the door.

For the first ten minutes no one came in, but after that they started to get easy. Some people came to pick up bread, some their coffee, others some treats for the day. And then after eight people started to actually stay inside. But Fred was no where to be seen, and Philip pointed out how weird that was because he came here everyday without missing. Unless he was out of town, but then he always took enough treats with him to last him the full time he was gone.

Until nine am hit, Philip and y/n were having their pause, after an hour of craziness when he got in, gray sweat pants, a white seat shirt on and some tennis. He had a more relaxed look o him, compared to yesterday where he had more of a casual look.

“Morning.” He smiled to both of them, although his look lingered a bit longer on y/n. She smiled, getting ready to take in his order. She had forgotten yesterday that she had suggested the lemon cake, and since Philip told her that his order right now was the one he asked for yesterday she was ready for.

“Morning, is gonna be the red velvet cake and the hot chocolate caramel?” y/n kept her eyes on the screen, trying to not look at him directly, in fear her legs might collapse from how strong his look was on her.

“If I remember correctly, you suggested I try the lemon cake, was that correct?” he took one of the hands that was in his pocket and came to ruffle his already messy hair. Had he just woken up? y/n swallowed hard, Fred heard, they was it went down her dry throat. He could also hear her heart, beating faster after he came in, and the her pulse and her blood running in her veins. He wasn’t very far from her, but even if he was he would be able to smell her in a crowd of people. Her scent something he had never felt before in all his long years of life. His fangs threatening to come out, his venom already trying to make it’s way into them. Control yourself, Fred thought.

“Ahm, yes, I did, sir?” Sir? Come on y/n he’s not that older. Sir? Her mind making her every move feel weird and like he was judging her. Little did she know Fred got of on names like that, and it made it even harder for him to contain his pointy teeth. “Would like that, with the same beverage?”  When he nodded, y/n put the last things there and went to prepare.

“To eat here, please.” Philip was shocked, and he didn’t want to show it but Fred was able to feel his change, the smallest detail that silly human eyes couldn’t detect even if they wanted too. y/n was also surprised, but she hid it better, Fred noticed. He knew it was unusual, he only came here to eat when he brought all of his hook ups. Never alone. This was a first.  

She only nodded, directing her route to pick up a plate on where to put his cake, and then making his chocolate. All while he made small talk with Philip.

“Here you go, it’s seven dollars, today.” He gave her the money, three dollars more than the final total.

“Keep the change, beauty.” She winked at her, and then picked up his stuff and went to sit at the table by the window.

“Well, that went…”

“well.” y/n finished for Philip, and they both laughed a little. Her laugh stoping when she noticed his eyes were on her the full time he was eating. And how fucking sexual did he have to make that? The way he bit down on the cake, without his fork, with his hands on it going all messy. A hot feeling spread over y/n. his gingers got all dirty with he buttercream, but instead of going for the napkin, he brough his fingers to his mouth and sucked on them. His fingers would also get all sticky after that. The smirk he had on him was sinful, and y/n had to turn around and occupy herself before her mind got to dirty and her panties to wet.

Two days, to freaking days and she’s already getting her mind dirty over some guy? Some rich, also mysterious guy that looked like he came out of a movie? She needed to get her head straight.

Her luck was that other costumers were coming in, some looking surprised at seeing Fred here. From what Philip explained to her later that day when they were organizing their things to leave, it was a very rare sight, since he was completely alone.

“y/n, I’m so sorry can I speak with you for a minute?” It was their boss, Melissa, she was the most kind sould y/n had ever seen, red hair, like Fred’s and a big smile always plastered on her face. y/n nodded, putting her bag back down.

“I’ll wait for you.” Philip said. And y/n nodded going with her boss to little room where she took care of everything related to the bakery but not related to baking.

“I’m so sorry, I know you were getting ready to leave, but the person responsible for closing today, can’t come. They had an emergency. Would you mind doing it? I know it would be your first time, but Philip did all of last week and I can’t bring myself to ask him that.” It was the gentle tone to her voice, the friendly way she always approached y/n that made her say yes, and think how hard it would be to say no.

“Sure, I can do that. I just have to warn Philip to leave without me.”

“Thank you so much my dear, really. And tomorrow you can come in later.” She gave y/n the key and smiled politely before allowing her to leave. She warned Philip who proceeded to leave. And y/n suck up some more hours until closing.

--

It was midnight when the last person in the kitchen left. y/n helped them clean what was necessary so she could also leave. Because they had stopped serving to costumers a little while ago, but the kitchen remained open to prepare things for the next day.

She was all alone, and truth be told the street where the bakery was, had very little light. So y/n had her phones lantern on, closing the door as fast as she could, so she could head home. The street was also silent and she didn’t know what to make of it. Was it good or bad? Might be good because then it meant she could be safe until home, but bad because at anytime anyone could show up and she would be all alone and defenseless.

She started to walk down the street towards where she lived when a group of man started to walk on the same lane she was in. She wanted to move, she really wanted, but at the same it would bring attention to her and she didn’t want any more unnecessary attention.

They passed her in silence, but then another shadow appear on the other side of the street, and she squinted really hard to see who it was until she realized it was Fred. He was already looking at her, and he was crossing the street coming towards her.

“What are you doing at this hour on the street?” Her mind was still processing the fact that they had found each other outside of her work. It wasn’t impossible, he lived in the area, but still, her luck! She looked back at the group of guys that she hadn’t noticed were looking at her, and she thanked to herself, the presence of Fred.

He had approached because of that. Because he was looking for his meal, and then her smell hit all his senses again and he lost focus. Until he saw the group he had been eyeig pass her and then how they had stopped to look at her. He wasn’t planning on intervening, specially when his fangs where out, full of venom, and ready to bite into a fleshy, smooth skin full of blood.

“Oh hi.” She started, a little less nervous now in his presence, but still not fully. They were only two and the group that had passed them were five. They were in disadvantage. “I just left the bakery, I was asked to close. Was heading home now.” She gave him the uneasy smile, her hands coming to the pockets of her jacket to warm her cold hands.

“I think I should accompany you home.” He said, after he looked again behind her to see the guys lurking around talking, maybe waiting for her to be left alone so they could do something. “Where to you live exactly?”

“I live just too more blocks way.” She said. And when he put his hand, gently, on her back guiding her to start walking, she did so, without hesitation. She also didn’t fight him on, how she was strong and independent enough to go on her own, because she knew that deep down she was scared to walk the rest of her time alone. “Thank you.” She said, when silence fell upon them, his hand had left her back and they had a little distance between them.

“No need to thank me.” He was mostly silence because, well, the proximity they had made it even harder for him to control himself specially when he was mid hunt. Right now there wasn’t a thing separating them. And they had walked a long distance that they were finally alone, in the dark street, and in the cold almost no one dared to come outside.

The mint in the scent was stronger today, and when he, from the corner of his eye, or when he actually decided to look at her for brief moments, could see the thick veins in her neck, the blood pumping thru them, calling for him. His venom leaked a little from his teeth and burned his throat. But he could still smell the sweet vanilla in there, and how that mixture, although unknown to him until now, was something he couldn’t forget.

It made his hunger even stronger.

“Do you wanna come in?” The had arrived at what he assumed was the place she lived. She lived in one of the small buildings that only had two floors and usually only two to three people lived in those. “It’s the least I could do, since you brought me home. I can offer you hot tea, or even hot chocolate?” She suggested, the door already opened. He nodded, his eyes trailing over how old the building was and how cold it also was.

He was a vampire, he was always cold and nothing ever bothered him. A lot of his manners were eyes of him disguising himself to humans, so they wouldn’t suspect he wasn’t like them. He couldn’t care less if the temperatures his below freezing. But for humans? Humans were fragile. He doesn’t remember much from his human time, has it happens to any old enough vampire. With time those images are just memories and sometimes something he thinks he invents some of them. But he knows there fragile, that they get too cold, and too hot. That they need different attention that he does. So this house he for sure knew was very cold, the walls were old, almost nothing separated them from the outside.

But when he got into her apartment, he realizes she tried her best to make it warm and cozy.

She gestured to her sofa. “You can seat.”

“I’ll take the warm tea, please.” He realized he hadn’t answered her question from moments ago. She nodded and after taking her jacket and taking her shoes of, she want to the kitchen.

Also mentally preparing herself because, the cute guy she had seen only two times until now was in her house. And how hot and bothered (in a good way) she was about it. When the tea was ready she brought it to him and put in the small coffee table she had in front of her sofa.

“Thank you again. I-“ she stopped for a moment trying to gather her thoughts. “Those guys gave me an off vibe.” He nodded.

“Yeah, I realized that.” He hid the fact that they were his dinner, and that her appearance had disturbed not only him, but also them on their conquest. She yawned, sitting next to him but still leaving a safe space between them.

Good, she’s smart enough to know, not to get too close. Fred thought, his had«nds picking up the tea cup and drinking some of it. He watched her close her eyes, her once rapid breathing was starting to get calm, she had somehow between arriving and making his tea, turned her small eater on and she was warm, but she still had her work clothes on.

“You are tired, you shouldn’t have invited me in. Go to sleep.” He was getting up, but she stopped him in his movements, her hand coming to grab his pants and pulling him down.

“I’m sorry.” She mumble sleepy. “Stay a little bit more. I can stay wake.” He wanted to laugh, how her voice wanted to show this big girl who was able to stay wake way past her bedtime, and how she was a rule breaker, it was cute actually.

“Sure you can.” He said, trying to hide his mocking tone, and she tried to give him a look but her eyes were threatening to close. And then… then they did.

y/n was so tired, from waking up at five am and then having to close the bakery that she couldn’t take it. Her body gave in. her head was resting back on her sofa, her hands on her lap and her breathing was once again calm, letting Fred know she was asleep. And then is thoughts evaded his mind. How her neck look so delicious. How her smell was even stronger now, because, it wasn’t just her now, it was her whole house. Everything around him smelt like her, and of her, and he had to get up quickly.

His mind fighting, if he should put her in her bed, or if he should just bite down right into her. Drain her of all her blood because, in all honesty her scent was to powerful for him and he didn’t think that if he started he would be able to stop.

But the better part of him was winning, and instead of biting down onto her, her looked around her apartment for something he could cover in. moving himself swiftly around until he found something. And then after that he didn’t gave anything else a thought and left, before he regrated anything something else that could happen.

--

It had been more than a week since y/n invented Fred to her home and ended up falling asleep not even ten minutes later. When she woke up the next morning she was alone and Fred’s half drank tea was on the table, she was still fully dressed, but warm and cozy non the less.

y/n thought that day would make things awkward for them. She couldn’t help but overthink, on how she invited a complete stranger into her house. But at the same time the feeling of comfort and protection she had gotten from him being by her side. But no, that day he came in and acted like he had the last two times, and y/n imagines all the times before that.

And that first full week of work for y/n was amazing. She loved the place she was working at, loved that fact that everyone was always so nice and she and Philip were so close. Since they were the ones who spent so much time alone in the front they grew closer very quickly.

But y/n couldn’t wait for her break. She was free from work tomorrow, Sunday,  and after the exhausting week she had, she really needed sometime for herself.

“Know what you doing on your day off?” Philip said, throwing the wet cloth he had on his hand on top of the counter.

y/n gave it a thought for a minute, a small smirk appearing on her face after a while. “I will sleep, and rest, that’s all.”

“Boring.” He said, prolonging the ‘o’ on the word, and then started to rearrange some stuff on the shelves. “Mr. Hot could ask you out on a date no? After all wasn’t he the one who took you home?”

“Philip stop. He took me home once, and I fell asleep after ten minutes. It was the shortest interaction we had.”

Philip was gonna talk again when the little doorbell rang and when they both looked, Fred was coming in. Trying to hide the smirk that was threatening to appear on face because… well, Fred pretty much heard what Philip had said, and wished that y/n went on, so he could know what she thought about him. His super earing came in handy in times like this.

Maybe, just maybe he should invite her out. After he left her house that day he couldn’t find it in himself to stop thinking about her. Not only was her blood engraved on every one of his heighten senses, but also her touch, her face, her smooth skin. Everything. After two days, his hand was asking for a time out. It looked like anyone else he had fed upon was not even close to what she smelled like, and what she could possibly feel like.

Fred hated what he was feeling. Every time he fed it was a one-time thing. He never, ever caught feeling for anyone who he had fed upon. Sometimes if he was busy or wasn’t feeling like having sex he would find some criminal and feed of that person. But the majority he would usually feed of the person he was sleeping with. Now, he knows consent isn’t something you can just get when you’re him. But Fred always makes sure the person he slept with is well cared for. He never does anything to make that person unconfutable and they only sleep together if there’s consent. If at any time they want to leave, they can and Fred will find another way of feeding. He also always makes sure that they don’t have any marks after and that they don’t remember anything. One of the things that came with immortality is persuading people into forgetting things and doing what he wants. Fred only does it when he feeds of someone.

“Good morning, Mr. Weasley.” Fred had to contain himself to not moan right there, in front of everyone. The way it just left her lips, those lush beautiful lips, it just made him hard in his trousers. Philip smiled and after saying good morning, turned around leaving y/n to attend to Fred alone, for the first time since she’s here. “What will it be today?”

“How about the chocolate cake, with just a black coffee?” Fred took it upon himself to put his hands on the counter, closer to where she rested hers before going to prepare what he asked. She nodded. “So, how has it been working here?”

“It’s been nice, I like everyone here, and the people who come are also very generous and nice.” y/n said, while preparing what he asked. Fred had the question on the top of his tongue, but… wouldn’t it sound weird asking it? Just like that? Would she find it suspicious? That he was asking her out without even, technically knowing when her free day is? But before his mushy brain could gather anything else it just left his lips. “Do you go out tomorrow?”

Shit, Shit, Shit, he cursed himself all over. The look she gave him when he turned around was of shock. He had to think fast.

“You know, after work I mean.” He said quickly, before she could say anything else. “That is, if you’re free.”

y/n was speechless for what felt like forever, well for Fred after he stammered that’s what it felt like.

“Sure, I would love to. I’m also free tomorrow, so whatever works for you, is fine to me.” y/n gave a small smile, putting in between them Fred’s request, and then taking the money he had already prepared.

“How about I pick you up for lunch?” When she nodded, he felt a sense of relieve all over his body. “ Perfect then, see you at noon?” She gave the same gesture as before, her mouth looking like it had difficulty opening, to speak because she couldn’t believe what she was earing. “Then it a deal. See you tomorrow.” He winked, and this time his smile was bigger, and y/n for a second thought she had seen some sharp enough teeth that could ripple through her skin, or anyone’s for that matter.

Fred often refused to smile big because he never knew when they would be out. Sometimes when he least expected they were out because someone smelled really good, and almost all the time he couldn’t tell when they were out because they’re sharp feeling was something he was use to already. So he didn’t even notice her prolonged stare on his mouth, or even that his teeth were out. When he probably should’ve know that they were because she smelled absolutely divine and it was almost impossible for him to get any control next to her.

After he left y/n was left to her thoughts. It’s weird really, she probably should have looked at those teeth and just put in her brain that he had sharp teeth and a beautiful white and brilliant smile. But sometimes her mind got the best of her and of all the books and things she loved to read online about werewolves, vampires, and just all the other stuff that no one believe it existed, and she sometimes tried to put in her mind that they actually didn’t, but other times, she liked to think somewhere, they did, and that, she didn’t know how, brought her some comfort.

Seconds before Philip interrupted her thoughts, she made herself put in that head of hers that she was just overthinking and things like vampires wouldn’t exist.

--

y/n was finishing up the last touches of her outfit, the minutes for Fred to arrive coming closer and closer. She decided on something casual and simple since she didn’t know where they were going. She silently prayed it would be somewhere cheap because she wasn’t swimming in rich money to eat at places where plates costed more than god knows what.

So the pair of black skinny jeans, along with a her favorite t-shirt and some snickers would have to do for today. Oh and a jacket, she tended to be very picky when it came to cold.

Although the thoughts of yesterday had gone to the back of her mind they hadn’t completely disappeared, and she didn’t even know why she was thinking about this so much and why Fred. Although other small things Philip had told her until know just made a lot more sense if she looked at him as a vampire and not as normal human. But she didn’t had time to let those thought fulfill her mind again because Fred was here. She knew because the door bell rang and she hated to leave people waiting so she picked up her stuff faster and run to the door.

“Hi.” y/n said, a cute smile on her face, she was messily putting her bag over her shoulders.

“Hi, you look cute.” Really Fred? Cute? Of all the things you could’ve said?

“You look very handsome yourself”. She laughed a little, and thanked all the universe that he had also chose a more casual look that looked way to good on him, and did things to her that she shouldn’t be having for someone she knows for such a little time. But the way the shirt hugged his body, those hands that just looked so muscly and how his jeans hugged his legs and how all of sudden his things looked way to appetizing. Well, y/n was in for a hard time.

And Fred… he also in for a harder time. Because he knew immediately in that small amount of time what he was doing to her because he could smell her. And he was not talking about only her blood. He was talking about the pool of wetness that was forming in her panties, right in front of him. The venom was there again, threatening to leave his fangs, his control almost leaving him.

He had to block all those thoughts before he regretted what he might do. Why, why did she have to smell that good? Why now? After all the time he’s had on this earth, why now? When he’d learned to contain himself.

“Ready?” y/n’s voice took him out of his moment, he streacthed his hand out for her to take and when she did he nodded.

“yes, hope you don’t mind, but I chose the place where we’re going.”

“Not at all, may I know where?”

“It’s a surprise.” He winked, after she closed the door they both went to his car. y/n knew that it wasn’t in town, because otherwise they wouldn’t be taking his, may she had, very extremely expensive car. Entering it even felt like the biggest sin ever, she felt way to weird riding something like this.

Although this clearly wasn’t the biggest sin she had committed and she for sure had ridden way dirtier stuff. She wanted to laugh because of what her brain was picking up. Fred noticed.

“Everything alright?” That’s when she finally looked at him, and the way he had one hand on the stirring wheel and his hand on the gearshift, and how his muscles flexed every now and then because of he changed. She clenched her thighs.  Her smell only intensifying even more.

“Yes- yes everything ok.” She made herself look way, trying to avoid and think to much on the stickiness that was in between her. “Can I know where we’re going now? I mean I know it outside of town.”

“Smart little thing you are, no?” He joked, looking at her for a brief second but the way he retained information was enough for him to know that way the sun hit her face in just the perfect way making her eyes stand out, and her skin be has shinny as his would if he wasn’t wearing things that made him not shine in the sun.

She shivered, only that small name made her tingle all over. If this man wanted to forget lunch and just do it, she, well she wouldn’t mid would she? He was just that good.

“We’re going to the mountains, it’s close but far enough that no one had to know our business.”

She looked out the window, seeing that was the path they were taking. This only confirmed what Philip had said about Fred being a very private person. How he didn’t want people in town to know they were going out. It didn’t hurt her. Actually she was relieved, y/n loved the place she lived in but people talked and sometimes they tried to guess things way out of their league and ended up making rumors that were far from the truth. So, them going to the mountains, was good for her.

She had heard of the restaurant up there, she knew it was expensive but she could take in that type of expensive.

They actualy talked for the rest of the way, both finding it very easy to speak with each other, like they were friends their whole lives. It was easy to look at Fred and want to talk to him, know more about him, it was like he was enchanted and was this person, a brilliant one at that, that just made everyone fall in love.

And Fred? Fred was able to look at y/n outside of a food type of way. He didn’t always looked at her like that, he didn’t always let his animal side come out. But her blood was powerful and sometimes it was hard. But now, in this car and with the way she talked to openly to him about her family, about her work and what she loved the most Fred found his frozen cold heart feel something else. It was like an electric shock, it looked like it was only for a brief second but he could have sworn he felt his skin heat up.

How weird was that? A cold vampire with warm skin? Jokes. Total jokes. But it felt like that. And his hands almost felt sweaty. They were things Fred had last felt a long time ago, when the blood in hum ran in his veins, when he could feel warmth and could blush. It was things he swore he could have forgotten the feeling.

He knew nothing of what he was thinking was happening, but somehow his brain was picking up on those things again.

Fred had become somehow closed when it came to love. He didn’t have a wife, nor a girlfriend in his human time, but he was in love… she was just always out of reach. And Fred had to become what he was today, with a broken heart, knowing he would never love. Because, the rumors were true, vampires were soulless. That’s what Fred had made himself believe even after some vampires he had known along the years had told him otherwise. Vampires who had find they’re soulmates.

Fred had lost his hope a long, long time ago. So this now was just probably a way of his body reacting to her blood. A way of coping that is.

When they arrived, Fred made sure to take up a faster pace than usual but trying to hide his super speed so he could take the role of gentleman and opening the door to her. Some things, even after all this time living on earth, were part of him. He tried to let some things of his time go, try not to be so modest, and in somethings he managed.

But opening doors, and making sure the person he was with was well taken care of? That was something that would always stuck with him. He knew now a days not everyone had that way of acting. They just wanted to get someone to bed.

“Thank you so much, Mr. Weasley.” y/n said in her teasing tone, squeezing the hand he had gave her. He rolled his eyes playfully trying to hide the way his cock twitched in interest in his jeans. When she went in front of him to enter the restaurant he took a few seconds to get himself together.

He asked for the table with the best view, that ended up with them in the balcony that had a beautiful view to everything below, including their town that now looked so small.

“This is beautiful.” y/n stated, putting her bag in the seat next to her and straighten her jacket, because it was breezy outside.

“It is.” Fred was looking at her, although she was still looking around. She just looked ethereal really, angel like, he was lucky she had even said yes to this lunch. It didn’t took them a long time to have what they had asked for in the table. Fred opting for something light. It was now that he was regretting having suggested this because he had to eat and would probably leave him sick. So his best plan was to distract y/n while she ate and maybe she wouldn’t notice he hadn’t touched the food.

It was going well, he made sure to ask some for stuff about some things she had mentioned while in car. About her family, about were she studied, what she liked to do in her free time. But when she finished and was ready to ask for some dessert she noticed he hand’t touched his food.

“Are you ok?” Her voice was filled with worry, she was so distracted sharing things about herself with him she barely noticed his food. And now she felt guilty all over and her eyes had a different look to them.

“More than ok, I just realizes I didn’t want this. Don’t worry I’ll eat something else.” He smiled a little and the hand she had close to him he squeezed in a gentle gesture. She felt his cold skin touch hers. If hers was cold how could his be cold her? She wondered for barely a second, but then justified it with him probably being very cold.

“You’re also very cold, are you sure you’re not getting sick?” her voice still had the same tone. “maybe we should go.” She said ready to get up and pay, so they could go.

“I’m ok y/n, please sit.” He laughed a little seeing how worried she was. His heart could’ve skipped a beat if it wasn’t frozen.

“No.” She stood her ground. “I’m gonna pay and we’re going home, you’re getting sick.” They was she was speaking in that moment was so dominant that Fred couldn’t help getting hard. He was avoiding, thru all the little twitches he gave during the time they had been together, getting hard and he had managed until now. She was worried sick about him and here he was getting hard over it, because well, he wasn’t anything close to sick. It was who he was, she just didn’t know that. But maybe, just maybe he could get on a little about this. He was actually enjoying having her worried sick.

Fred followed her, but did not allowed her to pay. He did tho allow her to drive his expensive cat, because she was focused on the road he was focused on her. He had his head resting back and turned to her, how, unlike him, she had both hands on the steering wheel and only took one when she had to change shifts. Otherwise they were both there, that showed Fred that she didn’t have as much confidence driving as he had, and she was more scared of anything happening than he was. She also had a frown on her face, her features still showed worry.

he looked at her thighs, the way they looked so appetizing in those jeans and how all of sudden thoughts of his fangs biting thru them made him readjust in his seat trying to find a positing where his hard cock wasn’t visible. He had to fight the want in putting his hand on her leg and squeeze it.

y/n realized half way there if she was even ok with her going to his house. But when they got to town and he said to go to his she got the conformation that maybe it wasn’t bad after all. Maybe it was ok. And well her frown had disappeared for a while when she had to take in how everything around her looked. It was so modern and slick, it was amazing.

Fred, on the other hand, was actually getting a little sick, because hiding his hard on was becoming even more difficult. He was starting to feel his body ache, and shivers prickle in his skin. He now looked actually sick. When she took a notice of that, she hurried to his side.

“Oh poor boy, here.” She said, letting him support himself on her, which wasn’t what he needed. He needed her touch yes, but in other way. He was a moaning mess by the time they arrived at the elevator to then get to his house. He didn’t’ even know what had gotten into him.

Never, had he felt like this. He was ok always when he was horny, he was never like this. This achy feeling, his cock somehow already leaking. How had she not noticed it? Fred couldn’t bring himself to have coherent thoughts in his head. All he could think and smell was her. And she was everywhere now. She was right there next to him feeling all of his senses, his house would smell like her. The thoughts he had about her in the last week would be even more vivid not that she was there.

He was a whiny mess. When she managed to open the door to his house she didn’t have time to take in everything around her. The closest she managed to bring him was his sofa, that she for moments realizes was a dark blue color, almost royal.

“Fred.” She called gently, now that he was laying down on his sofa he had let his eyes close, he was trying very hard to get is head straight. To think rationally and not do anything that might ruin him. Or her for that matter. “Fred, come on let me help you.” The gentleness in her voice, his hands in fists to make him stay in that position and not abuse anything. He opened his eyes a little, a small smile on his face, she had a pillow in her hand and he got his head up a little so she could put it underneath is head. “I’m gonna go find something you can take.”

Fred couldn’t speak, so he couldn’t tell her she would find zero things around his house for him to take. He was a vampire and he they never got sick or needed any of those human medicines. But now, in the state he was in he was reconsidering everything in his life and trying to pull up any thought of anything he might’ve read that would explain this.

Well, he… he did remember once his creator had explained to him what this might be. It was a weird thing that rarely happened to vampires. If the need for blood was to much, they could get to a point where they were a complete mess. Fred knew she had created this. Her blood was to much for him and he should’ve known, he should’ve pushed her way from him. He should’ve stopped when he could’ve, but he didn’t. And now here he was, hard like a rock, his cock leaking in to his boxers and probably his trousers too, he couldn’t tell. All because her blood her smell her touch had brought him to a breaking point.

“Fred I didn’t found-“ She stopped mid sentence, because from the place she was coming she could see it clearly. The dent in his trousers. She had taken a lot more time because she didn’t knew his house and he could barely speak to explain everything to her so she had to manage on herself. She looked in the bathroom she had found, but nothing came up. He moaned a little louder now, turning on his side and them on his belly, his cock rubbing against the material oh his jeans and helping him getting some relief. The movement of his hips got a little faster, y/n was at lost for words.

She had so many ways she could react to this. She could leave and let him take care of it alone. She could stay and try to figure out what he had and she could also stay and help. Somehow her brain was yelling that the last option was the best.

“Shit, y/n.” If she had any doubts, the moan of her name made the decision firm in that option. She walked slow like any sudden movement was gonna scare both of them. She kneeled next to the sofa, she brought on of her hands to his face and moved it so he could look at her. “Fuck.” He shook, his whole body starting to get rigid because he was so, so hard and achy that any movement brought him close the edge, and then her touch just made him a whole lot more close.

“You have to tell me Fred, what is wrong?” She knew he was hard she had seen it and now knew he was trying to find some kind of relief, but she was lost, she had mistaken the signs for him being sick, and he was… just horny? Very much at that.

“Fuck, please.” His voice was low, almost sub like, his eyes closing his movements becoming faster, he was gonna bring one of his hands to cup himself truh his jeans. She stopped him before he could do that.

“Please what, baby?” Her hand caressed his fingers slowly, every fiber in her body now almost matching his, like they were synchronized, made for each other. Her body starting to match his, in pleasure and adrenaline.

“Please, I need you, so bad, please.” His voice was raspy Fred had lost himself completely, to the point where his fangs were out, right there in front of her, and his brain couldn’t pick up on it. But y/n, she still had some coherent thoughts and she picked up on it. But she wasn’t scared. Her body telling her to trust him.

One of her hands came to stay on his face and the other that had his hand in his let go of it and grabbed his cock thru the jeans and she squeezed it hard, a loud moan leaving his mouth.

“Does it feel good baby?” Her voice was so gentle, and Fred was so lost in himself that anything she said or do, only brought him closer to the edge. He nodded. “Words, please.” She asked nicely, since she could very much see how lost in pleasure he was wasn’t doing it on purpose.

“It does, please, I beg you.” His voice was breaking into moans and whines and his hips came to meet her hand, trying to find his release. She smiled, taking the hand that was on his face of, and coming to help her other hand open the zip of his pants. And she didn’t waste to much time teasing him because she knew he needed this. She pulled his pants down along with his boxers, letting his cock spring free. He was red, and hard and he was veiny to. y/n felt her mouth water, he was beautiful. Now being on his side his cock rested in one of his flexed legs, even the slightest touched making him feel overwhelmed.

y/n didn’t waste any time taking him in her hands, stroking him first in a slow and gentle manner to get a feeling and grip of his cock. He almost shouted at how it felt.

“F-fuck.” He opened his eyes to look at his cock, her warm and soft hand gripping him so good he felt his stomach tighten and his orgasm so, but so close. “Thank you.” His voice was low, and raspy because he was feeling he was loosing it. y/n increased the speed of her movements, her hands massaging his cock all over, from the base where she squeezed a little more and then back to the top, keeping the pressure almost the same until she hit the head of his cock, where she would engulf it a little more, seeing his legs tremor and his mouth open in pure bliss.

“So close aren’t you lovie?” She had such an adorable look and at the same time so dominant and Fred was feeling so many things that this moment would forever be engraved on his mind. “You weren’t sick after all were you?” He shook his head the best he could, she had her hand at the head of cock pressing her thumb on the little whole where his cum was gonna come out of way to soon. “You just needed a little attention, baby boy just wanted someone to touch him.”

“You.” It barebly came out of him, y/n look at him, they locked eyes and they way she lowered her head to meet the head of his cock all while mantaning eye contact, he lost it there. As soon as her lips envolved his head and the rest of her hand massaged the base of his cock he was a gonner. He came so hard his vision went white, his whole body got rigid, but somehow his toes kept moving almost like little spasms. “Only you.” He managed to get out, mid orgasm, one of his hands somehow finding her face to caress it.

y/n swallowed every single drop he gave her, she milked him dry, sucked him all thru his orgasm. All while taking in the sight he was, how he looked so but so beautiful that her pussy tingled with just the look of it. How she could cum from just looking at him.

When he was sensitive, she moved away, bringing one of her hands to her face to clean the bit of cum that was threatening dropping to her chin. She collected it in her finger and brought it close to his face. “taste it for me baby, you taste so good don’t you?”

He opened his mouth the best he could, a vampire had so much strength and barely needed any sleepy, barely anything could tire him. But here he was, lost of words, tired but in a pure state of bliss. He involved her finger in his mouth and sucked on it, tasting himself. y/n felt the velvety skin of his mouth and how those sharp teeth she had thought about since yesterday, were scratching at her finger, but never once hurt her.

Fred was astonished with himself how he could have done that and not bite into her. Although tired that desire was still there, so present in his mind. She pulled her finger out and rested her hand on his tummy and gently petted him.

“Did so good for me too didn’t you?” She came closer to his face and finally what she was also thinking during this, came to happen. She kissed him. It was a deep kiss where she felt sparkles happen all over her. Her hand fisting around his shirt and she moaned into his mouth. Fred had been so lost into his pleasure, the post orgasmic bliss that he had forgotten that she was had been wet for had long had he was hard and had his cock twitching. She, in that state that made humans even more vulnerable, had taken care of him.

Shit, she really was something else. He went to get up, still kissing her but she stopped.

“No, you don’t have to.” She said, looking at thse beautiful eyes, where she could get lost so many times.

“I don’t, but please, I want to.” She was still on her knees on the ground next to the sofa so when Fred sat down on it he was taller than her and all of a sudden, y/n who had been dominant moments ago, felt all that power get taken from her just by the way he looked.

“You also did so good to me baby didn’t you? Sucked my cock like the good girl you are, went around the house looking for medicine to make me feel better… but the only thing I need is you.” His hand came to pet her face, his thumb on one side and the rest of his fingers in the other and he squished her face a little. His fangs came out of his mouth for the first time, the pointy tip meeting his bottom lip. The realization hit him but somehow instead of panicking, he gave a devious smirk, because he could hear her heart beat speeding up, the blood in her veins running faster, going to meet the little bundle of nerves between her legs that was aching to be touched.

y/n wasn’t scared, she realized finally that Fred wasn’t like her, but in this moment, right between his legs, his cock that had soften starting to get hard again, she couldn’t care less. She needed him so bad. Her cunt so wet that she knew when she took her panties that her wetness would drip down her legs.

She nodded. “Words y/n.” he was more dominant in the way he was speaking than she was. She was soft, and he although still soft and caring had a different way of speaking. She felt her spine tingle and came to rest her head on his thick thigh her look lingering a little bit to long on his cock and then look at him in the eyes.

“Yes daddy.” Fred groaned, one of his hands coming to pull at her hair.

“Up you go then little girl, come and lay here.” He patted his other hand next to the big space next to him, given his sofa was so big, and y/n was about to find out cozy too. She did as she was told. “But take your jeans and panties first beauty.” She nodded, her trembeling hands coming to do just that.

“The shirt and bra too, daddy?” She asked a little low, she was feeling so many things too, she couldn’t wait for what Fred was thinking of doing. He nodded. She was fully naked in front of him. The first thing he looked at was her wetness, he could see it dripping down, but before he even looked, as soon as she took her panties the smell hit him like a thousand things. If it was strong before, it was now consuming everything in him.

She laid down and Fred turned to his side, kneel and opened her legs moving himself in between them. He looked directly at her pussy for a few moment and then at her perky rigid nipples.

“You just wanna be touched don’t you baby? Just as desperate as daddy was for your touch.” Fred referring to himself as daddy had her clenching her pussy around nothing, Fred noticed and one of the hands that was on her thights keeping her legs opened came to graze at her pussy. He touched from her clit to her entrance where he rolled his index finger around, spreading her wetness all around. He then brought that finger to his mouth and sucked on it, the sight making y/n moan.

“Please, daddy I was good. Please touch me.” The desperation in her voice made Fred feel pitty for her. He nodded and came to lean down on it. y/n was about to get her pussy eaten by what she possibly thought was a vampire, and she should be scared and run, or stop this and ask so many questions, but she felt this immense trust for Fred and that he would always stop if she asked, if she needed and he would never do anything she didn’t feel comfortable with. His face was so close to her pussy and he didn’t waste any more time and sucked at her clit. His fangs giving a different kind of touch that her screaming in pleasure her legs threatening to close around him, but one of his hands kept one of the legs where it was before, the other came around his shoulders.

She was so wet, she didn’t think she had ever been this wet with a man. She usually found herself never releasing when she was with a man. They had all but forgotten and negletected her during. She usually only got to come when she was by herself or when she was lucky to have a beautiful girl laying with her. So being with a man and being so wet without any foreplay was astonishing to her. Fred was alternating his mouth movements between gentle and more harsh suckles on her clit and small little pecks and kissed that had her clit tingle in pleasure. y/n was a complete and whining mess, both her hands coming to meet his hair and pulling at it hard. Fred moaned into her and that only made her belly tighten in pleasure.

The two fingers that where now inside of her where moving fast, the only sound in that room besides y/n’s loud whines moans and whimpers where the wet splashing sound that were coming from the wetness of her pussy, that was now a mixture of her juices and Fred’s spit. He pushed his face away and looked at her his mouth was as messy as her pussy. His face and chin covered in her wetness and her spit. The coldness of his touch in her contrasted so well with how warm and velvety and squishy she felt and it was all too much. Her orgasm was so close and the pressure felt so… so different, it was like it was pulling al her muscles and wanted to just explode all over.

“Come on baby, I can feel you squeeze my finger good, gonna cum for me aren’t you? Gonna cum for your daddy.” His voice was like a melody to her ears. “Fucking soake me baby. Give me all this sweet honey I know you have.” His fingers curled right on her spongy spot, she screamed his name and her body tensed. He lowered so his face was close to her pussy again and went on to suckle at her clit again, and the way her pussy was being touched by Fred, how he knew what to do and where to touch her, in just the right placeshad her orgasm splitting her open inside.

Her hands threaded his hair in between her fingers and pulled at it hard, and that only had Fred moan into her, making her orgasm all more intense. Her vision was so blurry and her hearing had a piercing noise that she only heard sometimes and never during this time.

She was so lost in herself that she wasn’t seeing what Fred was seeing, her juices hitting his face, wetting him all over, his fingers coming out of her to rub at her clit feverishly only intensifying it more and he pushed back so he could take in all of her, the way she had now her eyes close and moans of his name were coming out, come low others a little higher and how her juices started to decrease and she started to shake and tremble and her hips trying to get way from his touch letting Fred know she was very sensitive. So he stopped, he put both his hands at her thighs so they had to stay open, and she couldn’t close them like she was trying to do.  He felt her shaking beneath his touch.

“Fuck- I- daddy.” She couldn’t master up any thoughts and her hands that weren’t on his head no more, were squeezing her breasts, finding some conform in that gesture. Her nipples still hard and unplayed with, but Fred knew what he was doing.

“Are you too sensitive baby? Or can you take my cock?” He asked gently, caressing her things very smoothly too and letting small kisses along her bare legs.

“I can take your cock daddy, I’m a big girl.” She opened her eyes finally, and  that’s when she finally looked down to see the mess. The shirt he still wore now see thru because her orgasm had made it that way. All wet. Her thighs also wet and his face just like that too, but the smile on his face didn’t let y/n be embarrassed because, well she took it that he liked it. And she had liked it very much also. Fred shuddered at her words, his cock rock hard again and coming to meet his stomach. He was so big and thick and y/n just couldn’t wait to feel all of him.

“Please.” She asked lightly, and took one of his hands in hers and pulled him to her. Fred took his other free hand to his cock and positioned it to her entrance. He looked from her they meet, from where his cock scratched at her pussy, at her cute little clit, to look at her, her mouth opened, a whine leaving it.

He sinks in slowly, not only because he cared for her, because he knew he was to much for her to handle if he just went fast and hard, but because Fred cared and although he always cared for the people he slept with, he cared differently for y/n. The girl he knew for so little while but that was making his heart feel some kind of way. A deep groan leaves his throat, his cock coming to sit snuggly against her smooth walls, his balls fitting snug against her ass. The hand that had been on his cock came to rest next to y/n’s head to give himself some leverage and the other hand now free came to play with  one of her nipples, pushing it and rolling it in between his thumb and pointer finger. She clenched deliciously around him.

He back up his hips after he feels she’s a little use to his size and then comes to meet her hips again, the slow yet hard movement made both of them moan. He was so big, now inside her felt even bigger than when she touched him with her hand. She could feel the vein that ran up along his cock caress her walls and along with that the pure look of pleasure he had in his face was making y/n a moaning mess again.

Fred kisses y/n, her tongue rasping around his sharp teeth and the feeling had her whimper into his mouth. He pulls out a little faster this time and came snapping against her again, the force of this had his pelvis coming to meet her clit, the extra pressure and sensation had her legs quiver hard.

Fred was fucking her now hard and deep, his other hand on her nipple came to the other side of her face so he could gain more force and speed and his head lowered down do his mouth met one of her nipples, the one who still hand’t gotten much attention and proceeded to get it all wet and messy with his spit, sucking on it while also moaning against it, because y/n was squeezing him hard, and spasming around him. He knew her orgasm earlier had been strong, squirting always made people extra sensitive after, and he knew she was more than usual, and that also having her nipples played with was even mesmerizing.

All the little nerves in her body are on high alert, feeling and letting her know another orgasm approaches, how her hands come to find Fred’s face and pull him in for a deep kiss, their tongues fighting for dominance, his hands becoming fists around the cushions on his sofa. His legs also threatening to give out, because he also had a strong orgasm earlier and he was closer than he would like to admit.

She has to pull herself way from him because her orgasm hit her like a truck, she was expecting to last a small while longer, but all of sudden everything came crashing down on her. The orgasm again strong, she shakes and quivers all over, her hands squishing Fred’s face strongly and her mouth wide open, whimpers start to leave her mouth again

His movements never stop, now that had come, Fred could chase his own orgasm better. He continues, he fucks y/n thru her orgasm, one of his hands comes to her throat and squeezes it. y/n smiles the best she can and turns her head to the side exposing her neck to him. The orgasm still pumping thru her veins, and the vein in her neck prominent, he could see the blood passing in them.

“Bite me.” She said low, if Fred didn’t have that hearing he could’ve sworn it would have pass him. His body almost gave out on him. He felt himself ask low ‘What’.

“Bite me.” She repeated again, with one hand taking the one that was still around her throat but kept her position. “Please.”

“y/n..” Fred started but she didn’t let him finish.

“I’m giving you consent, bite me.” Her pussy squeezing his cock and the request had Fred at the brim of his orgasm and then when he lowered his head again, his lips brushing against her neck and his fangs that had been out all this time and full of his venom came to bite down on her skin. The sweet honeyed flavor of her blood was something that made Fred feel his body relax and just… well Fred didn’t even know how to describe what he was feeling.

y/n screamed, it felt like a sharp, sharp pain in her skin, but then after a few moments if didn’t hurt anymore, it did sting a little, from what she thought was his venom entering her system.

That’s how Fred came, with her pussy spasming around him, sensitive from the two strong orgasms he gave her, him, also sensitive because this would be his second orgasm and from her taste on his tongue, on his mouth and her smell everywhere. He moaned close to her, and right after he hit the top he pulled way from her, licking at the two small marks his teeth had left and it healed.

y/n was now a little lost, he made sure to only drink enough to sustain him, but he had still drunk her blood so she was a little limp.

“Thank you.” Fred said gently, caressing her face and kissing her lips gently.

y/n was trying hard to find words, feeling a little loopy, but still there none the less.

“You’re welcome.” She yawned. “But you have a lot of explain to do.” The both laughed, Fred scooted y/n over a little so they could both fit on the sofa and pulled a blanket that was usually there to just be, but now it would cover and warm y/n.

“I will, I promise. Thank you for trusting me.” That was the last thing y/n remember Fred say before she fell into a deep sleep, snuggled into Fred’s chest.

[youremyonlyhope]

MAMD

Ok seeing all the rewatchers1000 posts has inspired me to rewatch Me and My Dick too.

It’s literally been a decade since I last watched this. I definitely was in high school. I think I’ve only watched this musical twice maybe 3 times, though I do genuinely love it.

It’s so strange that as a completely naive teenager whose introduction to most sexual jokes came from this musical, and is now greysexual, that the musical still managed to take hold of SUCH a special place in my heart.

Now let’s see if the Old Snatch is still my favorite character or not. I know I used to adore her.

Aww Joey’s a BABY. Oof the sound quality. I don’t know why I had my volume so low. “I love you more than anything... my Dick.”  Joe’s a baby too. “Never even seen a booby” why did that line just kill me. “Good grief” aww. The head tilt! I’ve listened the Apocalyptour soundtrack so many times over the years, that I’m not used to them actually finishing the sentence “It’s me and my dick!” Tell me why I’m singing along to Dick’s lines and not Joey’s? Awwww little baby Jaime. “And if we’re late for class, well I guess that’s ok!” “Is she gone?” “Yeah! I’m gone!” Oh my god she’s a salad. I can’t remember, did we make that into an insult like we did for toaster...

I’m also drinking a hard pear cider that I discovered my bodega sells earlier this week. It’s delicious.

Aww there’s a bit of the trumpet from Listen to Your Heart in the scene transition! The audience reaction to Miss Cooter’s name. Yesssss Ready to Go. Legitimately one of the best StarKid songs to this day. “AgNOooo3″ Aww Ali. Literally a baby. She was the reigning youngest StarKid for so long. “...and it’s only when the Silver and the Nitrogen find all THREE Oxygens that they finally solve the case!” “...Calm down.” Amazing.

God I forgot how short some of these parts were back when YouTube didn’t let you post more than 10 minutes.

Oh shoot how did I only just noticed the “This video is for big StarKids only!” in the description. That’s so cute. They tried. They did not succeed in keeping away the little StarKids.

Ok wait one more interruption before I press play on Part 3. I just noticed that the video says 12 years ago. I just gagged. Ok moving on.

Alle-Faye! She’s so good. Yessssssss The Old Snatch and Flopsy.  “Wide Receiver” I can’t. God I’m so used to the SPACE version that I nearly went straight into Flopsy’s verse after the Old Snatch’s. “What, I ain’t!” Brolden your voice. “Whiles, we’s, waits to be delivered, go ahead cry me a river, we agree that there’s no quid pro quo” That line has always been my favorite for some reason. I just love the jazzy rhythm. The whole jazzy vibe of the show is amazing. “Save your tears for lubrication!” Amazing.  “I know there’s so much more to what I think I see” I keep singing the new soprano line they used in Homecoming. “TOTES JUST TOTED!” amazing. God. That’s such a good song. It’d be the perfect opening number for the show, if Me and My Dick wasn’t the title number and needed in order to explain the concept of the show. Also I never realized that Corey, Arielle, Lily, and Richard are the only “ensemble” in the show. I don’t think I ever realized there were only 12 people in this entire cast... how many were in AVPM... now I gotta check. There were 17. Also there’s 13 in the cast, AJ just isn’t in Ready to Go. Also, Nicholas Joseph Strauss-Matathia. Fave.

“I heard Joey Richter ate his poop because his Dick told him to” What. “He looks like an old lesbian!” I forgot that joke. “I WANNA HAVE CARIBBEAN STUDY WITH YOU!” Iconic. Oh wait. It just hit me that of the 4 (or 8 if you count the genitalia) main characters, 3 (6) are women. Though of course, 2 vaginas are played by men, so it does come out to 4 and 4 for actors, but character-wise, it’s 6 and 2. That’s fun. Somehow this managed to be the most woman-dominant show other than Firebringer, in a way. “Thank you so much, for giving all that up, so I can have that with Vanessa and not with you” Amazing. I forgot that Devin has an operatic voice in this song. This song now makes me think of the time StarKid had a fan join Joe in singing this song at LeakyCon a few years ago. Purposefully to prank a fan with having to sing the least-well-known StarKid song. I will admit it is forgettable. Also the fan somewhat knew the song and stumbled through it pretty well, so all the StarKids were like “That went so much better than we though! We wanted to make a joke but you did it!” at the end. I love that Richard’s entire point in this show is just to make fun of Joey.

Aww. Every StarKid show needs an outdated reference. This time, it’s “I thought you’d go all Britney on me and have a spaz attack.” The sword of Gryffindor is in there. “A stiff outer lip” That probably went over my head as a teen. “Don’t be a stranger” “Never!” Love her. The slow building laugh at “She’s got long, beautiful, flowing hair.” Oh my god sorry I can’t get over how young Joey is, he’s a baby. “Are you nuts?” “A little” adorable. “We’re like Batman and Robin, or Superman... and his dick!” Amazing.

”And by pecker I assume you’re referring to a p-p-p-p-p-p... a cock” Nick my god. Knowing that Devin and Nick were really close friends in college (if I remember the story correctly, he coined “devdevnumnums” at orientation when they met and that was her tumblr url back in the day) makes this song even funner to me. God I love the Old Snatch. Oh my god the pearl necklaces. A costume piece that went over my head. ”Oh you must really be wet... behind the ears! With naiveté!” Lines that went over my head. OH MY GOD. TIFFANY HAS A RED ENV2! I HAD A RED ENV2 IN 2009! Oh my god just squeaked. What a throwback. Aww the Old Snatch.

I haven’t mentioned the blue headband yet, but I love the blue headband so much. “Don’t worry, no one’s gonna have sex with you while I’m here” *sincere nodding* Amazing. I forgot that line until about 2 seconds before it happened. “Do you want me to give you a back scratch?” “No we’re fine.” “No thanks.” I’m dead. THE TEXTBOOK. “She wants to have sex with us.” “She does?” “Yeah.” “Nice I did it!” Amazing. Oh the camerawork when Dick looks to his left for someone else. I’m glad they thought ahead with the camerawork even for their second show. AHHHH THE SOCK. I JUST SCREAMED. LIGHTING A MATCH?? I remembered Flopsy coming out like a monster about a second before it happened. “I’m not gonna fucking sing with you!” Another line that came back to me only just before it happened. Also, Brian looks really pretty with the make-up and the wig. I remember watching that entire scene when I was 14 and PRAYING my parents wouldn’t walk in and ask what I was watching. I was cringing the entire time, but this time it’s funny (and still made me cringe a bit because it’s meant to be awkward).

Awww here we go. The first scene of MAMD I ever saw because I wanted to know why everyone loved AJ so much. “I wish I was born without a dick. Or as a girl or something.” 2009 StarKid is accidentally sort of trans-inclusive for that one line. Sort of. I remember being SO confused seeing Dick run away out of context when I watched only this scene. And In context it’s still shocking. Aww the heartbeat. “Why hello there Joey.” AJ’S A BABY!!! HE’S SO YOUNG!! HE’S A BABY! I literally just squeaked. Oh my god he’s so young. “Wow the nine of hearts!” “That’s right the king of hearts!” “Ew!” “Read this. It’s a Jane Austen novel Joey.” Oh my god I was just talking to one of my coworkers about how obsessed I am with Jane Austen. Why did StarKid stop referencing her in their musicals?  Oh it’s Sense and Sensibility. So is Vanessa the Willoughby and Sally is the Colonel Brandon? Am I overthinking this? Am I slightly tipsy from 2 ciders because I have no alcohol tolerance? I’m gonna go with: they’re trying to draw a parallel there with the Marianne love triangle but making it Joey. I think it works. To my half asleep slightly tipsy mind. “Sometimes, your one true love turns out to be the person you initially... disliked.” Yes definitely, I forgot that line, but I caught on to that parallel correctly. I am SO HAPPY. “When did Jane Austen say that?” In half her novels Joey. Why specifically 223%? I cannot get over how little AJ is! He’s such a baby! He’s so young. Oh my god. So cute. I can’t. BRB gotta see if I can find an example of one of those old AJ Holmes Appreciate Day posts from like 2012 oh my god.

Ok so way back in 2011 and 2012, when a whole bunch of us had our own little group that posted constantly on the StarKidPotter FB wall (before FB introduced Timeline and messed up our system of posting), we used to do an AJ Holmes Appreciation Day and just post things about how awesome AJ was, but in like Chuck Norris 2010s style jokes. I just went back in my Facebook activity to see, and I wrote things like “Apple Juice is only firetrucking delicious because its initials are A.J.” and “AJ Holmes dares to disturb Goyle’s slumber!”

But the one that is relevant and I think I’m probably most proud of: “AJ Holmes doesn’t listen to his heart, his heart listens to him.”

Ok that’s my StarKid fandom history/walk down memory lane/intermission done. On to Act 2!

WAIT A SECOND. I am not done. I had posted “JK Rowling didn’t come up with the idea of Harry Potter, AJ Holmes whispered it into her ear.” and basically, did I accidentally predict A Very Potter Senior Year in 2011... StarKid, should I ask for royalties? (I’m kidding)

OK NOW I’m done and going on to Act 2. Also I have a headache now, which means I shouldn’t have drunk that second cider, I should have saved it for another time. Oh well. I’ll power through.

Oh my god. Dick on the street. Oh my god Nick saying “Fuck you!” over and over. I’m DEAD. Darren’s cameo oh my god. Corey and Arielle are amazing. “Wait that’s just a curtain” Oh, the 4th wall breaks. “Ever since I rescued Weenie from a bird” A BIRD. I FORGOT THE BIRD. Do we get to see the bird? The Land of the Dicks is such a great jazz song. Also flashback to me talking to some girls on the StarKid Takes Manhattan line who were younger than me and them saying “I’m worried they’ll sing a song from MAMD. My mom’s going to come to the concert, and she doesn’t know about that show.” and I said “Don’t worry. They only do Ready to Go or Listen to your Heart live. I mean, it’s not like they’re gonna sing Land of the Dicks. Hahaha” And then Lauren sang the Land of the Dicks. Which was AMAZING, but I remember turning to one of them when the opening started and mouthing “I am so sorry...” God Land of the Dicks is genuinely SUCH a good song oh my god. I hope AJ and Carlos are proud of it. Also oh my god. I gotta throw out some appreciation for Corey. Who honestly did not get the appreciation he deserved from the fandom until we started the Hatchetfield musicals. But I loved him so much in this show. Also Arielle is always such a pleasant surprise. I always forget how prominent she is in this show. I wish she did more things with StarKid. Was she even at Homecoming...

Joey’s face at nincompoop amazing. “Too bad you’ll never be a leading man because of that JAW of yours.” AWWWW. NOOOO WE LOVE THE JAW. “You’re forgetting the most important prop!” 4th wall breaks. “The hour is nigh!” Oh my god. “I don’t wanna see or be seen by anyone today.” Wow. Far too relatable. “THAT IS WAY TOO OVERWHELMING FOR A TUESDAY” the number of times over the last 11 years that I’ve thought of that line... The flower in the shoe and Old Snatch’s “Hows romantic.” I can’t. Oh my god. I just remembered “Raise my children!” “Sometime the best thing to say... is a kiss.” “Good line Joey!” “What?” “The fuck!?” That was the FUNNIEST line to me. “Did everybody hear that? Joey Richter has a limp little dick!” Oh Richard. “Oh my props.” Old Snatch oh my god. “Tiffany, doll, I love ya. But you are the dumbest fucking person, I have ever met, in my entire life” I love that line. And I love that the audience is laughing so hard they drown Nick out before he even finishes. I love the Old Snatch so much.

“Sex sex sex pussy pussy sex pussy sex pussy sex.” “Pussy. Sex.” I’m dead. This whole “pussy time” speech in insane. And so the incel movement began. “The president of the United States can’t even order out for some pussy or else he’s gonna get impeached.” “LEWINSKY.” Oh my god. I definitely did not know who Monica Lewinsky was when I was 14. Amazing. Actually maybe I learned who she was from MAMD... honestly, that’s a very real possibility. “What’s a pussy gotta do when she wants a dick? She just says ‘dick please?’ and the sun is blocked out by dicks.” I remembered sun blocked out line only seconds before it happened, and I was already laughing so hard. Also the caption says *indiscernible, it’s just too funny* for the next line Corey says since it’s completely drowned out by laughter and lost to history. Oof the “sex change” joke didn’t really age well. “Let’s go do jazz squares.” I love how Corey hits Arielle’s head with his hat so hard her beanie flies off.

“You’re a fatty. Joey look at me when you cry, you’re fatty.” “And what a poor choice of shirt.” “It’s the only one I have.” Oh my god Ali taking the tickets. Ahhh the caption says *wind carrying away all of Joey’s hopes and dreams* I’m dead. “Can the choir class come into the room yet?” “Because Joey Richter is CUH-RYING IN HERE.” oh my god. I thought about that line a few weeks ago for the first time in years and it killed me. And “I think he needs to be picked up” adorable. I can’t handle it. “Um, Joey, I love you.” “Thanks friend, I love you too.” Ahhhh help. Oh the audio got so much clearer suddenly for Sally’s confession. “I want all of you, Joey Richter. And all I can give in return is myself. I wish I could give you more.” Awwwwwwwww. That line. “But I... there’s a... wait I....... Shit.” The “shit” on cue with the music, amazing. Ahhh I forgot how cute of a song Even Though is. Hey, StarKid, why cut the parts mid-way through the song!? Stupid YouTube...

“Maybe she is the person who we initially disliked!” Hey we got there. “Listen to your heart.” “NO. You screwed everything up last time.” “And I could very well screw it up this time!” Lily as Sally’s Heart. Adorable. That little curtsy at “and now twenty-first century!” is so cute. I’m glad StarKid didn’t do the usual take-off-her-glasses-and-she’s-pretty route for Sally. “Well that’s probably because our hearts are dancing a waltz to a song in 4/4 time.” I love that joke and oh my god the caption says (Everyone appreciates the joke) amazing. Also I love that the Hearts are like... grasping and letting go of their hands in beat to the heartbeat. Miss Cooter coming out from between her legs oh my god. Joey kissing Miss Cooter. More things that initially went over my head. AHHHH THE WAY SHE PUSHES HER BACK DOWN THROUGH THE LEGS. I SCREAMED. “And that is not the man I see lying in a heap below me.” Yesssss Alle-Faye! Yes AJ! Nick in the background with just a sweatshirt over his Snatch dress, I can’t. “Someone tell him where his dick is” “He’s out to find his dick” That is the most ridiculous number in the show, and somehow it’s the only one that doesn’t have dancing genitalia in it.

“Take a douche, cutie.” “You eat until you are as fat as you are ugly.” “That’ll take forever.” Awww noooooo. “I know there’s someone out there who still thinks you’re beautiful.” “...Mom?” “No, she doesn’t think that” Ahh my heart. “Yeah it’s me, the Old Snatch!” I love her. There are some awkward cuts in this scene that make me wonder if lines were cut, or if it’s just how they edited the two camera angles. I remember singing this song on the street once while explaining MAMD to a friend. It didn’t help explain it. I love Lily as the High Council Pussy. “Pussies from the West are bringing snacks.” Such a fun song.

Oh my god. I will not repeat what the caption just called the High Council Pussy. I will instead call her what the lyrics in the description said, the High Council Pussy. Oh my god. “Rabble rabble rabble” StarKid should bring that back. “I’s dos! The Old Snatch” “The Old Snatch?” “Yeah that’s right, the Old Snatch.” I love her. I can’t handle the caption putting her name for every single line. Oh my god. I’m gonna just call her the Grand Pussy. I cannot. Ok so the Old Snatch says her name out loud. I do not remember that. And that word definitely went over my head as a 14 year old. Oh my god. “Love! My esteemed colleagues. LOVE!... For a dick.” I’m dead. The flopping with the rabbles, I’m dead. “She’s wasting our pussy time” Bringing back that joke. The Old Snatch has Snatch Scouts? Can we hear more about them?? “Because if I’m wrong and a dick can love, what does that say about you?” OH NO. OH NOOO. NO DON’T HURT MY GIRL LIKE THIS. “A dick won’t set foot in there twice.” NO. NO OLD SNATCH YOU’RE PERFECT. “Elder Vag” Ok see, I much prefer that title. Ok the Old Snatch taking off her wig... made me want to make a joke... but I can’t remember the word I’m thinking of and I don’t feel like googling it. I figured out that the word was merkin. The caption said (Flopsy queefs) and I died. “I’s woulds” “The Old Snatch!” “That’s right. The Old Snatch.” Best running joke. Best character. “Hey you, Old Snatch.” “That’s me. The Old Snatch.” I die every time. I forgot that Flopsy’s real name is Myrtle. “We’s gots works to do.” I’m not gonna make the joke. The Flight of the Pussies. I cannot. Also yesss Alle-Faye’s vocalizations (I’m 95% sure it’s Alle-Faye singing the high part).

“He has a dick, it’s not his dick!” Oh Joey. “I got a picture of him, you wanna see it? I take pictures of him.” Oh my god Joey. “There’s a big singing, dancing dick in front of you Joey. I think anything’s possible.” I mean. He really has a point. Ah Corey’s so good. This whole song is SO good. Dick stiff-arming Weenie is amazing. “Get that sad bishop out of here.” Yessss Corey. Awww there’s a gentle instrumental reprise of Me and My Dick playing in the background as Joey tried to get Dick back. Oh I forgot they actually reprise the song!

TIE HIM TO A CACTUS!??!?!? I literally couldn’t remember if the bird comes back, it does. Aww the ba-dum-tss at the Heart pun. “That’s the only way we can work it out. And if we’re all in this together, you can bet on it that we’re breaking free.” “Fabulous!” “Looks like the boys are back!” Will people understand how amazing that joke is in 20 years? Is this another doomed to be outdated joke? I remember when I did Kiss Me Kate in high school, someone had to outline all the 40s jokes so we’d know why they were funny, will someone one day make an outline of all the StarKid jokes from the 2010s to explain them? “Cause I’m just a little boy and you’re all walking pussies.” Amazing. “Today I’ve seen dicks and pussies, walking and talking and flying around.” “You Old Snatch.” “I am the Old Snatch” Love her. I never noticed Joey wiping his hands. “Guys follow me, I’ll take you back to our dimension.” Amazing. “And I want more than that, no. I deserve more.” Yes you do, you Old Snatch. I sort of need to know the backstory now of Big T’s old person and how they ended up being Tiffany’s first time. Tobias and Gladys?? I forgot their names. Ali flying back in with the tickets. Amazing. See I know the audience is laughing, and StarKid probably intended that last little Me and My Dick reprise to be funny between Big T and the Old Snatch, but it’s genuinely sweet. I’m really happy that the Old Snatch gets a happy ending.

”Miss Cooter did you just come in through the window?” “No you’re crazy, go back to sleep.” I don’t love Heaven on Earth as a song, but it’s still fun. Oh my god. I just screamed “JOE” out loud. Because all show I’ve been like “Don’t we see Rick’s dick at some point? Who plays Rick’s dick?” And just now I was doing a mental tally of the 12 13 cast members and I’m like “None of them can play Rick’s dick, they have their own roles to play in this finale. But I KNOW we saw that dick... who was it...” And then JoMo walked onstage. I really just screamed “JOE” out loud when I saw him. Oh my god. Once again the pearl necklace joke went over my head as a 14 year old. I love the audience reaction though, they finally all notice the necklaces at that moment if they didn’t notice them already. Ok I never understood the Palace of Auburn Hills joke. I assumed it was something going over my head when I was younger, but I just googled it and it’s actually just a Michigan joke. Also does JoMo come onstage and then immediately just go off? He’s gone. ”HYOOO!” so cute.

Aww and the Darren version of Ready to Go for the credits.

“And Joey Richter as himself” amazing.

Aww, Darren’s version of Even Though for the rest of the credits.

Ok so the Old Snatch is still the literal best character that StarKid has ever made. I love her so much and I love how Nick plays her. She is my favorite character in any StarKid show I think to this day.

CLARK WAS ON KEYBOARD?!?!?!?!?! WHAT?!?!?!?! CLARK!?!?!?!? YOU WERE HERE THIS EARLY?!?!?!?!?! oh my god. I legit just screamed “CLARK!?” seeing his name.

Also I think I always knew Darren was playing Guitar in the show, especially if he was there to do the cameo, but for some reason it didn’t really hit me until I saw his name just now. That’s so fun.

And Carlos! Yay! I wish Carlos had been able to do more stuff with StarKid.

Sorry, I’m still reeling from finding out that Clark has been in their bands for this long, for basically the entire time. I really thought he didn’t show up until around Starship. I am also ashamed that the fandom didn’t even truly know of his existence until SPACE Tour when he stole all our hearts in the Jim and Povolos section. And even then he wasn’t appreciated until Firebringer.

(Update a few weeks later: I found an old post of mine from 2012 where I acknowledge that Clark has been around since at least MAMD, so I guess at some point over the last decade I forgot that I already knew he’d been around this long.)

While rereading this post, it suddenly hit me that whenever people would ask what my StarKid dream role is, I’d always say Sally’s Heart. Honestly, it still is one I’d love to play.

I’m glad I rewatched it. It definitely is different now as an adult, especially an adult who’s older than all the StarKids were when they did the show. Some parts did not age well in the slightest, but it’s still very funny and the music is incredible thanks to AJ and Carlos (and Darren).

[shreddedparchment]

Pseudo Princess Epilogue

08/21/2020

Pairing: King!Steve x Reader          Word Count: 6,172

Warnings: fluff, talks of sterilization/infertility

A/N: I did promise a surprise. There were some interactions that I wanted to touch on that I couldn’t fit into the last chapter and this just felt right to write. I hope y’all enjoy. If you happen to reblog, thanks so much for helping me spread my work! xoxo

“What have you decided?” You wonder, adjusting Joseph in your arms as they begin to tire.

“We’re going to adopt.” Nat’s smile is genuine and yet, you find there’s a sadness in her eyes that breaks your heart.

She looks at Joseph and stares at him for a moment before reaching across the small space between your chairs to caress his little cheek.

“May I be honest with you?” You hesitate but know that you need to say this in order for that sadness to leave her eyes.

Of course, her sadness is her own and you might only help relieve it. You cannot chase it away for good.

“Of course.” She takes her hand back to place over yours.

“I am so glad that you have decided not to see the witch.” You sigh. “After having lost all of you for over a year, the thought of losing more time knowing that I would have had it…”

“I know.” Nat interrupts softly, tearing her eyes down to her hand in yours. “James is the same. He told me to choose what would make me happy and for a moment I considered very much going to see her, but the forced look of detachment on James’s face was heartbreaking. I don’t want him to feel as if his opinion does not matter to me.

“If we cannot both be of one mind in this choice then it is a choice that I cannot make. We were both decided on adoption before I remembered the witch’s offer so, adoption is the only choice my heart can bear to make.” Nat’s feelings are genuine, and you can see the decision has lifted weight from her shoulders.

“You have known that you could not have children for years. Is this really what you wanted. Having them naturally?” You probe, already knowing her answer. “You know that Bucky does not and has not cared if you could give him natural born children.”

“Why do you know me so well?” She huffs a small laugh. “I wanted to give him the life he deserved.”

“The life he deserves is the one he chooses, love. And he chooses to be with you, just as you are. For him you are not lacking in anything.” You point out, remembering the look of utter worship he gives her every time they’re together.

“I know.” Nat nods, smiling wide albeit a little resigned. “I don’t think I’ve ever truly accepted that and that’s why I became so fixated on giving him a child born of us both.”

You scoot closer to the edge of your seat, adjusting the sleeping Joseph in your arms. Now that you’re closer, you can wrap one arm around her back a little, bringing your face down and closer to her own.

“We all love you, Nat. Just as you are. Any child you raise would be lucky to have you as a mother. I know I’ve said it before, but I cannot impress upon you the sincerity of what I say. Trust me. You are perfect to us. If not the world, then to Bucky and myself. And isn’t that enough?”

Her eyes begin to water, and you have the sudden urge to hug her. Before you can, the door to your sitting room opens. Quickly you wipe away the two tears that roll onto Nat’s cheeks as Peter freezes, his eyes wide with surprise. He’s still got his arms extended, feet still in mid-step.

“Oh,” He gasps. “I’m…I didn’t know you were in here your Majesty. I’m so sorry.”

“Peter!” You exclaim, happy to see him.

His face changes, a wide smile replacing the look of shock on his face.

“Hi.” He replies simply, moving towards you as you rise to your feet and with Joseph carefully balanced in your arms, you wrap Peter up in the other.

“It’s so good to see you. When Steve told me you’d left for Father’s castle I was saddened to be denied our reunion.” You chuckle, trying to keep Joseph as still as possible despite knowing that he will not wake even should you need to grab a sword and fight some random attacker.

“I’m sorry, I had to deliver Steve’s invitations for the feast he has planned for when the estate is completed. Only a few weeks now.” Peter says proudly as you pull back to get a look at his face. He seems to be getting taller still. Just over a year and you’re shocked by his growth.

He’s much bigger in muscle mass too.

“Invitations, sure.” Natasha teases, fixing him with a knowing look.

Peter seems to deflate by her implications which raises many questions in your own head.

To allay your confusion, he leads you back to your seat and helps you to sit.

“Morgana and I have actually parted ways.” He says simply, his voice serious but not melancholy.

“Oh.” Nat exclaims, exchanging with you a quick look of concern. “I hope that it was nothing that cannot be mended?”

Peter takes a step back and reaches up to scratch at the back of his neck.

“She is much happier with our engagement at an end. If I am honest, we have been growing apart the last several months. She has been busy undertaking King Stark’s training and I have been busy in the villages with minor disturbances from remnants of Hydra and their various factions.

“Our friendship is just as strong as it ever was, but I don’t believe romance will be a part of our future.” Peter sighs upset despite his words of assurance.

“Last I remember your romance was only just blooming.” You lament, hating to have lost out on the beauty of their love growing.

Now it’s gone?

“Yes.” Peter smiles. “I had high hopes for us but I’m certain this is the right choice for us both.”

“Is this a choice you both made?” Natasha wonders, worried for the young guard.

“We spoke about it at length and we’re sure that it’s for the best.” Peter nods. “Do not worry. We are both perfectly fine.”

Containing your frown is out of the question but he does look as if their choice is one of certainty and you can’t exactly contradict them if they have found what is right for both of them. Even if it’s a shame that you won’t have Peter as a brother-in-law.

With no choice but to move on, you let Natasha take Joseph from your arms as she moves him into the crib nearby.

You have one in here and one in your bedroom.

“So?” You begin, sitting back with a small grimace at the pain in your back. “What brings you to my sitting room? I know you did not come to see me since you didn’t know I was in here.”

As Natasha tucks Joseph in, she waits with observant eyes as if she’s still trying to decide if Peter has told you both the truth about him and Morgana.

“I was sent in to fetch your sewing basket. His Majesty said that he wanted to show it to me so that I’d know what to buy.” Peter explains, his brow furrowed as he observes the grimace on your face and the strange way you’re sitting.

The flowing gown you wear—slate blue around the shoulders down to the constricting bodice where it shifts and mixes with the peony pink fabric beneath the sheer top layer that then flows down to end in that same soft pink—puddles around you, soft to the touch.

It’s finer than anything you’ve worn in a while and the corset you’re wearing now forces your back straight once more.

You’d forgotten how uncomfortable the clothing you'd worn as Queen of Broklin could be. It was a hybrid of both pleasure and pain as the soft fabrics felt cool and heaven in touch but the stiff undergarments to help you fit into such fine dresses were forcing your body to readjust again.

The attempt to slouch and lean back against your chair in search of comfort does not go unnoticed by your once personal guard. Now rehired as you have returned.

“Are you in a lot of pain?” He worries, taking a step closer. His fists open and close as if he’s warring with wanting to reach out and help.

Everyone has been so attentive, so careful with you these past few days after your reappearance. It isn’t even so much that the clothing is too uncomfortable. The corset is tight indeed, but you were so malnourished when Steve found you again that your body had rejected all the rich foods that he’d sent for.

It wasn’t until Natasha thought to bring you simple unseasoned fish, vegetables, and plain water instead of wine that you managed to eat and retain the nutrition. Slowly they added saltier meats and seasoned vegetables and after five days of no missed meals, you were feeling stronger and more like yourself.

The only thing that weighs heavily on your mind still is your son. So much smaller than your daughter was at his age, or so Steve says.

Your husband cried into your chest for that first torturous night. Blissful yet painful. You were all so happy to be back together, finally you were all complete. The piece of yourself that you’d felt was missing had returned in you both, and still it was not enough.

It was excruciating to see your baby girl so grown. Walking, however clumsily, and talking. Her eyes when she sees you are full of confusion. There is no recognition there. Your heart breaks for the bond that you’ve lost.

For Steve, it was the sight of you and Joseph so feeble. So hungry for care and safety. The jumpiness that you’d developed once more having to watch your every step with Phin and the other village men who’d seen an easy target in an orphaned single mother.

He was devastated to know that you’d suffered the birth of your son alone. He hates to know that you fed on rats in your most desperate hours to keep your little one fed. It tears you apart to see him so agonized over it only to see that even through your efforts your son needed a doctor’s care.

Your body is not strong and because of this, everyone has been vigilant with the slightest change in your mood. Steve and Nat especially. Peter has been informed, clearly.

You meet his eyes and offer a smile.

“No. Not exactly. It’s been over a year. I must adjust again, that’s all.” You explain, refusing to give in to their worries about your health.

You feel much stronger already after less than a week. Your son is also more comfortable and seems to fuss a little more now that he has the energy to do so.

Natasha steps towards you, running her hand along the center of your spine.

“Perhaps I laced you too tightly? Once Peter leaves, I can adjust it and give you some relief.” She offers.

“I’m alright.” You smile, resisting the need to grimace again.

Turning back to Peter, you try to distract them.

“Why have you been tasked with the purchase of a sewing box?” This does the trick and both of them forget your discomfort.

“Oh, well his Majesty wishes to tell you himself. I will tell him you’re here and return as soon as I have what I need.” Peter takes a step back, the eagerness to complete his task pulling him away.

“Very well. Hurry back.” You smile at him fondly, a fond lilt to your words. “I have missed you.”

Peter nods, the corners of his lips turned up as he turns and shuts the doors behind him.

“If you aren’t feeling well, Steve will want to know.” Nat frowns, her hand still resting on your back.

“I’m perfectly alright.” You chuckle, reaching back to take her hand and remove it from your spine. “I would like to take a walk.”

You rise and despite yourself, groan as your body stretches. After so much time sleeping in a lumpy bed of hay, a soft plush mattress feels too firm and soft at the same time.

“Y/N…” Nat chastises.

“My body is sore. I’m not used to these soft beds anymore. They feel good when I first lay in them but after a few hours of sleeping my body becomes stiff. It will pass in time, Nat. I promise. I’m alright. Truly.” You walk away from her as you speak, refusing to be stopped and move towards your baby boy to tuck the blanket in around him.

His little crib is the same one that Maggie had slept in when she’d been an infant and your heart fills with warmth that Steve was right and that you would indeed have use for it once again.

Joseph shifts, his little fists flexing open and shutting once again as he coos then sleeps on.

“Will you stay with him?” You whisper, though you don’t need to. Joseph has slept through the worst storms.

“As you wish.” Nat sighs, moving to sit in the chair she’d placed beside him in case you’d wanted to sit down with him.

“If he gets hungry-” You fret.

“I’ll bring him to you.” She promises. “Go, enjoy your walk.”

You leave her in good spirits, feeling free in the safety of the estate walls after so much time spent looking over your shoulder.

Naturally, you allow your heart to lead you and you find yourself at the door to Maggie’s nursery. You can hear Samuel with her, his laugh mixed with her occasional little scream of excitement.

Slowly you open the door, pressing your hand against the wood to keep it as quiet as possible.

You spot them sitting on the floor amongst a pile of pillows that have been strewn across a large thick blanket. The windows on the far side of the room have been thrown open to allow a gentle breeze to cool the room.

Sam holds a luxurious doll made of soft fabric against his leg, his body relaxed as he leans against the wall beside a small shelf full of other toys made of wood and clay. There are other dolls too.

In front of him sits your toddler, her hands wrapped around a large green leg.

With a gasp you push the door open and stop to find Hulk sitting on the other side of the room taking up almost all of it. His arms are casually resting against his knees as your little girl giggles and reaches around to pinch Hulk’s massive calf.

He growls and she laughs again. Then Hulk laughs, and claps his hands twice shaking the entire room.

“Ha-ha!” He says with amusement in his eyes. “Princess laugh funny.”

You look to Sam, uncertainty gripping your chest and he rises then hurries to meet you by the door.

“Your Majesty.” He bows his head, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “Don’t be alarmed, they do this often. He won’t hurt her.”

“Queen Flower!” Hulk shouts, raising his hand to wave then points down at your daughter. “Look! Little Princess laugh funny.”

He lifts his massive leg, taking her with it as she sits on his foot and hugs him tighter. As he drops it, she giggles once.

“Do thing, Princess! Make Hulk angry again.” He orders her and like an obedient puppy, she reaches around and pinches his leg again.

Hulk growls. She laughs. He laughs and claps.

The sight, while frightening at first, fills you with joy.

Your little girl has been happy! You’re so grateful to all of them.

“She likes Bruce too, but she and Hulk have this connection that’s hard to argue with. We can’t keep them apart for long.” Sam explains.

“I’m glad.” You nod.

“He takes care of her. When she cries, he gets upset and won’t stop slamming his fists until she stops. That’s how this began.” Sam gestures at them as they continue to play.

“She was crying?” You fret, watching your little girl for the telltale signs that she had been shedding tears.

“She misses Steve. She cries at least once every time he has to meet with anyone for an extended period of time with affairs of the Kingdom. They’ve been attached at the hip since you disappeared.

“I think he clung to her so tightly because he sensed you in her. He was happy to be with her but he knew that something was missing. We all did, only most of us assumed it was Margaret.

“Steve even insisted once that it wasn’t her and that there was someone else that should be at his side. But he went to sleep and we ignored him. We assumed he was merely distraught. When he woke the next morning, he seemed to have forgotten his theory and we thought we were wise to move on.” Sam smiles, shrugging his shoulders as he fixes you with his sheepish grin. “Sorry.”

You and Steve haven’t talked much about your time apart that does not involve the children. Hearing that he'd felt as lost as you had during your separation eases the small bit in your heart that still wonders if Steve is truly in love with you.

“It’s of no importance.” You assure him. “We are together again now. That’s all that matters.”

“Maggie, look who’s here.” Sam calls to her, waiting for her to exclaim in delight at the sight of you.

While you know better.

As you expect she turns to look at you, her little eyes searching your face for recognition and it comes slowly. It isn’t the recognition of a mother yet but she still releases Hulk's leg and with unsteady feet rises and wanders over towards you.

“Hello my sweet flower.” Your heart expands at least fifty sizes—no, a hundred!—as you squat down to be closer to her.

She stumbles as she reaches you but falls into your arms with a giggle that you echo as you wrap your arms around her and lift her to your lap.

She's still so small. A baby. Your baby.

“I was just about to go take a walk in the garden. I want to see all the pretty flowers that your papa planted. Would you like to come with me, little flower?” You wait as she watches your mouth when you’ve finished speaking.

Her own moves silently as she reaches up to fidget with her ear as she thinks about it.

You’ve spent as much time as you can with her these past five days and because you’re in her places of home—her Papa's bed, his presence every moment that he can spare, at his dining table right beside him, in the bath while he sits with her in his lap and the two of you talk.

You’ve bathed her with you and tucked her in. Kissed her cheeks and chastised her when her tantrums grew insolent.

You have made yourself a thorn in her side but a place to seek comfort too.

So, when she turns back to you and places her little hands on your cheeks before wrapping them around your neck, you are ecstatic.

Sam helps you to your feet as Hulk rises and grumbles.

“Queen Flower steal funny baby. Hulk hate Queen Flower!” He says passionately before giving a great hurumph and springing through the large open window.

You watch him go with your mouth slightly open. Maggie turns to wave as Hulk disappears and Sam shakes his head.

“Ba-ba-ba!” Maggie calls out after him, her little hand limp as she swings her arm up and down.

“He doesn’t really hate you. He tells all of us that when we take her.” Sam relays and you’re surprised to feel a wave of relief that Hulk is also just throwing a tantrum.

“I’ve left Nat with Joseph while he sleeps. Will you tell her to bring him down when he wakes? I’d love to have them together. She’s still unsure of him I think.” You’ve noticed your little girl is jealous when Steve holds your son and you want them to love each other despite their time apart.

“Of course. Enjoy your walk, your Majesty. I’ll send a guard down for you as well. Steve would not like you two out in the gardens by yourselves.”

“Thank you, Sam. Are you ready my princess?”

~~~~~~~~~~

It’s been nearly four hours of warm morning sun spent with your daughter in the fragrant peony garden that Steve had built in the estate gardens.

Waves of pink sway in the sultry summer breeze and Maggie’s little legs falter as she inches towards you, her small fist rubbing sleepily at her eye.

She’d spent the morning running after you, giggling loudly before screaming with excitement. She’d fallen many times, then risen and continued the chase. You’d let her catch you and fall to the ground to embrace her before she squirmed from your arms to indicate your turn to chase.

Her adorable antics were topped when she managed to crawl underneath your skirts, painting the bottom her dress—which once again, matches your own just as they had before you’d lost time—green as she rolled around on the soft pea-green blades of grass.

When she tired you two sat in the shade of a large oak giving you a much-needed respite from the blazing sun. She was up after only ten minutes, however. Energetic baby that she is.

All the while, at the edges of the tall blue hydrangea and wine butterfly bush, just out of sight is your guard. Five men circling the outside of the long garden. Out of sight so that they do not disturb you and Maggie though often you catch them peeking over the hedge to catch glimpses of the little miss.

She’s just as popular as she was before you lost her.

Halfway through your walk, Natasha joins you with Joseph. A blanket spread out beneath the oak where she’d sat with him while you played with Maggie.

Stopping, you admire her as she walks towards you. She’s the spitting image of her father and when you’d once thought her lips resembled your own, you can now see that she’s turning into Steve more and more every day.

“Muh-muh-muh…” She mumbles, and your heart skips a beat. “Muh-muh…”

As she reaches you, she lifts her arms towards you, her little rosebud lips fixed into a cranky pout.

“Oh, my sweet girl.” You gush, ducking down to pick her up before you cradle her against your chest. She’s heavy compared to Joseph but you don’t care. You will suffer through aching arms to hold her close.

She immediately lays her head on your shoulder and wraps her arms around her neck again, her eyes closing as you caress the back of her head tenderly.

“Were you attempting to call me ‘Mama’?” You whisper, but she’s already asleep.

With her dozing, you move back towards the oak where Joseph lays on his back playing with his feet.

“Are you hungry?” Natasha wonders, already pushing up onto her knees and grabbing her skirts in preparation.

“A little.” You confess, but I can wait until Maggie wakes before we head back inside.”

“Would you like Steve to kill me for not feeding you?” Nat walks to meet you and then reaches to caress Maggie’s head as she stops beside you. “I’ll see what I can find for us. Will you be alright with them both?”

She seems to really be worried about whether you can handle your children alone and perhaps if you were at your strongest you’d be offended, but you take her words for what they are—love for you.

“Of course I can.” You assure her. “Maggie’s asleep.”

She tilts her head quickly, looking skeptical before she turns and leaves for the house.

As you approach your little boy who has taken to a constant cooing, you wonder how you’ll manage to put Maggie down beside him when you hear a call from the garden gate.

“Y/N!” He calls, deep but vibrant.

His voice is like a siren’s song and you stop and turn without hesitation.

Steve. Your heart is suddenly pounding and you’re eager to see his beautiful face.

As you turn to look, he’s already close, turning his sprint into a jog. His lips are stretched into a happy smile. His eyes are bright, blue as storm clouds, but happy to see you. No, ecstatic. No, he’s full of life at the sight of you, looking as if he’s just quenched a terrible thirst.

“I’ve been all over the estate looking for you.” He gives one long inhale and a quick exhale of breath as if he’s only just catching it.

Had he literally run around looking for you?

“I’m here.” You return his smile. “With our little ones.”

Steve’s cheeks blush a vibrant pink before he takes a half-step towards you and leans in, wrapping his right arm around your waist as he rushes to meet your lips with chaste but hungry kiss.

There’s a need behind his lips that doesn’t equate to desire, and you wonder what it is that he’s searching for.

For you, the press of his mouth against your own sends rapid flutters from your toes to the top of your head making all of your thoughts fuzzy.

As he pulls away, he places both hands on either side of your face. His thumbs are a gentle caress against your skin. His eyes devour your confuddled expression, a look of amusement turning his lips up once more.

“I missed that expression.” He tells you and embarrassment makes you huff a small laugh.

“You’re impossible.”

Steve chuckles.

With your greeting out of the way, his eyes find the baby in your arms then the one on the blanket.

Joseph has also spotted him and has taken to kicking in excitement, his little eyes wide and his mouth a small o as he spews out more goos and coos.

“Did my princess fall asleep?” Steve reaches for her, expertly taking her from you she doesn’t even stir.

“We’ve been out here all morning.” You tell him and with your arms free, you quickly move to Joseph’s side, grabbing him and sitting him upon your lap so that he might look at his papa with more ease.

It only makes him kick faster and you chuckle as he squirms.

“I think your prince would also like your embrace.” You adjust him again, a sigh of relief escaping you after your laugh.

It doesn’t escape Steve’s notice. As he sits himself down on the blanket with you, he places Maggie beside him, stroking her chest to make certain she remains asleep.

“You’re tired.” He frowns but takes Joseph when you lean over and offer him.

He places him between his legs facing him, but when he whines and leans towards him with his little arms reaching, Steve picks him back up and gives him his all his attention while he waits for you to respond.

“We have been enjoying the length of the garden.” You explain, scooting closer to Maggie and moving the hair away from her little face. “Which reminds me, why was it that you made a peony garden even when you did not remember me?”

Steve turns to you, allowing Joseph to push against his lap with his little legs, then looks up towards the branches while he thinks.

As his mind wanders, you admire the sight of him. He looks regal in his short-sleeved cream-colored tunic, the neckline high with tan embroidery along the edge of the seam at the front. It leaves his muscular arms exposed, sinew shifting beneath the smooth golden peach of his skin as your son kicks and Steve keeps him rooted to his spot.

His hair is short once more, trimmed for the heat of the season but his beard is as thick as ever.

Brown trousers and dark brown boots complete his casually regal look and he has never looked so good.

“I don’t think I could properly explain it. The garden back home was full of them around Margaret’s—that is, your pavilion. I knew it as Margaret’s with my memory of you gone.” He fixes his words though you feel only the faintest of shifts in your gut of the old jealousy and resentment you’d felt at the mention of Margaret. “I had no memory of changing her flower for them, but I knew that the reason for it was vital. Then as time went on, I craved the scent of them. Maggie and I would spend hours in your garden. I think even she felt your absence. She was more peaceful whenever we were there where the flowers reminds us both of your pleasing scent.”

You laugh, unable to help yourself.

“What?” Steve turns to you, adjusting Joseph in his arms as the little one tires out and yawns. With his little head resting against Steve’s chest, he begins to drift to sleep. “Why are you always laughing at the things I say?”

You take a few more moments to let the laugh flow, then shake your head.

“I’m not. I’m just…I only began to use scented oils and soaps when I accepted father’s task to marry you. If you want a true example of what I smell like, think back to the moment you met me on the road just days ago.” You explain.

Steve thinks back, the small crease between his eyes deep as he tries to remember.

“You smelled like hay. A little bit like sweat and earth, but also like Joseph. But there was also the scent of peonies in your hair, despite what you say. Perhaps it has become engrained into your very being after soaking in so many baths with it.” Steve smiles, his eyes glazed over as if he’s thinking about it.

The shift of his lips is a little coy, and the pink tint returns with vibrancy to his cheeks.

“Why are you blushing?” You narrow your eyes at him, certain you know exactly what it is he’s thinking.

“I’m not blushing.” He shakes his head, a look of denial plastered across his chiseled features.

“You are. How can you think of me in the bath with our children sleeping right beside us?” You demand, your face fixed into mock shock.

Steve blinks, at a loss at your accusation because it’s probably true.

“What? I am not-I don’t-I haven’t-You don’t-” He sputters, flustered by your flirting.

You chuckle and refocus on your daughter, admiring the way she breathes as she sleeps while thinking with amusement about the amount of times you’ve bathed with your little ones since returning and Steve having joined you often.

“Your Majesties!” From the garden gate Peter rushes, one arm wrapped around a wicker basket, the other carrying a rectangular box sealed with twine.

That must be the sewing kit.

“That took you all morning.” You observe as he approaches then stops at the edge of your blanket and gives you both a quick bow.

“Yes, I wanted to be sure I purchased the correct one.” Peter explains, but Steve’s eyes are on the basket.

“What is that?” He gestures at it, then fixes his gaze on the young knight.

“Oh, Natasha sent me with a lunch. Cold meats and a few mince pies. There’s a jug of wine and a gourd of water in there for her majesty.” He holds it out and Steve takes it, placing it near you.

“Eat.” He says simply. “While you can do so comfortably with the children sleeping.”

He’s probably right. You begin to pull the food from the basket and portion it out onto two small wooden plates Natasha had placed in the basket.

“Where shall I put the kit, your Majesty? The den?” Peter wonders, holding the box with both arms now that they’re free.

“Yes, that seems-” He begins but then stops as the heavy sound of a guard’s armor approaches.

All of you turn to look in his direction.

Behind him follows a girl who looks to be about Peter’s age. Her beauty is undeniable though she walks awkwardly in the simple gray gown she wears. It isn’t anything fancy but probably the nicest dress she owns.

Still nicer than anything you ever owned before you married Steve.

Her hair is long, falling to her waist in a stunning number of braids. Her brown skin shines golden under the summer sun, her eyes a sharp inky black yet wider than normal with the nervous energy you can see flowing through her. Although her facial features are small, they’re also sharp, brows wide and angular.

“She’s finally here.” Steve exclaims, making to rise before he realizes that he’s still cradling Joseph to his chest and sits back down.

“Your Majesty, this girl says she is here for a job?” The guard offers, and gestures to the lovely young lady at his side.

“Yes, thank you. You may go.” Steve dismisses him and waits for him to depart before he addresses the girl. “Hello again, Miss Jones. You’re right on time.”

Miss Jones takes hold of her skirts and quickly ducks into a curtsy as if just remembering she should be doing so.

“I hope I am not intruding.” She says nervously.

“Not at all.” Steve nods. “This is my wife and Queen. You will report directly to her from this day forth.”

“What?!” You gasp, so surprised your smile vanishes. “Report to me?”

“I have hired Miss Jones to assist you with the children. She will be your second lady in waiting to assist you when and if you should need someone and Natasha is not around or has other things to do.” Steve says pointedly. “You shall do whatever her majesty requires but she’s awfully selfless and terrible with implementing her authority so you might have to read into her needs a bit more than I made it sound like when we met before.”

As all of you look back to Miss Jones, you find that she’s still in her curtsy, her legs probably shaking as she teeters from side to side.

“Y-you don’t have to keep bowing.” Peter tells her and she snaps out of it, nearly toppling over as she stands up straight.

“Right,” Miss Jones says, now standing awkwardly before she decides to give you all a tight anxious smile. “I will do everything I can to serve you with honor, your Majesties.”

Steve looks pleased and after a few more moments of considering the girl, you relax.

“Thank you.” You nod. “I will do my best to be as little a burden as I can be.”

“See?” Steve shakes his head and Miss Jones smiles a little more genuinely. “For now, I think you should rest. You must be tired after your journey. Tomorrow you may commence your duties but for now, Peter? Will you show Miss Jones to her quarters?”

Miss Jones curtsies again as Peter bows. “Yes, your Majesty.”

“Thank you, your majesties.”

For a moment they both stand there awkwardly, waiting for the other to walk. Peter gestures towards the estate and Miss Jones seems to turn but is uncertain if she should. As he begins to walk, she gathers her skirts a bit so that she might walk beside him with steady feet.

You watch them steal several glances at each other. Miss Jones especially watches Peter with an uncertain but curious gaze.

“Oh, this is for you.” Peter tells her and holds out her sewing kit.

“Thank you.” Miss Jones says, taking the box.

“I can carry it for you.” Peter offers.

“Oh…” Miss Jones hands him the box again and they walk on.

As they reach the garden gate, their voices are faint, but you can just make out what they’re saying as they disappear through the hedge.

“Your gown is lovely.” Peter tells her, nervous for a moment as he offers the compliment.

“Would you like to borrow it?” Miss Jones asks, her face serious as she awaits his answer.

“What?” Peter stops walking, fixing her with a dumbfounded look.

“A jest.” She tells him, stopping too.

“Oh.” Peter smiles and nearly laughs but continues to walk. “Right.”

Miss Jones smiles. “Yes. It wouldn’t fit you. Your shoulders are too wide.”

“What are you smiling about?” Steve wonders, pulling your attention away from Peter and Miss Jones while he lays Joseph down beside Maggie.

You offer him a plate of food, shrugging as your smile grows wider.

“Life has a strange way of giving us just what we need when we need it.” You realize, looking at all three of the loves of your life.

“Just as life brought you to me, do you mean?” Steve nods. “Yes. Just what I needed.”

[butchniqabi]

And Death Was But a Dream by Amatullah Bourdon

[Waves Breaking against the Wind. Joseph Mallord William Turner c.1840 / Excalibur (1981) dir. John Boorman / Run With The Wind Abstract Painting. Liz W. Fine Art]

Words: 1415

Warnings: None

Notes: For those of you who don’t know, in some Arthurian legends it is said that Merlin lives his life backwards. Now as for what that means logistically....I have no idea, but I was always drawn to the idea of his relationships and how they would function. So I wrote something super short and a little messy, but have at it! Lemme know what you think!

Everyone spoke of the Wizard who lived in the city. He was said to have visions of the future, to be able to see past the confines of everyday life. When I first came to the city, all those years ago, I did not expect to meet him. Wizards were naturally reclusive creatures, only venturing out to give aid and occasional bad advice. This city’s Wizard was especially contrary, for the townsfolk whispered that he had an especially strange life and an even stranger affliction. 

    The day we met, my third day in the city, I had just found employment as a washerwoman. Unglamorous and hard work, I spent my first two days in the humid chambers listening to the other women gossip. They spoke of this Wizard in hushed tones and never said his name louder than a whisper. 

    When my long shift ended, I took a walk around the city, taking in the life around me. I was still young in those days, despite the grey that began to appear in my hair. God knows how long I wandered aimlessly. All I know is that eventually, I found him. 

    The crowd parted around him, afraid of his touch, but he did not frighten me. His skin was dark brown like mine, kissed with a deep red undertone. He had a long beard, only lightly tinged with grayness; the coils that peaked out beneath his hat were the same. His eyes were deep set and hooded, glistening with unshed tears. 

    He stood before me, donning robes of constellations and suns, and wept. 

There was little I could do to console him, he was in such a state. I grabbed his hand then, hoping to soothe him through touch. I felt a strange pull to him, a desire to wipe his tears and kiss his face. 

When he calmed slightly, he looked into my soul. I felt that my whole life was laid bare for him to see, but I found I did not mind. When he looked through me, I realized I could look through him. Not as clearly, but I saw his honesty and kindness. 

“I apologize,” he said nasally. “Might I walk with you, so I might explain my behavior?” 

Of course I said yes. 

I took his arm gently, the fabric of his strange robes soft under my hand. It moved around him like running water and shined just as brightly. He did not hold onto me tightly, but I knew he wanted to.

    “What is your name?” I asked.

    “Listen,” he avoided. “Do you hear the wind?”

    “Yes.” 

    “What does it say to you?” 

    I listened and only heard wind. It rustled over leaves and grass, whistled through windows and open doors. It did not sing to me, it was merely wind. I told him as much. 

    “When I hear the wind, I hear the very earth itself. I can hear the grass grow, die, and grow again. I see the stars in the middle of the day and they sing to me, oh do they sing. This is the curse of a Wizard: sight. We see the world much more clearly than everyone else, that’s what makes us so terrifying.” he said, mostly to himself. 

    I pitied him. I pity him. He did not speak of this ability with joy or reverence, to him it was truly a curse. I did not understand him clearly then, but I wanted to reach out to him. Instead I asked, “Who are you?” 

    He looked at me and smiled toothily. “I am the Wizard Merlin.” 

    I was not surprised, not truly. He had lived in this city from the beginning. Ever since it was named Camelot and knights of old would swear a vow of chivalry. Those days were long past, but Merlin remained. 

“But how?” I asked. “You don’t look like an old man.” 

    “I do not live as you do.” he whispered. 

    “Then how do you live?” 

    “The first time we met, you were sad because it was the last you would see of me. Now it is my turn. I am destined to live my life contrary to those around me. As time goes on for you I get younger, because I am destined to live my life backwards.” 

    “Backwards,” I said, feeling the word in my mouth. “So you mean we’ve already met before?”

    “Yes, I have spent many years with you. The best years I believe. And now my time is up, today is my final day with you. But for you, today is merely the beginning.”

    I believed him, do not ask me why I did. And there was an inexplicable sadness that overcame me. I would get to live my life with him, but he would never see me again. 

    “Why do you live this way?” I asked.

    “I found that if I wished to seek power, it would come at a great price. I can help many people, but I always move backwards...always backwards.” 

    I wanted to apologize. I wanted to scold him. I wanted to ask him so many things that I never became bold enough to ask after that moment passed. 

    Instead I said, “That must be lonely.” 

    “It is. It’s very lonely.” 

    “I’m sorry I don’t know you yet. I’m sorry you’ve watched me forget.” 

    He laughed at me then, spinning me around and lifting me into the air. 

    “I would not change a single moment.” he said and meant it. 

        Today is the first day he’s met me. Now, I know how he felt. Years have passed and now it is my turn. The life I had lived with him, the man I had come to love was not yet made. He does not recognize me, nor does he fully understand my sadness. There was a time when we were perfectly in sync; I knew him just as much as he knew me. But as that time passed, he knew me less and less. He forgot more things, asked simple questions. Every day I spent with him he grew farther and farther from me. 

    I knew it was destined to be, from the very first time we met and still it haunts me. How like the moon and sun we are: constantly moving, only briefly touching. I love him with a fierceness and desperation that makes my heart weep, for now is my last day with him. My life must continue without him, his life has yet to begin with me. 

    Wizards! My Wizard! Cursed to live his life backwards, cursed to hear the whistling of the stars, cursed to fall. I asked him all the time, was it worth it? Is it worth it? Is the power that comes with such a curse worth the sadness and pain? And he always says yes, no matter when I ask him. Helping people, charting stars, and gazing into the universe is who he is. His wonder is one of the reasons I love him. 

    Could I have stopped myself from loving him? Was that ever truly an option? You cannot stop the rain from falling or the wind from singing. I love him. I loved him. I will love him. Even as he stands before me, a stranger, I still love him. I once thought if God was merciful He would release him from the curse, but now I know the mercy exists in our time together. In order to be the great man I know (the great man he has not yet become) he must continue to go backwards. I must let him go backwards.

    Now there is less grey in his beard. He still has the kind, deep set eyes, the gap in his teeth. But he does not know me. He asks me my name and I tell him. I tell him with all the sorrow in my heart. I tell him he will see me tomorrow and that he means the world to me. I do not tell him about the illnesses he will defeat, the children he will save, or how he is destined to aid the once and future king, Arthur Pendragon. Instead I smile and give him a kiss on the cheek and try not to cry. 

    He is the Wizard Merlin, the man who lives his life contrary to others. I will not see him tomorrow. This is the first day he has met me, so I will never see him again. 

[ichayalovesyou]

~Act One: In Denial of Pon Farr~

Blood Moon~by Saint Sister, Madrid (Album)

“To return home, and take a wife… or die.”

Spock is feeling anxious and unusually lonely, more resentful of his complex heritage than usual. Feeling rejected, but not by Jim, he finds his thoughts wandering to T’Pring. Who he feels deep resentment toward, she hasn’t contacted once him in the two decades he’s been gone from Vulcan. He has yet to realize it is the beginnings of Pon Farr.

“I am sure, you craved me once before. When I think of all the fruit I’ve found, and how easily you left it on the ground.”

Evening On The Ground (Lilith’s Song)~by Iron & Wine, Woman King (album)

“I hoped that I would be spared this.”

Spock’s yearning and loneliness transforms into anger and frustration. He knows Pon Farr has begun, and he hates it. He has no desire to return to Vulcan, worse still, he loathes that he yearns for someone who he does not know. Worse still, she’s not the only one he’s longing for…

“We were born to fuck each other one way or another but I’ll, only lie, down by the water side at night”

I Want You (She’s So Heavy)~(Originally) by the Beatles, performed by the Cast of Across the Universe, Across the Universe (Album)

“How do Vulcans choose their mates… Haven’t you wondered?”

Spock cannot bear the tearing between Human & Vulcan halves that has come ferociously to light under the stress of Pon Farr. His duty is to that man on the bridge, but the call of Koonut Kalifee is only getting louder. He has no desire to burden Jim with horrible display of emotion. Yet desire is quickly becoming all that he can think about.

“I want you, I want you so bad, it’s driving me mad, it’s driving me mad.”

~Act Two: Blood Fever, The Nightmares of Plok’tow~

Howl~by Florence + The Machine, Lungs (Album)

“To have their logic ripped from them, as this time does to us.”

The first, foreboding rumblings of Plok’tow have begun. He dreams of a hunt, he’s chasing someone, he does not know who. Each time the blood of this faceless, slaughtered, ravaged victim is a different color, every time he turns around, green, red, green, red, green, red, green, red…

“Like some child possessed, the beast howls in my veins, I want to find you, tear out all your tenderness.”

The Horror of Our Love~by Ludo, You’re Awful, I Love You (Album)

“It strips away our veneer of civilization.”

The dreams are getting worse, more violent, detailed, intense. He knows his quarry-

Jim.

He tears his captain apart in a thousand visceral, grotesque ways, physically, mentally, no love, no hate, no want, just blinding hunger. And the most frightening part, he enjoys it. He begins withdrawing from Kirk, for fear of what may happen should dreams threaten to become reality.

“Carnivorous and lusting, I’ll track you down among the pines.”

Become the Beast~by Karliene, Become the Beast (Album)

“It is the Pon Farr, the time of mating.”

The last of his Blood Fever dreams occurs after Kirk confronts him about his behavior. This one is, much to Spock’s relief, not violent. The lyrics are spoken through the faces of fellow Vulcans- T’pring… childhood tormentors… Sybok… his cold and disapproving father… T’pau… Surak… himself.

The rage and hunger has cooled into ice rather than fire, for now.

“Do I terrify you? Do you feel alive? Do you feel the hunger? The desert howl inside?”

The Woods~by San Flemin, Jackrabbit (Album)

“You humans have no conception.”

When James Kirk grabbed the shiv from Spock’s hand in their confrontation, a shard of Spock’s Blood Fever came with it. Spock was spared a nightmare this final night, but not Jim. The dream even dared to be pleasant initially, alone together in the woods. Before the arena of Koonut Kalifee erupted violently around them, as did Spock. Yet, before Spock could deal the final killing blow, Kirk found himself sinking into the sparkling sands below. He startles from his slumber, feeling suffocated.

But he does not remember how, or why.

“The nights are lovely dark and deep, but I’ll appear when you’re asleep. You’ll wake up with a sudden hurt, your mouth and nose all full of dirt”

~Act Three: Kalifee, the Death of A Friend~

Take Me Down~by Brother, Pax Romana MMV (Album)

“I’ll get you to Vulcan somehow…”

All Jim knows is that Spock is getting worse, and that he needs him. Not knowing, and not daring ask whether the shiv was meant for himself or Spock haunts Kirk, as does the ghost of his forgotten dream. He does not know what will come of this wedding. Only that he will do whatever it takes to make certain Spock lives. No matter what, it’s a race against time.

“The powers that be, the powers that run you through, I’m taking a stand I know what it comes down to, God knows I do.”

Hunting Grounds (feat Joe Cotela of Ded)~by In This Moment, Mother (Album)

“He is deep in the Blood Fever, he will not speak with thee again.”

Kalifee has begun, Spock has completely lost himself to the Blood Fever, and Kirk must fight for his life. He finds himself outmatched by the environment, and by Spock’s rage. He knows two things, he has no desire to die, but he cannot, under any circumstances, kill Spock. (I imagine this duet could be as seen as Maria Brink=Kirk, Joe Cotela=Spock)

“Like a predator sink my teeth into your neck.”

Die Today~by The Txlips Band & Guitar Gabby, Queens of The New Age (Album)

“Kill Spock? That’s not what we came to Vulcan for is it?”

The Kalifee has been an intense drain, Kirk knows, deep down, that not even the “Triox Compound” could save him in this fight. He feels his life flash before his eyes, he bears no ill will toward Spock, he’s not in control of himself. He reflects on their relationship, and how much it has meant to him, and accepts, that for Spock to live, he has to die.

It was worth having known him, saving a friend isn’t the worst way to go out…

“If you die today, if we die today, at least I’d be in your arms.”

Pearl Diver~by Mitski, Lush (Album)

“You may find, that having, is not so pleasing a thing as wanting.”

Spock is absolutely distraught, he’s disgusted with himself, he loathes every single Vulcan he’s ever known, but most of all he is angry with Kirk. That he had to be the moth to his flame. How dare he want to get close to him! How dare James Kirk ever have the stupidity, the courage to love him?! The wanting had driven Jim to his death, and himself to murder. It was illogical, and he will never, forgive either of them for it. Curse having, curse wanting, and curse himself too.

“But hunter you were human don’t forget it and go safely. And I? I’ll live without you, though the struggle will be daily.”

Sweet Dreams~by JOSEPH, I’m Alone, No You’re Not (Album)

“I shall do neither, for I have killed my Captain, and my friend.”

Spock languishes in the agonizing hours between the Kalifee and confronting Bones about what must be done. He prays for a short and cruel life… and dares ponder the question, do Humans have Katras?

“I’ll return to my sleepless night, dreaming with my eyes open, watch the shadows play on the ceiling.”

[The final act is a little on the smutty side, here’s a read more just to be safe.]

~Act Four: The Need is Met~

To Be Alone~by Hozier, From Eden EP (Album)

“I shall offer no defense, their is no excuse for the crime of which I’m guilty.”

Though overjoyed and relieved that Kirk is alive, Spock continues to anguish over the reality that had Bones not intervened, he would have killed him. Jim knows better this time, he will not let Spock continue down this path. A tender and honest conversation puts salve to Spock’s fears. In any event, while the Kalifee burned away the Blood Fever, it becomes clear the needs of Pon Farr still remain. Kirk suggests, delicately, to put a new Bond in place of the old.

Spock accepts.

“You don’t know the hell you put me through, to have someone kiss the skin that crawls from you, to feel your weight in arms I’d never use.”

Mermaid’s Calling #2~by the Cast of The Lure, The Lure (Album)

“The ancient drives are too strong, eventually they catch up with us.”

The thrum of Bonding needs no words, it is not just a joining of minds, but of bodies as well. They complete one another, no thoughts, no voices are required. They soon find that the physiological differences between them can be more than a little… fascinating.

“…”

The Deep~by PHILDEL, Wave Your Flags (Album)

“One touches the other, in order to feel each other’s thoughts.”

The tangible, physical world of course has it’s pains and pleasures, to be joined physically is one thing, to be joined in soul and mind alongside those sensations is a different ordeal entirely. If this, completeness, is what it means to be Bonded, Kirk now understands why Vulcans go mad over it.

“Give me a sign ‘cause it runs through my mind like your heat, caught in the web you’re so easily lead to the deep.”

The Mermaid~by Kate Rusby, Life in A Paper Boat (Album)

“In this way, our minds are locked together...”

Unbeknownst to anyone else in the universe, James Kirk & S’chn T’gai Spock are now Bonded, and neither has ever felt less alone. For once, it does not matter to Spock that he is of two worlds, here, he is home. For once, Kirk does not feel as though he is forced to live the Enterprise’s life, this time, she helped him live his. A shining, blissful moment in the vast, expansive sea of stars that they have devoted their lives to exploring.

For them, the journey itself, is home.

“In peace now, the sea it comes, and peace now, in her arms where I’ll be love, sleeping in the sea.”

[thiswasinevitableid]

62. you set off the fire alarm and I have a test tomorrow, and I might strangle you

Sternclay, sfw, please!

Why do fire alarms only go off in March? The one time Stern set one off (he fell asleep studying and the dinner he was reheating started smoking) it was in that endless stretch of time where the snow is no longer festive but will keep falling for at least two more months.

More importantly, who is responsible for interrupting his carefully planned out six hours of sleep before his midterm at eight this morning?

He stands in the freezing cold with the building’s other three occupants; the single man who looks like he stars in lumberjack porn and the girlfriends who live on the ground floor.

“Sorry” The other man mumbles, “I was making doughnuts and the oil I was using got too hot without me noticing.”

Stern runs a hand through his hair and keeps his voice low, “Why were you cooking with hot oil at three in the morning?”

“When I can’t sleep, I bake.”

“Can I suggest a less flammable hobby in the future?”

“Hey man, it was an accident. And it’s not my fault they stuck the fire alarm too high up for me to get to it before it called the fire department.”

“Too high? You’re taller than I am and I can reach mine.”

“My ceilings are higher and it was tucked between the cabinets and the roof.”

“Oh yeah, ours is in a super-weird place too.” Aubrey, one of the ground-floor neighbors, pats the offenders arm, “it’s okay Barclay, it’s just a little smoke.”

“That may be the case for you three, but I have an exam that’s worth thirty percent of my grade in six hours and I need my goddamn sleep.”

“Yeesh, man, chill out. They’re already waving us back in.” Aubrey points to the door of the three story house.

“I timed everything to optimize my sleep schedule so it actually is a big deal.”

Barclay glowers at him, “Look, I said sorry. But maybe get used to the fact the world doesn’t run on your schedule, mr. control freak, and fucking get over it.”

Stern keeps a smile flat as he bites out, “go to hell” and heads upstairs to salvage what’s left of his schedule.

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

The crash from downstairs comes at nine p.m; he has a huge day at his internship tomorrow, but Stern doesn’t hear any sounds after it, and he is not about to let a neighbor die on his watch.

“Barclay? Are you okay?” He puts his ear to the door, the heater drowning out all ambient noise.

“Nope, not really, agh, fuck, the doors locked, lemme try to stand-”

“Stay put.” He runs upstairs, grabs his wallet, and uses his debit card to trick the lock, “Shit, what happened?”

Barclay is clutching his forehead, blood between his fingers, and his ankle is swelling. “I got really dizzy, caught my foot on the couch and then my forehead on the table on the way down. Ow, fuck, it better not be broken” he growls as Stern kneels to look at his foot, “I’ve got a shift in six hours.”

“I can’t tell. You should get to a hospital; if it’s injured and you try to work on it, you might have an even worse fall.”

“Fuck, I’m not even sure I can afford the ambulance, let alone the fucking E.R.”

He knows Dani and Aubrey are out, “Any family in town, or a boyfriend?”

“No, if there I woulda called them.” He snaps, then tries for a slow inhale, “sorry, it just, it hurts-”

“I can take you in my car, that’ll be one less worry.” Stern helps Barclay up, gets him to his sedan, then tells him to hold tight while he gets something for his head. He ends up grabbing the first clean fabris he finds, which is how Barclay ends up in the E.R while holding a “Roswell, NM” tank-top to his forehead.

“Sorry to ruin your, uh, souvenir?” He mumbles as they wait for the doctor.

“It’s for a good cause. Besides, I know how to get bloodstains out of fabric.”

“That...that makes you sound like a serial killer.”

“If I were a serial killer I would wear things that could stain.” Stern winces, “sorry, I read too many true crime books.”

“I just don’t have the stomach for them. I like fictional mysteries but real ones?” he shivers, “makes me think an axe murderer is gonna break into my place. I mean, you did it with a credit card.”

“If you’d had the chain thrown it might have been another story. “

“I’ll keep that in mind.” Barclay shifts in the plastic seat, “you, uh, you don’t have to hang around. Know you got a rigid schedule.”

Joseph runs a hand through his hair, “I’m sorry for being so annoyed last week when you set off the alarm. I’m not always great at handling changes.”

“To be fair, doughnuts probably weren’t the best stress baking choice.”

“Did they turn out?”

“Nah. I’ll have to try ‘em another time. Did, uh, did your test go okay?”

“Yes. I, um, I got a perfect score.”

Barclay laughs, the sound like warm honey, and Stern blushes at looking so deeply nerdy in front of someone with a smile like that.

“Mr. Cobb? We’re ready to see you.”

The bearded man gives an slightly awkward wave as he follows the nurse through the double doors. Stern returns the gesture, pulls up the chess app on his phone, and settles in to wait until his neighbor is done.

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

Barclay comes out his nap the scrchh of a brush on tile. His first thought is that he’s so late for work he’s unavoidably fucked. His second one is who the fuck is in his bathroom?

His ankle twinges, jogging his memory; he got back from the hospital at 11:30, no stitches needed on his head but bedrest required for his ankle. He’d been contemplating how to convince his manager to let him shift from the warehouse to somewhere he could sit. Joseph raised an eyebrow and asked for his phone while telling him to go get into bed. All Barclay overheard was a polite, steely voice mentioning the labor laws in Dane County and how it’d be a shame if someone were to arrange an OSHA spot check. The last thing he recalls before falling asleep was Joseph telling him he had the next day off.

That doesn’t explain the cleaning sounds, though.

“Oh, you’re up.” Joseph pokes his head in from the hall. His hair is coming loose from his usual slicked-down style and he’s in a V-neck and sweatpants instead of the suit Barclay sees him in most days, “I hope I didn’t wake you; since you gave me the spare key I thought I’d check on you when I got back from my internship and leave you some take-out from the Thai place around the corner--you said the green curry was your favorite--but then I thought I should wait until you got up to see if you needed anything, so I, um, I cleaned your tub while I waited for you to wake up.”

Barclay isn’t sure what part of that is the most baffling. Or the most touching.

“Why the tub?” He eases his legs over so he’s sitting on the edge of the bed.

“It’s satisfying. And I, um, I clean when I’m stressed.” He wipes his hands on the rag in his front pocket, “I was worried about you, and my internship was murder today. They’re mounting a case against one of the biggest employers in the state and everyone’s on edge.”

“Heh, kinda makes me glad I work at WalMart.” Barclay takes the crutch Joseph offers him and hobbles into the kitchen, “oh, uh, if you want to try some cake, there’s leftover cinnamon spice cake in the fridge.”

“I think I will, thank you.” He bends into the fridge and wow has his ass always been that nice, “can I grab you a drink from in here?”

“One of those pre-bottled Kahlua things in the door; have ‘em for a friend but one sounds good right now.” He watches Joseph open it for him, setting it down before he pulls out Barclay’s chair for him. Normally, the kind of fussing and light ordering around Joseph has directed at him makes him bristle. This last day, it just made him feel safe and cared about.

He could get used to this.

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

“Good lord, we’ve even got a flood warning.” Joseph sets down his phone as rain attempts to pummel the house to dust, “Some days I wish we lived closer to one of the lakes but this is not one of them. Should we check to see if Dani and Aubrey need any emergency supplies for if we have to shelter here? I always keep more than I need.”

“Nah, Dani’s got a strong self-sufficiency streak; got her a bucket emergency kit for Christmas last year.” Barclay pops the cork on the Pinot Grigio they got for dinner, “and I don’t think they forgot your semi-drunk promise that if they ever had to run from a flood they had full permission to break open your front door to be safe on the third floor.”

“I meant it, drunk or no.” Joseph takes down the plates and portions out the carbonara; he’s been trying to cook when he has time, both because he likes it and because it gives him and Barclay something to talk about. Not that they need the help.

Things changed after the trip to the E.R; Barclay would bring Joseph fresh cookies or pie. Joseph would offer Barclay rides when their schedules overlapped. Barclay introduced him to his favorite trivia night spot. Joseph took some of his cookies to a worker-owned bakery where a former co-student worked, which led to Barclay getting a new job.

Now they see each other almost every day, whether that’s watching movies on Barclay’s cramped couch or joining Dani and Aubrey for board game night.

He’s pleased with how the pasta turned out, even more so with the fact that when their legs bump together beneath the table, Barclay doesn’t pull away.

They’re on the couch, chatting about the recurring themes in ghost movies, when the storm starts in earnest. The sky is so dark it may as well be nine at night, the lighting and thunder performing a cacophonous two-man show across it. The closer the thunder gets, the more Barclay tenses.

“Everything okay?”

“Yeah” a thunderclap makes him jump, “I know it’s silly but I fucking hate thunderstorms, I have since I was a kid.” He chuckles, “my mom would always end up making a pillow fort for me to hide in.”

“We could do that now.” He offers, tapping his foot against Barclay’s own.

“Know this might be hard to believe, but I wasn’t always six-two.” The other man teases.

“Don’t count me out just yet. Wait here.”

It takes some precarity and most of his thumb-tacks, but soon he’s waving Barclay to come join him.

“Holy shit” Barclay laughs as he sees the bed and part of the floor in Joseph’s tiny bedroom are curtained in blankets, “do you ever half-ass stuff?”

“No one can ever prove I haven’t.”

“Uh huh.” Barclay climbs into the fort, “that’s Joseph speak for ‘no.’”

Joseph plugs in his UFO lights and follows him in, “I’ve failed plenty of times.”

“Not on this. Man, this is gr-” A thunderclap makes him jump, nearly knocking one blanket down, “uh, maybe if I…” He lays on the bed, Joseph deciding it’s the least awkward option to join him in that position.

“You really didn’t have to do this.” The green of the lights add a charming tint to Barclay’s eyes.

“I wanted to.”

His friend looks away, keeps his gaze on his feet as he murmurs, “How come you’re always so nice to me?”

“Because we’re friends.”

“It’s, uh, it’s not because you want something from me?”

“Of course not. Barclay,” he touches the cooks arm, “anything you’re thinking is a favor with an ulterior motive....well, it isn’t. It’s something I did to look out for you.”

“What if I, uh, I didn’t think it was favor hunting and was, uh, a different word that started with “F’?”

This time, when the thunder sounds, Barclay nestles closer to him.

“Oh, Barclay” he drapes a protective arm over his waists, “I didn’t mean it to be. At least, most of the time. There were, um, sometimes when I was more flirtatious than I’d have been if it were anybody else.”

“Do you...want to flirt more?” Barclay mumbles into his shoulder.

Joseph tips Barclay’s chin with his hand, brings their lips together as lightning flashes through the window. When he pulls back, Barclay’s eyes are wide. He kisses him once more just to see if he can make them entirely pupil, then whispers, “I hope we can do more than just flirt.”

“Joseph” strong arms slip below and across him, “fuck, babe, if it’s not flooded tomorrow, promise you’ll let me take you out tomorrow?”

“I’d like nothing better, big guy. In the meantime..” he rolls so Barclay is atop him, “I have some thoughts on how to keep your mind off the storm.”

[anjanettexcordonia]

Trust

A/N: mentions of kidnapping, language

Word Count: 956

A/N: I have been MIA for about 6 months or so, so I have decided to start over with tags, so if you would like to be tagged just let me know or shoot me a message.

I woke up today. I woke up and that’s as far as I’ve gotten. I called in sick for my shift tonight. I don’t know if it is due to fear of the weird shit going on in my life or the fact that I have had a solid two hours of sleep. Sleep when you're dead, I think that’s a saying. But nonetheless I’m a realist, remember, I need to get up, push the bullshit to the back of my mind and take Chance to the dog park. Some fresh air would do me some good.

An hour later, Chance & I are on our way to the local dog park. Treats and poop bags in tow, today is a self care day I decide. Maybe the spa, no fuck that, a large pizza and crime documentaries on the couch, is my definition of self care. Real high class Riley. And to that realization, I can’t for the life of me think of why some rich foreign KING would want ANYTHING to do with a regular girl like me.

After a vigorous game of fetch and a jog around the park, I’m sitting at a green metal bench watching Chance tennis balls with another pup friend when.. “Riley Brooks?” My blood froze in my veins. The voice sat down beside me without invitation mind you. “I didn’t get to properly introduce myself last night. I’m Liam.” It’s him. It’s him. Jesus Christ it’s him. “CHANCE.” I grab his leash from the table. “CHANCE LET'S GO BUDDY.” “Riley, please wait.”

“Are you following me?” I interrupt.

“No, I just uh, I need to talk to you.”

“I know who you are. I do not appreciate being followed to my place of business, my home or here. I don’t care what you have to say or what information you think you have. Leave me alone.” I took a step toward Chance to retrieve him, he was still playing.

“You’re home? Riley has someone been to your home?”

“Like you don’t know Mr. King Liam of whatever country you’re from. And judging by your accent it’s a long way from here.” I took another step creating as much distance as possible but I could feel myself being pulled toward him. His eyes were like Caribbean waters, so enticing I just wanted to bathe in them. Naked.

“You’re right I am King but you have to listen, Riley, you’re in danger.” At his words, another man adorning black sunglasses, a suspiciously authoritative black suit and ear piece. Straight out of a damn movie. “I need you to listen to me.”

“What the fuck? Are you trying to kidnap me?” My voice grew louder with each word.

“Shh no Riley, I just need you to trust me. We need you to get you to safety now.” Liam’s tone was hushed. He noticed the eyes around the park land on him and his bodyguard. Bodyguard I assume. A guy like him would have a bodyguard.

“Trust you, I don’t even know you!” My tone not really matching my words. I was intrigued to say the least. Not really sure why but I was. There was a magnetism and a curiosity to Liam I wanted to get to the bottom of. Needed to, a primal need.

“Sit down, please.” He motioned to the bench. I sat reluctantly.

“Riley, your parents.” I put my hands up stopping him.

“My parents are dead. Whoever you’re speaking of are not my parents, so tread carefully.”

He nodded in understanding. His blonde hair sparkled in the sunlight. His chiseled chin with at least two days worth of hair growth tensed.

“There’s a dangerous faction of people in my government, that are after you. The order of the White Dove is what they call themselves. We have been unable to identify any of the exact members but we have suspicions. This group is responsible for the deaths of your biological parentage Elizabeth and Joseph Malcolm of Edinburgh. And we have reason to believe you are a target since your discovery.”

“But how do they know who I am? And how do I know you’re not a part of this order of the dove?” I didn’t want to believe it but I did. For some reason none of the things he had just told me surprised me.

“I am here to protect you, that’s all.” The softness of his smile instantly made me believe him.

“There’s more, but I’ll have to show you. Will you trust me?”

I mulled over his revelation. If he’s lying, he’s probably going to kill you; if he’s telling you the truth someone else is going to kill you.

“Here.” I handed him the business card I shoved in my pocket before I left my apartment this morning. “Chance is coming with me.”

Liam handed the business card to his guard who started talking into his piece.

I scooped up Chance and followed the men out of the park to a suv. “I’ll need to stop by my apartment to grab some things.” I spoke softly.

“No need, my team is there now. Everything you need will be on the jet.”

“The jet? I didn’t agree to that.” I sat up in my seat. “I need to let my roommate know what’s going on.”

Liam brushed his hand against mine. A feeling of security washed over me. I immediately snatched my hand from him.

“Where are we going?”

“Scotland.”

——

“She’s with him. It’s time to go.” Drake stood in Olivia’s bedroom.

“What does she know?” Olivia slipped on her novel black stilettos.

“Nothing yet. Except that her parents were killed and she’s in danger.”

“Did the plan work?”

“Yep.”

“I’ve been undercover way too long.” She slide the gun in its holster on wrapped around her thigh.

“Ready to go home Livvy? The jet is waiting.”

Tags: @txemrn @gkittylove99 @busywoman @kingliam2019 @tessa-liam

[hakasims]

Shitty Luca Movie Recap, Episode 4

Can’t Watch Nina, Even For Luca?

Don’t Worry, Me Neither. Goodbye.

.

..

...

Ok, fine, I’ll talk about the damn thing.

So it’s a warm September night, and I’m in the mood for a Luca Marinelli feature. In my infinite wisdom I choose Nina. “It’s directed by a woman,” I reason, “and women know what’s up.” ‘What’s up’ in this particular case is code for ‘how to frame beautiful men for the female gaze���. Because women can be auteurs, too, and being an auteur means making movies about your own personal wank material.

Turns out, sometimes a woman’s wank material consists less of a gorgeous male form and more of fascist architecture. We’ll discuss the former in due time, but for now, what’s Nina even about? Well, at its core it’s a simple story about a young woman who doesn’t know what she wants, set against the backdrop of the Rome that is almost entirely empty due to most people leaving for the summer. This could have been a fairly straightforward coming-of-age film, but Nina is too indie and up its own ass for that. Literally nothing of note happens in this movie, and it’s all long static wide shots of empty streets, endless stairs, and domineering largeness of Rome’s most famous fascist buildings such as the Palace of Italian Civilization, the Sapienza University of Rome, Palazzo dei Congressi, and, most prominently, the Fountains Hall. (Google what they look like if you don’t know.) Now, I’m guessing those locations weren’t chosen by accident. They could have easily added to the creepiness of the movie — and I’m assuming creepiness was intended; otherwise how do you explain these hoverboarding nuns?

Anyway, the employment of the locations could have been atmospheric and thematic had the shots not been so bland. But they are. Bland, flat, and always looking the same no matter what is happening in the scene. Usually audiences are willing to sit through slow uneventful movies because of interesting visuals or characters worthy of attention, but Nina has neither. The titular character herself is tedious. Even her bad fashion sense is bad in a boring way that doesn’t tell you anything about her. Is she stuck in perpetual adolescence? Is she searching to get in touch with her sensuality? Who knows. The only thing I’m certain of is that she needs to learn to tuck her tops into her bottoms.

Nina spends her days giving singing lessons, going to Chinese calligraphy classes, eating cake, exercising and taking midnight walks in the empty city. She wants to go to China in September — it’s the closest thing to a goal she has — yet she’s done no preparations, and instead of learning Mandarin she’s studying calligraphy. And she’s real bad at it, too.

There are reoccurring visual elements in the movie besides the vast emptiness: stairs, white columns, a jogger, a red dress, animals… You’d think those were very straightforward symbols, but they’re used too sporadically and inconsistently to hold any meaning. For example, animals. Nina is tasked with both helping out in a pet store and house-sitting an apartment with a German shepherd (a good boy named Homer), a guinea pig and a tank full of fish. The instructions she’s given are absurd, like feeding the dog sleeping pills and putting the guinea pig on a diet. And then there’s a supposedly American TV show always playing in and out of diegesis about dogs living in cages and swimming happily in pools, and it looks and sounds like a video off the political section on the dog version of YouTube. It contains timeless classics like “You are a dog born in the age of consumerism” and “Depression is an evil illness now spreading amongst dogs of every breed, dogs belonging to every social class.” The butter commercial from Crazy Ex-Girlfriend could never. And I wish the whole movie was as surreal as this TV program but unfortunately it’s as bland and directionless as Nina herself.

And boy is it directionless. There aren’t any subplots in the movie, no cause and effect, no acts, no structure, no flow; only scenes that happen, and I can’t even find any reasons for the order in which they happen. The scenes also don’t start or end; they just interrupt each other, not leaving any emotional impact. For example, there’s a scene where Nina sees her future self. She’s on one of those midnight walks with the good boy Homer when she sees a couple being romantic. The woman is wearing a long red dress, and the man is in all black. The shot is wide, so it’s impossible to see their faces, but the woman is obviously Nina:

And the man is definitely Luca. I recognized his ass. I’m not joking, guys. It’s his ass:

Also I was later directed to the website of the photographer who took the set photos, and yes, it’s Nina and Luca.

I never forget an ass.

Anyway, Nina, who at this point hasn’t properly met Luca’s character, Fabrizio, sees herself from the future acting romantic with him, and doesn’t react. We don’t even know if she recognizes herself or him or whether it’s even a real scene or a dream. How are we supposed to empathize with a heroine who isn’t allowed to react to her environment?

Whatever, it’s time to talk about Fabrizio. He plays the cello and he’s obnoxious. That’s it. He first appears as a patron of Caffé Palombini, the real-world café Nina frequents (and buys her cakes at). She’s drinking her usual milk shake and reading. At some point, their eyes meet, but neither says anything, and then Nina gets up and runs after the good boy Homer who decided to take a little stroll by himself. She leaves all her things behind: her milk shake, her handbag, at least three books, a whole stack of paper for calligraphy, and her diary. It’s obvious she’s going to come back as soon as she gets the dog. And yet before her feet are even out of frame, Fabrizio gets up, goes to her table and fucking steals her diary!

His next several appearances are random and sporadic, and it looks like he’s stalking Nina, but by the time of his first actual scene she is following him for some reason. Obviously, he can’t let a woman outcreep him, so he ambushes her:

He tells her blankly, “You’re following me,” but I think this scene deserves better dialogue. Thankfully, we have a whole well of predator/maiden media to pull from.

Though I personally believe this is the most appropriate line:

Fabrizio lets Nina know he has her diary in the dickiest way possible: he quotes from it to let her know that he’s read it. He then informs her that he’ll only give it back to her if she continues following him. And it’s not blackmail; “it’s an agreement.” What an asshole! I’m weeping for the dignified cuckoldry of Joseph.

And what was the purpose of that “agreement” plot point if the next time they meet is by chance? Quirky love interest writing, duh. So quirky that the accidental meeting happens when Nina is walking past a phone booth where Fabrizio is… doing a phone prank? I don’t know, I got nothing. Anyway, he’s annoyed their meeting is unintentional on Nina’s part, but he returns her diary, and I guess they start dating? He watches her sing once with what could only be described as a complete absence of emotions:

In the next scene she watches him play the cello after which they go on a date. Nina is wearing the red dress from the vision, but Fabrizio’s shirt is different. I fucking give up.

Their next (second?) date is a romantic dinner on Nina’s roof, and they’re dancing for entirely too long. She then tells him she’s scared of how much she’s enjoying his company, gives him a ridiculously chaste kiss goodnight and… completely ghosts him afterwards. And if you didn’t dislike Fabrizio before, you will now as he starts calling Nina at ungodly hours (including 5:30 am) and leaving her very whiny and increasingly more passive-aggressive, entitled, and accusatory voicemails. At some point he even leaves a voicemail for the fucking dog! He’s like, “Homer, I’m worried, meet me at the café.” Again, quirky love interest writing: extortion, phone pranks and a voicemail for a dog.

Fabrizio then lets Nina know he’ll be leaving town in three days in case she’d like to see him one last time or whatever. And she never fucking does! In any other movie she’d be chasing through the airport, but here she just drops him like he’s a well-tucked shirt! She tells the kid she’s befriended (she hangs out with an eleven-year-old boy the whole movie, don’t worry about it) that she’s afraid to be “like everyone else”, with a job and a boyfriend, so she doesn’t even say goodbye to Fabrizio. At some point she goes for a walk with the good boy Homer, and Fabrizio is also there, and they just miss each other. Even fate isn’t interested in that romance.

And then all the fascist buildings get covered in gigantic paper figurines, and the red-dressed Nina runs into Fabrizio’s arms. Because of course.

Nina is one of those movies where the main theme — a struggle to grow up — is obvious, but the rest of the elements are a mess only the writer-director could decipher. And I don’t really care. Again, I had to read Japanese postmodernists at university. What I do care about is the male form I mentioned at the start. I know I have no one but myself to blame for my expectations of how the director should have framed Luca’s body or face, but it’s one thing to frame him blandly and a completely different thing to isolate him as the only character (or actor) she’s deeply uninterested in filming competently. Everyone else in the movie gets their fair share of close-ups and decent lighting whilst Luca — whose name is literally second in the credits — gets, um, neglected.

This is his introduction:

These are literally all his close-ups:

Should I even count this last one? What’s with the lighting? Like, this is as well-lit as his face gets:

Oh, the shot is too wide and you can’t see his face properly? Well, tough poop:

Are you kidding me with this shit?

Nina may not be objectively the most terrible of the movies Luca’s been in: I’d argue both Mary of Nazareth and L’ultimo terrestre are worse, as is Slam, whose time’s a-coming. Nor is it the movie where Luca appears the least (The Great Beauty’s literal one minute of screen time is saying hi). But it’s the only movie I have no reasons to watch: it’s blandly shot, poorly structured, badly themed — and it’s actively obstructing Luca’s beauty and charisma. So no matter which film you’ll ask me to do next, at least in terms of the visual component of my posts, we have nowhere to go but up.