#this one got so long it refused to let me put the bullet points

[leonbastralle]

GAMES I PLAYED IN 2023 - SECOND HALF-ISH

here's part 2 of my little review of my 2023 games! somehow this is even more indie than the first half and honestly a lot of games w nonexistent fandoms on tumblr so be the change u want to see in the world i guess!

old man's journey: this is a rly short indie game with an interesting, though very repetitive puzzle mechanic that follows an old man as he goes on an important journey - literally but also figuratively by coming to terms with his past, and at some point the two end up being the same thing. the art style is truly lovely and unique, it gives me big children's book vibes, and the soundtrack is beautiful and touching and so is the story and the ending itself. as i said, the mechanic and actual gameplay could be expanded on, but i knew this going in and played it mostly for the vibes and in that it did not disappoint.

the last campfire: when i talked my wife into playing this i told her it's basically the pacifist puzzle version of dark souls and it truly is. you play as a little ember on their final journey to the last campfire, where all embers go when their light begins to fade. the path is challenging and a lot of embers give up. they become forlorn. it's your desire to help them, if they let you. this game is heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time, such a gentle and touching story with a cast of diverse, likeable characters. the puzzles are all in all pretty doable, though they can get pretty intense at times, but there is a story only mode to remedy that! this one definitely is going on my all time favorites list.

lemon cake: who were you before you wandered into this bakery? doesn't matter, because the ghostified previous owner is now holding you hostage as her successor. this is a little sim/time management game w a super cute style where you upgrade your bakery, cafe and garden to keep making new delicious looking treats and serving your customers in the best way possible until you are worthy of your predecessor's famous lemon cake recipe. this game, as games of this variety tend to do, gets a bit stressful if you want to serve all of your customers before they get angry and leave while also needing to keep an eye on your ingredients and ovens and displays. i really liked all the upgrade options that make your life easier, and i loved combining all the cute pastries into new menus every other day or so to keep customers happy. a bit expensive for the amount of gameplay you get out of it but definitely worth it on a sale!

the gardens between: this game follows a pair of childhood friends through their memories together as they prepare for the move that one of them is about to go through and the inevitable goodbye that will precede it. super touching game with a really cool and unique puzzle mechanic in which you manipulate time and objects at different times throughout the puzzles to get to the solution. can make you kind of dizzy because the levels are built like spirals so the camera does a lot of spinning, but i'm sensitive to this and was fine when i went slow and took breaks.

book of travels: hoooo boy this is a big one. this game is marketed as a tmorpg (because the servers are TINY) and it definitely makes it work. most of this game is just exploring around, doing little tasks and finding your way since the game doesn't tell you at all what to do, it's all up to how you play it. do you want to do some combat? figure out what the fuck happened in kasa, the closed capital? become a fisherman? just trade and collect cool looking things? the braided shore is your oyster and it is a beautiful one with the painterly art style and great music and ambiance. still in early access and therefore quite buggy sometimes, but definitely one of my faves w a lot of potential.

capybara spa: made by the same person as lemon cake, you can really see the similarities in terms of the cutesy style, but i think it's a lovely thing to look at. this is just a little clicker where you run a spa for capybaras and their little critter friends and keep levelling up to add more and more spa options and extras to give them the special treatment they deserve! i assume this game could get a bit overwhelming since there's a lot to keep an eye on at all times, but there are no time constraints and no punishment so you can take your time and get sucked in for hours, which this game is very good at doing.

tiny echo: in this point and click game you play as a funky little guy w an eye for a head who delivers letters to their spirit inhabitants with a minimal amount of puzzling involved. i mainly played it because i wanted to check out more games by the book of travels devs, and it was a nice experience, though it also doesn't really stand out for me. very short game, maybe a bit short for the price, but i played it from a shared library so skdjfhksdjf

cosmic wheel sisterhood: i got nothing bad to say about this one. you play as an exiled fortune telling witch who breaks after years of solitude and forms a forbidden pact. the cast of witches (and other creatures) is diverse, i liked both the characterizations and the interactions between characters (also a lot of them are very hot so that helps). the big mechanic of this game is that you use elemental energy to craft your own tarot cards from a selection of card backgrounds and elements and then you use these to tell people's fortunes, which in turn gives you more energy. depending on your selections, the cards will have unique names and different meanings, and i enjoyed seeing all the cards i or others could come up with. the story is intense and emotional, but to me, definitely in a good way. though there are several outcomes and so far i've only tried one. definitely replay value there. just be wary because despite including trigger warnings, they forgot one for cancer so be informed and do not be like me ADJHKAJSDHA

planet zoo: i tried this after i saw my wife play it because growing up i was crazy about zoo empire and zoo tycoon. i don't have much to say about this one because though you have a whooooole bunch of freedom in designing your zoo, the enclosures and even every single building, that freedom was a bit overwhelming for me so i never ended up rly getting into it. also not a huge fan of big capitalism expansion packs system, but hey. it definitely is a pretty, very neat game.

cats & dogs organized neatly: it's like static tetris. but with animals. you click on them and they bark and meow and you can SPIN THEM MANY TIMES as jazzy music plays in the bg. as you go you unlock more funky little boys n girls and they all have funny little bios and names. i broke my brain on some levels but didn't mind looking up some solutions in favor of the vibe! i enjoyed both of these and will definitely play the birds sequel that's set to come out this year! another german dev shoutout these were great games. they're very small and quite cheap but you can also get these on sale for like 2 euros KSJFHAKSFA

toem: truly the year of photography games for me, but i think vibe wise this one was my favorite. just a funky lil guy in a black and white world going on their first photography pilgrimage to toem, the famed natural phenomenon of their world. i loved all the little quests, the different worlds and the endless filter options and the soundtrack was great too. honestly greatly recommend, i don't own this game but i plan to buy it to replay!

pupperazzi: yet another photography game! this one's all about dogs, and it's delightful and wonky and just a good casual time with less story elements than the other mentioned photography games. not groundbreaking but great fun.

luna the shadow dust: this game follows a young apprentice mage back up the tower that he's grown up and studied in to face the consequences of his past mistakes. lovely art style, music, and puzzle mechanics, especially the use of light and shadow. i've wanted to play this one for a while and i'm really glad i did, i liked the story a lot even though it got quite sad.

alba: WAIT this one too is a photography game that i honestly might like even more because its story is so touching. you play as alba who is visiting her grandparents for the summer. the natural reserve on their island is about to be sold to be turned into a hotel, so her and her friend decide to start a petition to save it and help clean up the island and rescue animals in need as well as documenting the wildlife to change people's minds! truly one of the most heartwarming games i played in my life, 10/10 i cried at the sad part sdjkhksd

röki: this one's...a lot. the main character of this game, tove, lives in a little cabin with her dad and her very whimsical little brother who she's basically taking care of on her own because her dad has been incredibly depressed since his wife passed away. when a mythical creature attacks their house and abducts her little brother, tove has to enter a magical mirror world. there she has to help all the other mythical creatures in hopes of reawakening the forest spirits, who have been plagued by nightmare parasites, and finding a way to get her brother back. lovely puzzles and wintery vibes, but a truly heartbreaking story that gets more and more messed up every time she faces a nightmare parasite and with it, more of her past and the events that lead to her mother's death. despite the heavy undertones this is still a good game if you're ok with some tragedy and slight horror elements askjfhakjsfas

stardew valley: i forgot to add this one in the previous post bc i actually played it in early 2023. not my first time and will not be my last time either. still a queen among farming sim peasants and i'm looking forward to restarting our little farm w my wife after the next big update!

[impactedfates]

"Fighting over the bill" - Aventurine x GN!Reader

★ Summary: Aventurine w/ a gift giving S/O who refuses to let him pay for anything :3

☆ Characters Included: Aventurine (Romantic) + IPC (Supporting)

★ Genre/Trope: Established Relationship + Crack (?)

☆ Warnings: None

★ Extra: Aventurine may be OOC // Not proof read // Bullet Point format // Short // I think I lost track part way through so uh, sorry

Aventurine stares blankly at you as he watches the credits he was about to give to the cashier slowly fall to the ground. You stare back unblinking as you slowly hand over your own credits to the cashier who awkwardly takes it.

"...You know, the person who asked the other out usually pays"

"And?"

"...And I asked you out so I should've-"

"Well...I wanted to pay. You can pay next time"

You quickly reply, not giving much room to negotiate, not like he could've done anything. The cashier had already taken your money, he could only sigh and chuckle as he goes to pick up the forgotten credits on the ground.

"Well, I hope that means our first date was satisfactory"

He smiles, noticing your eager nod. He'll make sure he pays next time, he has a ton of credits to spend anyways

"WAIT, DON'T LET THEM PAY"

He calls out as he tries to reach you quickly. it was your guys second date, despite your statement that he could pay this time, when you left to get ready he noticed you walking to the front to pay. The person at the counter could only laugh, taking your card.

"Too late, sorry sir"

You smiled triumphantly at him, a sneaky smile on your lips. He shook his head in response, oh how he wished he could playfully lecture you on paying for him again when he should've paid this time.

But you looked rather pretty with that proud smile. He can let it slide this time

"Happy anniversary Kakavasha!!"

You call happily, wandering over to him, a gift behind your back. He smiled warmly in return, patting your head playfully.

"I thought we agreed to meet later, miss me that much?"

"Yes"

A small blush crept on his cheeks at your quick reply. Even after dating for a year he still couldn't get used to the fact you actually loved him.

"Oho? Is Mr Aventurine getting flustered"

Called out an all too familiar voice from behind, he turns to Topaz slightly rolling his eyes.

"Nope, just happy to see my lover"

He turns to you again, noticing your eager smile as he placed his attention back on you. You quickly reveal the bag of gifts you got him, handing it to him.

He takes it with a smile and looks inside, nearly choking on air. He had expected perhaps just matching clothes, perhaps it was just one gift with a bunch of paper to help protect it. Topaz leaned forward to see what had gotten her co-worker so tongue twisted before letting out a small laugh.

"Man that bag is filled with gifts, you like to spoil him huh [Name]?"

"I just think he deserves the gifts, most of them were from our last date. I saw him eyeing some of these things but not buying anything. Wanted to get him it"

Aventurine coughed into his hand and pulled you in for a hug. He had never felt such care from someone in so long. He really did choose the right person. He had fallen for the best person.

"Nuh uh, [Name]"

"What!? Why?"

You looked at your boyfriend with a pout, crossing your arms as he holds up your wallet that he managed to take without your knowledge.

"You've paid for me too much now honey. You didn't even need to. Let me treat you, okay? I'm a Stoneheart, remember?"

You grumble under your breath, before agreeing. Aventurine puts your wallet away in his own pocket before walking around with you in the mall. Placing any item you even show the slightest interest in, into the cart.

"I feel bad that you had to pay..."

"Pfft, sweetheart, how many times have you pay for me at this point?"

You stayed silent, looking away with a blush.

"Take my card!"

"Love, not again"

Aventurine and you start bickering (lovingly) as you tried to pay once again. Didn't help that the whole of the IPC was there, laughing at the display.

"Wow, they still haven't stopped fighting for the bill?"

"Seems that's the case, but I wonder. Dinner is nearing an end, once both of them finally agree on who pays. Do you think there'll be time for little Aventurine to pop the question?"

Jade laughs, leaning her head on her hand as she watches. Now all of the IPC could offer to pay instead, but why bother when this small argument is much more entertaining?

Topaz leans back in her seat with a knowing smile. For she was the only one to know that both you and Aventurine had gotten each other a ring. She knew another small (loving) fight would break out once you two show the ring. Questioning each other about the prices even though the both of you got something expensive for the other.

Heyyy...hey....

Finally back from my break yippee?...Haha...

I think I lost track from what it was meant to be about but hopefully this is still a decent read

[catatombi]

beware of fang

Hey, im gonna say it outright and state that this is a call out. people get called out for being dangerous. fangs nearly pushed 3 people to commit suicide(including myself) and i had to be hospitalized because of him, so this feels justified. Im sorry if you disagree, ill keep it short and to the point If you’ve been a long time follower of his im sure you’ve seen his vague posts about his ex friends, the cotl tumblr community and “fandom drama” with little to no context behind it, other than various people appearing on his DNI. his vague nature in the posts is intentional, he doesn't want to let on that he was abusing his friends. Ive tried time and time again to write something but it never seemed right, like what he’s done to me and my friends wasn’t severe enough to warrant something like this, but it is and i don't want to let this go any longer, esp not when he has my friends, their names, usernames and literal contact information in his DNI list Over the last year ive been friends with fang hes been horrible. Hes never changed and refuses to acknowledge what hes done to his friends and how horribly he has hurt them, to keep this short im keeping this bullet pointy Here is his carrd, he has everything neatly outlined for yall to block on every platform Dont harass, dont contact. all of this is public information so https://web.archive.org/web/20240713073710/https://fanged-info.carrd.co/#boundaries

https://fanged-info.carrd.co/ Twit: FFANGEDD / narilamb_ / mewhenimsilly Insta: ffangedd / narilamb Tumblr: ffangedd / fanged-cotl / fanged-xeno Cara: narilamb Blusky: fanged / narilamb Itaku: fanged Artfight: FANGED Toyhouse: FFANGEDD Sheezy: fanged Discord & telegram: narilamb All the people mentioned have given consent Cw !!! abuse, suicide, self harm https://drive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/1MLMOT-qvgrX-9NnUEgpl4AkEPfixy2wG

The drive is a bit out of date, as I logged it all before april. Hes posted more awful shit and vented to me again since then Feel free to request the letter i wrote to him, i might share it anyway because it sums up my thoughts on the matter If you want any additional context feel free to ask

Fang uses suicide and self harm threats to control and manipulate his friends, hes begged me for assisted suicide and when i refused to help him commit he begged in groupchats. He begged on instagram stories as well as twitter, so much so that his twitter for suspended for 12 hours. He has admitted to wanting someone to commit suicide with him and has previously formed suicide pacts and nearly followed through on one with a friend. fang backed out first. he continues to redirect blame. refusing to take accountability for his actions. He still blames his previous medications, his ex psychiatrist, his self diagnosed BPD & OCD, psychosis, and states of beings from disorders he doesn't have (claiming to be manic or sociopathic whilst not having bipolar1 or ASPD) fang blames his (ex)friends, claiming they were projecting their mental illness onto him when they were just reacting to his abuse, that they the ones in the wrong and that how they treated him/cut him off was vile and unfair, and believes that he never got real closure when he did. it just wasn't what he wanted to hear and now feels entitled to an apology from these people when all he’s ever done is traumatize and terrorize them. He describes the amount in which he has cut over pavi, wart and kat because what they put him through and how they traumatized him. The traumatizing actions were: Kat asking for a content warning, pavi didn't want to walk on eggshells anymore and blocked him without an explanation & wart blocked him after being emotionally abused for months Hes described how he would carve their names into his thigh and told me that he will carve my name into his skin when i leave too. He demanded wart and surf choose their “real friends” and cut off their community for him because fang hated that they were being “two-faced” and hanging out with “people who hate him” He would spend hours venting relentlessly and graphically in his friends DMs, demanding their time and attention and expecting immediate replies. His friends are not professionals and shouldnt be expected to be an on-call DIY therapist for him, for hours, without consent. Fang has said he is completely unwilling to self censor for other peoples safety fang has vented to a 13 year old (they were not hiding their age) He referred to me (and our friends) as a phone person, a voice, icons. Concepts he can talk. Completely dehumanizing everyone that cared about him even to their faces. He blames his ex friends for his poor mental health and has said he wishes they watched him commit suicide, he wanted his friends to be traumatized from this (as if they werent already.) When a friend posted a screenshot of a gamenight to tumblr he had a breakdown so severe and so dangerous for so long that several of his friends has to mute the DM to keep themselves safe from his verbal abuse and suicide/SH threats He doesn't care about how triggering any of this can be for someone and will subject anyone (including people in danger) to his “venting” He didnt care about triggering me and contacted me at the worst of my suicidality in january and exasperated the danger i was in so severely I had to be hospitalized against my will before I could commit suicide. 

Im honestly not entirely sure what to even think. he knew the severity of my suicidality. he knew I had been hospitalized for an attempt in 2022, and still he chose me, probably the most vulnerable of his friends at the time to vent that heavily too back in janurary Hes a dangerous selfish person whos proven over and over that hes not getting better and isnt willing to change, i honestly had hope when he slowed down his graphic vent posts and victim blaming on twitter and insta but he decided to say fuck all and get right back into his shit train of shame and misery. Heres a link to all of the screenshot, damning ones are in important bitz if you’re not interested in going through them all https://drive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/1MLMOT-qvgrX-9NnUEgpl4AkEPfixy2wG in these screens alone he: admits to sending his cuts to his friends, threatens to cut if i leave, admits that he was going to go through with a duel suicide and begged me for assisted suicide

warts screenshots v

full screenshots & complete context in the drive as for him claims that i was stalking him: i was scared, i was his friend. i tried so hard to be good enough and never was. the screens were a by product of confiding in my friends about what was happening and the drive was made to share w/ them i admit i prolly shouldve combed out some of it but, ykno also big phat apology for tagging cotl!!!!! only did bc fang has, please stay safe everyone, and thank you so much if you have read everything (the doc encase anyone was wanting it ! figured i;d just use tumblr regular posting method) https://docs.google.com/document/d/17QjXUEdQVd8c4GZS--vPo-xR3kgmoLl4ZmN3ROMutg0/edit?usp=sharing

edit as of 8:30pm 7/17/24 here is a link to pavi's response warts response and kats response

[confused-wanderer]

How would Jason react, or even know about Bruce nearly killing the joker?

He doesn’t hear it from Damian, Dick nor Barbara. It’s only when a few years have passed and relations between Bruce and him slowly start cooling that he starts being able to return to the Manor more often without feeling pangs of guilt, longing, nostalgia and overall the Lazarus Pit screaming to be let out.

However, he isn’t dumb. Whenever he complains to Tim about how Tim’s been treated better and loved more than he was, he’s quick to notice how Tim’s jaw tenses, with fingers spastic as if they wanted to curl into fists. Nor does he miss what Tim whispers under his breath twenty minutes later.

If only you knew..

Bruce keeps trying to make amends, tries engaging with him face to face before a few bullets got the message across and he retreated. But Jason could still feel him waiting, hovering, for the signal to light up and let him know he was needed.

He could go to hell though.. Every single time he looked at Bruce he felt safe, followed by fierce anger burning through his veins. He hated that he felt at ease when Bruce entered. Hated that he almost fell back into their old banter. Hated that he missed him. Hated that he still trusted him.

Hated that he still loved him.

One night, after giving Bruce the cold shoulder the entire time and watching in satisfaction as Bruce’s shoulder slumped in defeat, he felt the sudden need to comfort him. He’s the batman, he chided himself. If he could get over your death, he can get over this.

Standing out on the balcony, he never spoke to the presence already there.

“Master Jason..”

“Hey Alfred, it’s pretty cold out you sure you’d be fine?”

“I’ve faced worse winters.”

Jason sighed. That old man always had an air of expectancy around him, just like when he was robin, like a mother waiting for their child to tell them what they did wrong.

“What do you want?”

“I want to know what the bloody hell you think you’re doing?”

That caught Jason’s attention. Hatred and stoic ness quickly melted and all he could do was stare at him in shock.

“Why are you tormenting him?”

“Are you fucking kidding me??-“ “Language master Jason.”

“Alfred. You were there.”

“There was nothing master Bruce could do to save you-”

“I DONT CARE ABOUT THAT ALFRED! He-“

Shoulders slumped, he looked down.

“He replaced me.” Jason whispered. “He didn’t even wait till my body was cold he just fucking went ahead and replaced me. Even after knowing I died, he still put another child in that suit, MY suit! And then, HE DIDNT EVEN AVENGE ME!! He just took Joker back to Arkham, which is basically just like a vacation for him, and LEFT. After all these-”

A shivering cold current of electricity ran through his body and he could feel the Lazarus Pit rising, making his body grow colder by the second.

“After all this time.. he never did anything.” Jason muttered. “So yeah, not only was knowing I was dead for four years a slap to the face.. but to come back home to find another kid in my room and business as usual? As if I never existed? That just made me realise I didn’t matter.”

CLINK

The tea cup in Alfred’s hands was shaking, and a wave of concern overtook Jason. He was about to reach a hand out to steady it when Alfred put the cup down, sighed and looked at the moon.

“Master Bruce never gave Robin to Tim. I did.”

“.. Come again?”

“I gave it to him myself. After you died.. he was a shell of himself. He started pushing himself more, brutalising criminals to the point of hospitalisation. After you died.. a big part of him did too. He refused to be around people, friends, to be happy, to eat. He was punishing himself for your death by refusing to live. And I never forgot you either my boy.. Every night for months I stood by the windows, staying awake and looking outside..hoping to catch a glimpse of you. For the first time in my life I prayed for you to be beaten and bruised, but alive. Locked myself in your room, in your memories, as if standing over your bed was guarding you even in death..Master Bruce missed you so much he played tapes of your missions, just to hear your laugh.”

The older man shook his head and refused to look at him.

“He rejected Tim, but I couldn’t watch him destroy himself. I’d already lost one son..” Alfred paused, looking at Jason with such fondness and pain. “ I wasn’t going to lose another.”

A long pause lingered in the air, and Jason could hear his heart racing as it processed what he’d heard.

“As for Joker,” Jason looked up, and saw the most terrifying scowl he’d ever seen before, with eyes filled with hatred and a craving for retribution.

“Jason Bruce almost killed him too. Like you said, I was there. I was always there. He had chas- hunted Joker down, torturing him slowly and violently until the air was thick with his screams. How every bone was shattered, with so much blood you couldn’t even tell the tiles underneath were white.”

Alfred closed his eyes, and Jason couldn’t help feel that though he was remembering the scene, he was also reveling in it. “His body shattered, smile gone replaced with pain and the howls of misery that he emitted that night.. alas-”

“He didn’t kill him.”

Alfred’s eyes bore into his, and reflected the darkness of the shimmering sky.

“You’re not hearing me. He damn well nearly did. There are things worse than death in this world and Bruce made sure to make Joker feel every single.one. But Superman.. heard him. He heard the roars of fury and grief, and stopped him. All while Bruce stood over the broken body of what once was human. All while muttering your name over and over again, like it was a prayer that kept him grounded. With every hit he took, with every ounce of pain he delivered, he did it with your name on his lips.”

They both just stood there.. shadows in fading moonlight as the noises of life started waking the world with their song.

“Unfortunately, his voice was recorded on one of those surveillance cameras. Tim wiped it, but we kept one copy.. and though the footage is corrupted, the sound is crystal clear.”

Alfred hesitated, before gently cupping Jason’s hands and placing a cold weight on them.

“I hope you never hear it..my boy. I’d rather you burnt it. But if you want to hear the raw truth.. I wanted you to have proof.”

Sunlight burst through the horizon, and with it came the dawn of a new time.

Jason heard the tape as soon as he left.

And burnt it right after.

Alfred was right.

All he had heard were the guttural cries of a broken man..

A father, grieving for his son.

Jason finding out Dick killed joker post:

[lil-binuu]

so we have gangster x barista, but what about gangster x nurse?

━･❪ 𝓜𝔂 𝓝𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮 ❫ ･━

tw: injury, blood, needle and thread, stitching up a wound, pulling bullet out of a wound with tweezers (but nothing is too graphic)

also forgive me for not knowing shit about hospitals and doctors and gunshot wounds 👍

He stumbles into your hospital, hand over the wound on his chest, blood dripping furiously from between his fingers. With all the other doctors busy, you run towards him immediately, taking him to one of the few empty hospital rooms. 

You place a towel against what you recognise to be a gunshot wound to stop the bleeding, the man’s hand coming up to hold it in place even through the pain. 

You close the door and turn to him, putting gloves on and starting to examine his wound. You ask him a series of questions, what’s his name, how long he’s been injured for, how he got shot, but he’s silent. 

You look up at him, eyebrows raised at the unanswered questions. 

“I don’t have to tell you anything.” 

“Right.” You answered with a sigh. It wasn’t rare for a patient to refuse to tell any personal information, they tend to come around once they realise doctors are there to help. Although, you were a little impressed that he was so stubborn even after getting shot. The adrenaline, probably. 

You sat beside the bed, putting down the towel and using a pair of medical tweezers to find the bullet lodged in his ribcage. Apart from the occasional bad news, the TV in the room made for some nice background noise. 

“And now we hear from Julia Miresse, reporting to us live.” 

He hissed loudly as you pulled out the bullet, grimacing at the pain. You picked up the towel again for him as more blood spurted out. You pipetted a few drops of sodium citrate solution into the wound to help the blood clot quickly, before turning around to place the bullet on a tray. 

“Shots were fired earlier tonight in south Berkeley, injuring and nearly killing two men.”

You looked up at the TV, somewhat interested. 

“The incident is suspected to be of gang violence, with both men attempting to kill each other. One was found in critical condition while the other ran from the scene and has since been identified by CCTV.” 

A picture of your patient's face plastered over the screen. Your mouth fell. 

You took a deep breath, sneaking a small look back at the man in the hospital bed behind you to make sure you had seen it right. He caught your eye, causing you to smile awkwardly. 

The same dark hair that fell over his face, the same scar that ran across the side of his lip. There was no doubt it was him. 

This man could be a criminal. That’s why he didn’t tell you anything, you realised. He can’t know you saw it. You had to alert the other doctors, the police, and do it without him noticing. 

Trying to stay calm, you picked up a wipe, turning back to tend the man’s wound. You pulled at the ripped part of his shirt, attempting to clean the wound. 

“Your shirt is in the way, please remove it.” 

The man sat up, eyeing you suspiciously. You helped to hold up the hem of his shirt as he pulled it over his head, cursing under his breath from the pain of moving. This was the distraction you needed. 

You quickly moved towards the emergency button, reaching to press it but your wrist was caught. 

You gasped, turning to see the man staring at you fiercely. You opened your mouth to scream, but he forced his hand over your mouth before you could, pushing you backwards against the wall. The cold metal of a gun pressing into your neck. 

“Don’t make a fucking noise.” 

He spoke in a low voice, his face close to your ear. 

You were frozen, eyes wide with fear. 

“I don’t want to hurt you.” 

You didn’t move, scared to fight back in case he really did shoot you. 

“You saw the TV. The police don’t know I’m here. Were you trying to alert them?”

He asked, threateningly, not letting you forget there was a gun pointing at you. 

“I need you to stitch me up. But you try anything, and best believe you’re not living another day.” 

His hand lowered from your mouth, trusting that you wouldn’t scream after hearing his deadly threats. He reached behind him, picking up the needle and thread. 

“Understand?” 

Taking them carefully from his hand, you nodded, swallowing the lump of anxiety in your throat. 

He let out a shallow breath and reduced the pressure of the gun on your neck. 

Switching your focus back to his injury, you began to clean away the drying blood on his skin, trying to stop your hand from shaking so much. 

Just do your job, it’s not difficult, just stay calm and stitch the wound up like you’ve done many times before, you thought to yourself. 

You took the needle and thread from his hand, making swift eye contact. 

Your hands rested against his skin, as if they were steadying themselves, as they worked the needle through his skin and pulled the thread tight. 

Slowly and carefully, you navigated around the gun. You were surprised he let you, even if it was only to grab a small pair of scissors and a large piece of adhesive gauze. 

Cutting the thread, you placed the gauze against his stitched up wound and pressed down gently so it would stick. The man couldn’t help but wince from the slight pain.

“I’ll get you some antibiotics-”

You began towards the door. 

“-Don’t worry about it.” 

You turned around, ready to protest, he was still your patient after all. 

He smiled at you, before heading towards the window. 

“Hey- wait!” You called, realising what he was about to do. 

In one swift movement he slid up the window and jumped out. 

You ran after, shocked at his reckless actions, stopping at the window sill to watch him run from the hospital. 

You let out a breath you hadn’t realised you were holding. You were still in one piece.

“Nurse Y/N?” The door opened, the head of your colleague sticking out from behind it. 

You spun around. 

“Yes?” 

“There’s someone here asking for you.” 

what do we think? part 2?

[thatoneneuvichiliauthor]

I have an angsty aventio idea that’s haunting me (also this one’s a lil dark, just a warning) imagine ratio at some point in the future telling aventurine that just because he’s been lucky so far, that doesn’t mean that his luck will *always* hold out, and tells him to stop putting so much faith into the fact that his luck never run out. And Aventurine, who is exhausted and having a bad day because otherwise he’d make a joke or just play it off, pulls out his gun again. And Ratio scoffs because they’ve already been through this, with Aventurine proving his luck by taking all but one bullet out. But to his shock, this time Aventurine only removes a single bullet. Before ratio can stop him, he spins the chamber and points it at his own head before pulling the trigger. Nothing happens. Then, without hesitating, he pulls the trigger once more, not even flinching as he stares Ratio directly in the eye. The gun jammed, and no bullets left the chamber. And aventurine tells him then, that he’s tested his luck like that more than once, always with the vague hope of getting to see his family again, but something like that happens every time. His luck genuinely prevents him from experiencing a *permanent* death before his time. And then he sees that this time, *Ratio* is the one that’s shaking, with genuine horror and fear in his eyes. (I just love the idea that aventurine is so ‘lucky’ that something will always stop his death, and I want Ratio to feel the gut wrenching fear of seeing aventurine fire a fully loaded gun at himself right in front of him. Ratio probably holds him close and tightly after that and refuses to let go for a long time)

My heart 😭😭😭 Ratio would be left so shaken up by this omg. Especially since his original demand obviously stemmed from his fear of losing Aventurine to his gambles! This is such an excellent concept and I love it!

Also, since my angst-addict brain somehow found a way to make it worse: Imagine an alternate scenario where Ratio understands what Aventurine is about to do and just cannot stand there and watch it happen, not when he could lose the one person he loves most. Panic overrides his mind and he tries to take the gun from Aventurine. In doing so, one of them accidentally pulls the trigger, but this time, the gun doesn't jam. Instead, the bullet hits Ratio. Horrified, Aventurine lets the gun fall to the floor and rushes to his side while the doctor's clothes start turning red with blood. The wound is not fatal, but still, it confronts Aventurine to the very thing that haunts him : the knowledge that his insane luck only protects him from harm, and not those he cares about. It would also force him to acknowledge just how attached he has gotten to Ratio, and he would be an absolute guilt-ridden wreck while waiting at his bedside after he got surgery, scared to death that he might not make it. Once Ratio wakes up, it's Aventurine who'd be the one unable to stop holding him.

Thanks so much for sharing this with me, this is such a great concept, I can already tell I'll be thinking about it for days!

[yayeetsonny]

One can only take so much… before they break

(Alex Morgan X OC)

Hi, yes i know i’ve been away for a very long time, but I wanted to give this writing thing another shot to see if I still had anything left in the tank. Hopefully this isn’t the most dreadful thing you’ve ever read. So sorry if it is. Please be advised this one deals with some very strong emotions and topics. Implied mental abuse, Suicidal ideation and just overall sadness and anxiety. This will be a multi parter as my fingers got away from me lol.

This one is 99% Alex x OC, although the character’s name is never dropped as I wasn’t sure if I was going to make this an x reader fic or not. If anyone has any name suggestions at the end I’m all ears. And future parts will definitely be more USWNT x OC

3.4k Words

Everything is your fault. It always is. Why can’t you do anything right?! It all fell apart because of you! You know that, and so do they. They hate you for it. Your own mother won’t even talk to you.

“Hey, kid… Kid?…Dude!” I was so lost in thought I didn’t even hear one of my teammates calling out to me.

“Huh? What?” I looked up to see Alex looking down at me worriedly.

“Are you okay little duck?” She said squatting down so she was eye level with me. She put her hand on my cheek rubbing it softly raising an eyebrow when i didn’t say anything immediately.

“Hmm? Oh yeah, I’m fine.” I said softly, making a poor attempt at a smile but I’m fairly certain it came across as a grimace instead. I looked down and refused to look back up even though I could feel Alex trying to get me to look at her.

“Hey… what is it?” She said moving her head so she could look into my eyes, which at this point were watering and I was doing my very best to force the tears away.

“I-It’s nothing… I-I’m fine.” I said, my voice breaking. I brought my hand up to rub my eyes and I stood up and tried to make a quick get away, but Alex wasn’t having it.

“Stop, what’s going on? What’s wrong?” She put her hands on my shoulders to try and stop me from leaving but I pushed her off and started to walk away.

“I said I’m fine, just drop it Alex. Please.” I gave up trying to stop the tears, they were freely flowing now and i let out a sob as I broke into a full sprint when I heard her starting to follow me, calling out to me. I ran passed several of our fellow national team, teammates who were watching everything unfold.

I beat her to the locker room, grabbed my stuff and made a mad dash to my car, getting in and attempting to regulate my breathing. The tears were still coming in full force, sobs racked my body as I tried and failed to calm myself down. How pathetic is this? Crying like a big baby, because your mommy made you sad? I really am weak aren’t I? No that’s not true. The girls always tell me I’m strong and that I’m their brave big girl. Yeah it’s a bit baby-ish but it gets the point across. I wrestled with my own thoughts and was so engrossed in arguing with myself that i didn’t even realize I made it back to my apartment already. I also didn’t hear my phone ringing incessantly while I drove. I hesitated a bit seeing as it was Alex, probably trying to figure out where i went. It almost went to voicemail before i decided to answer.

“Hello” my voice was raw from all the crying I did, but I sounded more tired than distraught now.

“Baby, where did you go? What happened back there? Why did you run away? Please talk to me. I’m worried about you.” She said all in one breath, I bit my lip contemplating my answer. Then i took a deep breath and decided to just bite the bullet and be at least partially truthful.

“I… um, I was going thru a-a lot during the break between camps, I mean I guess I still am going thru a lot right now, given my very apparent meltdown earlier. I-I’m sorry Alex, I’m so sorry. Please forgive me. I won’t do it again, I swear.” My damn voice started breaking again as the tears started back up.

“Hey, hey, hey… little one, please breathe, you’re okay. You have nothing to be sorry for. Take deep, slow breaths, in and out.” she said gently, guiding me thru some breathing exercises until my breathing was less erratic. “Can you tell me where you are please? I’m going to come get you and we’ll talk this through and maybe we can order a pizza and watch movies, what do you say?” She asked, I could tell she was trying to remain calm but I could hear her voice quiver just slightly. She was scared, and rightfully so, this isn’t the first time I’d run off and usually when i did, I became self destructive at worst and let myself rot in bed for a week at best.

“I’m at the apartment.” I said and she let out a sigh of relief on the other end of the line.

“Okay good. I’m on my way, be there in 10. Stay there, please.”

I took one last deep breath before I got out of the car and made my way inside. I intended to sit on the couch and wait for her to get home but then the more i thought about having to talk to Alex about what’s been going on the more anxious i became. I started pacing and started mumbling to myself about what i was going to say and how I was going to say it. I wanted to let Alex in but I knew if I wasn’t careful I would let her in too much and I wasn’t ready for that. Being 17 and all my ability to regulate my emotions and understand them wasn’t the best as I’m sure you’ve already figured out.

10 minutes went by quickly and Alex was there before i knew it. She quickly made her way inside and dropped her bag by the door, coming up to me and taking me by the shoulders again to get me to stop pacing.

“Stop, please. You’re spiraling, what’s going on?”

“I just have a lot on my mind.”

“Like what? Is it your family? Soccer?”

“Family.” I mumbled, attempting to yank myself out of her grasp but she just wrapped her arms around my torso tightly so i couldn’t run away. “Let go Alex I can’t do this. Please let go.” I kept fighting against her hold but she wasn’t relenting, and while i would’ve denied it in the moment, I needed that.

“Shh, shh bub, just relax. I’ve got you. I’m here now it’s all gonna be okay, okay? I promise. Please just let me help you.” She said softly and I finally just allowed her to fully pull me against her chest, she relaxed her grip just slightly moving one of her hands to the back of my head, stroking my hair softly, resting her chin on the top of my head. “You’re okay, you’re safe now.” She whispered, and she continued to mumble reassurances to me as she rocked me in her arms slightly.

“Do we have to talk about this?” I mumbled.

“Yeah kid unfortunately we do. You know the rules when you decide to run away like you did earlier.” She kissed my head before picking me up with ease and moving us to the couch. She kept her hold on me and let me curl up into her lap, I tucked my head in the crook of her neck.

“I don’t want to.” I attempted to say firmly but it came out as a whine.

“Remember what I said? It’ll all be okay. I know this is scary but I’m not going anywhere and anything you tell me isn’t going to scare me away. I promise you. You’re my brave big girl, hmm?”

“I’m 17, you know?” I said in an attempt to seem tough.

“And that’s why i said you’re a big girl. But you’re still the baby on the team and little one to me.” She said chuckling softly. “You can do this.” she said after a moment rubbing my arm gently.

“I can do this.” I repeated to myself. I moved myself out of the safety of Alex’s arms slightly, putting some distance between us and turning to fully face her, steeling myself for the tough conversation ahead. I’m a very sensitive and emotional person so these conversations always make me cry no matter how much I try to stop it.

Do you want me to call the rest of the girls? Is this something they should know about too?”

“Too many people. Not ready, I think it’s better if I tell you everything first and then maybe only tell them the gist of it after.”

“Okay, then that’s what we’ll do. Whenever you’re ready.”

“I guess I’ll start at the beginning. So you know how in between camps and during off season I go home to be with my family? Well I went and everything fell apart, and it’s all my fault. Just like everything always is.”

“Hey, no don’t say that.” She cut me off, she hates when i am self deprecating.

“Its true though. I fucked everything up. You know how my brother and I work at the same place right? Well and you know how my shift is closing? So I work 1-10pm? Which my mom hates.” She nodded her head as I was talking to let me know she was following along. “Well one night it was bad… The weather was horrendous because in my hometown we get a lot of snow. A-and so one of the days I worked I was one of the f-few people to show up and, when everything was all said and done there was a huge mess left behind from the disaster of a day we had….” I was beginning to become emotional just thinking about what had happened that night, and i hated that it still made me feel such strong emotions.

“It’s okay, do you want to keep going?” Alex asked me softly, stroking the back of my head softly. she knew sometimes that talking about things was hard for me and that i needed to take breaks in order to get the whole story out.

“Yes i need to. I can do it.” I said determinedly. Blinking away the tears.

“Anyways, it was a mess and being a “Back up Team lead” sometimes i made a decision to send everyone else home and clean up. And since my brother worked on overnights I called him and asked him to come help me clean up so that i could go home at a semi-reasonable time. He came over to help but when they wanted to send him back to his normal area he refused and he s-started arguing with his boss about how he was going to choose family over his job at the moment and they d-didn’t like that so they sent him home for the night, and he didn’t have a car so he called my mom to pick him up…” I stopped to catch my breath as i realize I hadn’t been breathing

“Shh, easy baby, nice, slow deep breaths, you’re doing so good.” She said. I hadn’t been looking at Alex very much this whole time but when I finally did I could see unshed tears in her eyes. I knew it was hard for her any time i was upset or emotional in a negative way. She gently wiped away the tears that made their way down my cheeks.

“My mom came to get him, and then she called me, and she was angry, she demanded I come home so I did and when I got there she told me she had a lot of opinions about what happened but she was just going to keep her mouth shut. She told me to get out of her sight so I did. She wouldn’t even look at me. Just like that I was transported back to when I was a little kid and she would get angry and she would just tell me she didn’t want to look at me. It felt like a knife to the chest. I didn’t understand what i did to upset her so much and I knew she wouldn’t tell me. All part of her “healing process.” I said bitterly.

“Fast forward to the next morning, I woke up to the news my brother had been fired. I called him to apologize and I asked him what our mom said to him and he said that she blames me for him getting fired. She said I should have known better. I knew how much he needed that job.” My hands were shaking and my breathing was ragged as I played with the strings of my hoodie.

“That wasn’t your fault, you have to know that.”

“Yes it was. It is. He hasn’t found a job since and he-he’s struggling again. You remember what happened last time he was struggling don’t you? I can’t do that again, I can’t! Everything he does, every decision he makes that’s not good is my fault. My mom wants me to be “an example” for him but he’s older! How fucking twisted is that?! Why are things never his fault?!” I yelled standing up suddenly startling Alex.

“Okay, okay let’s take a break hmm?” Alex stood up holding up her hands to show me she meant no harm.

“No! You don’t get it! Everything is my fault! My own mother thinks so! I know he’s struggling but can’t she see I’m struggling too?! ” I threw a plastic cup that was on the table across the room.

“Stop. Now. We don’t throw things when we’re upset, do you understand?” Alex said sternly.

My lip wobbled as I started crying again. “I’ve spent the last 4 years trying my very best to hold my family together through everything we’ve been thru. I got my brother the job working where i do and now I’m the reason he lost it. And now he and his girlfriend risk being homeless because she doesn’t have a job either. And if they lose their apartment they move back home with my mom, which means I’ll probably have to move back to be there with her because I can’t just leave her there by herself with them. It wouldn’t be fair. Which in turn means I’ll have to put my life on hold. The life I finally made for myself.”

I’m so tired of being emotional exhausted. I can’t keep doing this. I don’t even want to be alive anymore.”

“Woah, hold on… what do you mean by that?” Alex’s eyes widened as she processed what i said.

“I mean what I just said I don’t want to be alive anymore okay? I want the pain to stop. I need it to stop.”

The silence that followed was long and tense. I immediately regretted saying what i said. But realized i couldn’t walk it back. Alex finally took a deep breath and began speaking again.

“How long have you been feeling this way? Do you- Do you have a plan?” She asked quietly, her voice breaking as she did.

“No I don’t have a plan, I just sometimes think about how much easier it would be if I wasn’t here anymore. And sometimes I think about hurting myself but i haven’t acted on it. And i’ve been feeling this way since last year, when my mom and i got into that big blowout fight at Thanksgiving. You know she didn’t even want me moving out here? She’s never really let that fight go.” I laughed hollowly.

“Thank you for telling me, and being honest with me. I know that wasn’t easy. Why didn’t your mom want you to move out here?”

“She thinks you and the girls have too much of an influence over me. She thinks you guys are “changing” me. She threatened to force me to quit playing soccer all together.”

“What? Why didn’t you ever tell me any of this?”

“It didn’t seem relevant.”

“Didn’t seem relevant?! How’s that? If i had known that I would’ve just had you move out here permanently!”

“Alex…”

“No I’m serious! I understand you’re still 17 but you’re out of high school and you should be able to decide your own path.

“I’ve been trying, but the situation with my brother gives her more reason to say i should just quit playing.

Alex goes quietly again and I can tell she’s thinking. I can tell she’s angry. She has never really liked my mom and visa versa, their relationship is courteous at best.

“I think sometimes you forget that you’re still a kid. I know that you have had a lot put on your shoulders and that a lot is expected of you, but your brothers choices that night are not your fault and I’m sorry he’s having a hard time and he might have to move back home, which yes will be hard for your mom but that doesn’t mean that you have to give up your life for them. They will be okay. I promise you.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes i do, you wanna know how I know?” She said and I nodded meekly.

“I know because your brother is strong, and so is your mom. And while i’ve never met her I’m sure his girlfriend is too. You don’t have to hold anyone else up but yourself. Not anymore. Their emotions and their… predicaments are not yours to try and fix. i don’t want you going home for a while okay? It’s clear that it’s taking a toll on you and to be frank, This is your home. Here with me, With the other girls. We have you okay? And we will never leave you. Ever.”

I turned away from her and tried to calm myself completely. I was so over all the crying and I bet you are too.

“You’re probably so sick of me crying.” I said chuckling quietly. Alex Vehemently shook her head and wrapped her arms around me, kissing my head.

“Not at all, you needed to get it out. it’s never good to hold it all in like you did, you know that.”

“I know, I just…”

“Have a hard time letting yourself be vulnerable. I know love. I know. So here’s what we’re going to do. I think writing your thoughts out might help what do you think?”

“Maybe…” i said hesitantly.

“Don’t worry no one else will read it but you. And the only way anyone will ever know anything you write down is if you tell them. And I know you going home for part of the year is to help you be able to pay your half of the rent but don’t worry about it okay? I will cover any excess we have from the missing income okay? I meant it when I said your home was here with me.”

“Alex you don’t have to-….”

“Yes i do. You’re very important to me, and I care about you and the things you need. And right now you need a bit of a break.”

“Thank you. That means a lot.”

“Anything for you kid. Now listen I also want you to really consider talking to a therapist or a mental health professional about how you’ve been feeling okay? I won’t force you but I think you might benefit from it. And please talk to me, or one of the other girls if you feel like hurting yourself. I don’t want you to think you have to go thru that alone okay?”

“Okay i will.” She’s right, it’s probably about time i go to therapy, I’m still hesitant as sharing my feelings and the things i keep inside has never been my strong suit.

“Now, how about you go take a warm shower to calm down a bit more, I’ll order some pizzas and get the girls over here?”

“I’d like that.” I smiled softly and headed upstairs to do as she suggested.

About an hour later I was showered, comfy and sitting on the couch sandwiched between Alex and Christen. A “Chrislex” sandwich if you will. Tobin was on Christen’s left, Mal, Sam, Kristie, Rose and the rest of the team were laying as close to me as they could get and spread out through out the living room. Pizza was also spread out through the room as people shared with one another. We had Moana on as the girls said I could pick and that’s my go to movie. I was so focused on the movie i almost didn’t notice my phone buzzing at my side. I looked at the text that came thru and my heart dropped as I realized who it was from… My mom.

“You need to come home.”

Is all it said. My hands instantly started shaking and I had that panicking feeling rising in my chest again. Alex looked over at me curiously and I forced the fakest smile i could muster onto my face. I’m in deep shit now…

//

To Be Continued…

There will be a part 2 and the rest of the team will be in that one more, promise. Please let me know what you think!

[happyk44]

hermes is on vacation so nico gets some mortal substitute familiar with demigods and the greek pantheon as his doctor and when he calls him up for a visit, dude's like "well hermes didn't really tell me what was up with you because. you know. doctor/patient confidentiality. but he did tell me that if my gut instinct is "you're too young to have that" i should remember that you are apparently over a hundred years old, and if i don't believe that, i should remember he looks like a 25 year old twink but is old enough that he can describe my great grandfather's penis to me in detail. so! what's up with you"

and nico just pulls out this binder from his backpack, slaps it onto the desk and opens it up. the first page is a print out from a powerpoint presentation, the title reading "What Is Wrong With Nico", a subtitle of "aka the old man bones are old man boning", with a smaller subtitle several spaces below reading "current as of: right the fuck now"

the next page is four tables under the title "Ways He Is Broken". the tables depict:

his current diagnosis and the date of diagnosis

his current medications, the amount, and to what problem they correspond

things he's already been tested for that didn't pan out and why he was tested for them

previous medications he was on, the amount and why he was taking them (also includes current meds where the amount was changed)

the next page is titled "How The Fuck Is He Not Dead" and then a bullet pointed list summarizing all his traumas and other minor shit he's been through that has been attached as the cause(s) behind his issues, so like sandwiched between "nearly suffocated to death while trapped in a jar" and "had to shadowtravel across the atlantic ocean with a giant statue and two other people (prior limit was myself going from new york to illinois)" there's a point stating "fell over on the crows nest of a flying boat and dislocated my wrist". next to each bullet point there are coloured dots going to the left. some bullet points only have one, some have two - they are all colour coded to correspond to the ailment(s) in which they apply.

the next page is called "What Is He Up To These Days" and it's just a long list detailing all his diagnosed symptoms - again little circles beside each point to colour code to the corresponding ailment. the column next to it is labelled "new symptoms" and consists of three bullet points: getting dizzy when i stand up, started two months ago once a week, now every time i stand; migraines are back, made me cry in the shower last night, need new meds probably; and, got hit in the rib by a hydra's tail last month, reset my rib myself and eating ambrosia squares, but still hurts really bad, don't think it's healing right

the next page is "What Could Kill Him So Don't Use It*" and it's just a few columns labelled "pet allergies" "food allergies" "drug allergies" "magic allergies" "other allergies" and the only one that has something included is food allergies and it's just the bullet point "garlic intolerant but he's fucking italian so he doesn't care". in the footnotes at the bottom of that page is the asterix relating back to the title saying "Don't fucking give him cigarettes. he is an idiot and he will ask but they do not work and they never worked and he refuses to listen to me when i tell him this. DO NOT LET HIM HAVE CIGARETTES"

it is very clear this page was filled out by Hermes himself

his interim mortal doctor reads carefully each page, glancing once at nico when he gets to Hermes' footnote, before closing the binder. "you're how old?"

"technically 17, chronologically one hundred and something, i dunno i can't do math and i don't remember what my dad put on my cake this year"

"Right. okay." the mortal doctor presses his hands together and to his lips watching nico carefully then lowering his hands to smooth across the desk "have you ever thought about maybe just sitting on a couch and never leaving your house again"

"yeah, i tried that but i get restless, and also i like helping people if they need it and they ask. hermes tells me i should be more selfish then locks me to a chair, but he's also the one who taught me how to pick locks so i can get out pretty easily. honestly don't know why he keeps trying. even if i didn't know how to pick the lock, i'm pretty good at dislocating my joints on purpose too so i can always just get out that way."

the increasingly stressed out doctor just hums quietly. then, "okay! first i'm going to check your rib, and then we're gonna talk about you getting a 24 hour caregiver because you clearly do not understand limits and need someone who does"

[screaming-universe]

eddietommy sparring date

It’s their second date and Eddie is thriving. He hasn’t sparred in so long, hadn’t really trained even all by himself for a while. Tommy is good though, really good. He’s probably better than Eddie. His reach is longer than Eddie’s, if just barely, and he is definitely stronger. Looking at Tommy’s arms though that hardly is a surprise: Eddie’s not exactly weak but his arms aren’t nearly as big. He’s worked out with Buck and Buck is stronger than Eddie—not that Eddie would admit that out aloud—and Buck’s arms aren’t quite as thick as Tommy’s either. 

Tommy is in very good shape, that is for sure. And Eddie sure gets to learn that close-up. Muay thai allows for clinching: to try and grab your fellow fighter and hold them. More than once, Tommy puts Eddie in holds that he cannot escape from, no matter how he tries to use his elbows and knees. That also puts him into direct contact with Tommy’s chest, face-first, more than once. And there’s something to think about later.

Tommy’s definitely winning their sparring match: he’s better trained, he’s stronger. Eddie though is not above fighting a little dirty. There’s a move that is certainly not part of muay thai but it allows him to trip up Tommy and then they are on the ground, Eddie half on top of him. 

To be fair: Eddie maybe managed to trip up Tommy but he certainly wasn’t prepared for it to work so easily. Before he can pin Tommy’s arms to try and hold him down, Tommy flips them and he certainly remembers to pin Eddie down. The hands around his wrists hold him tight but not so much that it hurts and the leg across Eddie’s thighs is enough to immobilise his legs, especially when Tommy shifts his weight. Eddie tries to wriggle out of this situation he’s put himself in, but he’s not very successful. Or at all. He gives up and looks up at Tommy. 

Eddie doesn’t really like being pinned down. There is the aspect of losing, obviously. Then there are the times in his life where he has been pinned down for real, be it by a shower of bullets, by mud or by his body refusing to move after being shot. Then there also is what Shannon accused him of and she was definitely right about: his need to be in control.

It feels like Eddie is balancing on the edge of a knife: on one side lies a panic attack and on the other side something Eddie doesn’t want to let himself think about. Yet. To be pinned and held down like this requires trust, a lot of trust, at least for Eddie, and he’s not there yet, with Tommy. Tommy though seems to understand because his face moves in a way that Eddie isn’t sure how to interpret and then Tommy lets go of his arms, kneels by his side but not touching.

“Are you alright, Eddie?” Tommy asks and Eddie blinks a few times; he’s been lost in his thoughts.

“Yeah,” he says and runs a hand over his sweaty face. “Sorry, just made me think of something.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” Tommy asks and sits down cross-legged by his side, his head resting on one hand. Eddie stays where he is, looking up at the ceiling.

“I was, uh–I was an Army medic,” he begins, maybe somewhat at random. Tommy nods; they’ve talked about their times in the Army, though just shortly. Another similarity they share. “I got honorably discharged after getting shot.” He pulls the tank top aside to show the scar on his left shoulder, then points to the one he knows Tommy can see on his right thigh and lastly to his left wrist which has miraculously healed so well that there is barely a scar to be seen. It’s a wonder he retains as much mobility in it as he does but he knows he has lost some. The doctors said it was a flying splinter of something that wounded him, not a bullet.

“We got shot down and then were pinned down while they were firing at us.” He trails off there but a quick look at Tommy shows him nodding, understanding.

“I was lucky,” Tommy says when Eddie doesn’t go on. “Only got a graze and that’s it.” He points to the scar along his right forearm. Eddie wraps his hand around the arm and lets his thumb run over it. The scar is pinker than the rest of his skin and he can feel the raised edge of it.

Eddie keeps his hand on Tommy’s arm as he goes on. “In my second year with the LAFD we were rescuing a young boy who got stuck in a well.” Tommy moves his arm slightly and now they are holding each other’s wrist, if just barely, very loosely. Eddie’s fingers touch the scar from the grazing shot and Tommy’s cover the scar on Eddie’s wrist, both of them actually. Eddie squeezes Tommy’s arm in return, to let him know that this is okay. That this is good.

“I remember that,” Tommy says and yeah, that call certainly did make its rounds. 

“I went down to get him and then–then stuff happened and the boy was safe but the hole we dug collapsed on top of me. Trapping me. I had to swim—dive—my way out of there, through old feeding pipes and some of them were so tight–” he shudders involuntarily. He could have easily drowned that day, he knows that but sometimes he thinks about and is back in the pipes and stuck. A gentle squeeze of Tommy’s hand brings him back.

“And then I shot in the middle of the day, in the middle of the street,” Eddie goes on without even taking a deep breath. “Some guy had it out for firefighters and I was right there.”

“Fuck,” Tommy says, worry apparent on his face. “I certainly do remember that too. Why have I known you for years now but only from some of the calls that the whole LAFD was listening to as they happened?”

Eddie barks out a laugh at that, not particularly happy but yeah: how does the 118 and specifically A shift keep doing that? Maybe there is something real about curses after all. 

“That’s where I got these from,” he goes on and pulls his tank aside to show the horrendous mess that is his right shoulder but especially the thoracotomy scar. Tanks rarely cover the scar on his right shoulder and this one sure does not and for a long time Eddie has felt very insecure about that. He still sure does not like it.

“I got this,” Tommy says and pulls up his shirt to show the scarred skin high on the right side of his torso, “from a factory explosion. Punched right through the turnouts. And then I was knocked out by gas another time. If Howie hadn’t carried me out–” Eddie feels his eyes grow wide, “–he’s really strong–if he hadn’t carried me out, I’d be dead.”

Before, Eddie might have been leaning over the knife’s edge on the side of panic but he feels himself relax as they talk. Calming down until he feels like sitting up. They talk some more as they walk up the stairs to Tommy’s house and then they stop talking so they can both shower and put on less sweaty clothes. But they keep talking right through dinner—Tommy is an amazing cook—and don’t stop until Eddie lingers on the front step when he has to get home to Chris. Then they just stand there, looking at each other for a minute. Eddie really loves looking at Tommy’s face. It’s a very nice face, definitely attractive but also just nice. He looks at Eddie like he’s somebody worth looking at, interesting, maybe even special, and Eddie wants him to keep looking.

“Thank you,” Eddie finally says, “‘I’ve had a very good time.”

“Thank you, Eddie,” Tommy says and leans in. Eddie holds his breath, involuntarily. A hand on his elbow turns Eddie ever so slightly and then Tommy presses a light kiss to Eddie’s cheek. Eddie feels like he’s melting, a warm feeling spreading from his very core. He is also very definitely blushing and looking at Tommy with wide eyes as he leans back.

Tommy looks surprised for a second, and incredibly vulnerable the next, but then he is–he is smirking at Eddie? Eddie feels himself blushing even more.

“Wanna go play basketball with me?” he asks and then wants to kick himself. Tommy’s flown him around in a helicopter, has invited him to his house and cooked dinner for him. And Eddie’s asking him to go play pickup basketball with him?

But Tommy just smiles—genuinely smiles—and says, “it’s a date, Eddie.”

“Yeah,” Eddie says and smiles back. “It’s a date.”

[holylulusworld]

Deranged Marriage (9) – Two tidal waves

Summary: Your father wants you to choose a husband. Your chosen one doesn’t like the idea one bit.

Pairing: Mobster!Bucky Barnes x (Mafia daughter)! Reader

Characters: Steve Rogers, Alexander Pierce

Warnings: mentions of character’s death, language, strong/bratty reader, banter, sexual tension, enemies with sexual tension, making out, still idiots in love, hand around throat (non-sexual), threats, implied torture with knives

Deranged Marriage masterlist

<< Part 8

“Fucking hell, get it over with, James Buchanan Barnes. You’ve got a dick and she got…uh whatever that bitch is hiding under her cheap fake designer clothes,” you argue with Bucky again.

You cross your arms over your chest, huffing as Bucky refuses sex with Natasha. This is to make it more believable that he’s on her side.

“I don’t want to,” he bites back. Bucky points out that the same applies to you as well. “I’m not some breathing dildo you can use for your liking.”

“Yeah, but not so long ago you loved to fuck her on our dining table so,” you cock your head, “what’s the problem? Can the old man not get it up anymore? Do you need Viagra? I can ask Helen to get you some.”

“You fucking brat,” he growls in your direction. “One day I’ll put you over my lap and spank the life out of your bratty ass. You are frustrating and annoying.”

“Asshole.”

“I should just,” he throws his hands up, “leave you to yourself. I have no idea why I’m helping you. A bullet to my brain would be less painful."

“I can’t believe you are ruining our chance to bring the people attacking my father down over a quickie. Just put it inside a little and disappoint her like every other girl you fucked.”

“That’s what you want? How about you watch me fuck her too, huh? I bet you are a kinky bitch." He smirks at you. “Go ahead and tell me about all the dirty fantasies you have about me and my sex life.”

“You mean your non-existent sex life,” you retort, mirroring his smirk. “I heard through the grapevine that you didn’t get any lately.”

“Because of you,” he’s in your face, breathing hard. “Every woman in town believes we will marry and they are afraid of you and your father.”

“Aw, I’m cock blocking you?” you coo. “What a pity you refuse to fuck Natasha. Your dick would feel so much better after going for a ride with her.”

“I told you,” you gasp as his hand wraps around your neck. He grips your neck tightly, forcing you to look up at him. “I don’t want to fuck her.”

“Why? She’s your type.”

“Dead is not my type.”

You frown deeply. Just a few days ago Bucky and you talked about getting closer to the person who ordered the hit on you and your father through Natasha. “What do you mean by...dead?"

“Oh…did I forget to tell you she’s dead?” He smirks darkly as he watches your lips part.

“What? But we made all these plans and now…” You knit your brows together. "Wait, you killed her, didn’t you?”

“It was an accident,” Bucky leans closer to whisper in your ear. “Maybe I let slip that she’s a mole and that Natasha tried to warn your father. Pierce is no one to mess with, you know.”

“You—” you groan. “Why did you do this? That's stupid, Barnes. We had a plan.”

“Your plan included fucking Natasha.”

“Hell, I would’ve fucked her myself to get one step closer,” you huff. “You’re a coward, Barnes. Why couldn’t you fuck her…?”

“What’s done is done. I’m more of the hit them where it hurts guy. Not the one sneaking around to get information. While you made all these nice plans, Steve and I did your job.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“We caught Pierce and two of his minions. Steve has a blast interrogating them. He just loves to toy with them,” Bucky purrs in your ear. His hand tightens around your throat, making you whimper. “If only you could see yourself now. So afraid I will choke you just a little harder.”

“We already confirmed that you are not man enough, sweetie,” you grit your teeth as he loosens his hold. It only takes Bucky's hand around your neck to show you what he can do. “Do it or stop toying with me.”

“You wish I would toy with you, doll,” he chuckles. “What a pity I won’t…”

“Alexander Pierce, in all his glory,” Steve laughs as Pierce fights the ropes holding him to a chair. “You see, Y/F/N and Y/N are my allies. They are Bucky’s allies. If you attack them, you attack us.”

“The thing is, we will let you live your pitiful life. We all tried to kill each other at least once." Bucky looks at the knives he placed on a table in front of Pierce. “What I want from you is to tell me who was involved in the hit. Who is the rat among Y/F/N's people?”

“I won’t tell you shit,” Pierce spits while talking. Even though Steve has already roughed him up over the past few hours, he refuses to give up.

“We will see." Bucky chooses one knife and wields it in front of Pierce’s face. “Did you ever hear about my talent with knives? I just love the feeling of metal cutting into skin and flesh.”

“Why won’t you let me interrogate him, Barnes?” You pace the room, huffing as Bucky refuses to answer. “Did he give you a name?”

“Romanoff was all he said,” Bucky huffs. “He’s a tough little bastard. I give him that. But no one withstood my knives forever. I will find the mole for you…I mean your father. I will find him for your father.”

“We already knew about Romanoff,” you grunt. “Why did you get her killed? This was stupid."

“Your face is stupid.”

You giggle at Bucky’s words. “Your face is stupid, and your beard…the hair…the muscles. Why are you always wearing a suit but no tie? That’s stupid too.”

When he grips your right arm roughly, he says, "I use all my ties to restrain brats. I leave them there for me to use.”

“You’re so…” you squeak when he roughly cups your face and crushes his lips to yours. Bucky devours your mouth. The kiss is all tongue and teeth. He won’t let up until you weakly push against his shoulders. “I can’t breathe, you…”

He silences your protests with his mouth again. Bucky keeps you from running your mouth by slipping his tongue into your mouth.

His hands move to your waistline to easily lift you and slam you into the wall behind you.

“What the fuck?" You can barely catch your breath. Bucky is all over you. He forces your legs around his waistline before his mouth is back on you. His hands grip your ass roughly as you grind against his swelling length.

“Shut up for a moment," he whispers against your lips. “Just stop talking. I only want to hear you moan my name from now on.”

In response, you fist his hair, making him growl. “If you want me to shut up, do me good, Barnes…”

>>Part 10

Tags in reblog.

[vickyvicarious]

"But," said he, "I could be at liberty to direct myself. Is it not so?"

"Of course," I replied; and "such is often done by men of business, who do not like the whole of their affairs to be known by any one person."

[...]

"Do you wish me to stay so long?" I asked, for my heart grew cold at the thought.

"I desire it much; nay, I will take no refusal. When your master, employer, what you will, engaged that someone should come on his behalf, it was understood that my needs only were to be consulted. I have not stinted. Is it not so?"

What could I do but bow acceptance? It was Mr. Hawkins's interest, not mine, and I had to think of him, not myself; and besides, while Count Dracula was speaking, there was that in his eyes and in his bearing which made me remember that I was a prisoner, and that if I wished it I could have no choice. The Count saw his victory in my bow, and his mastery in the trouble of my face, for he began at once to use them, but in his own smooth, resistless way:—

"I pray you, my good young friend, that you will not discourse of things other than business in your letters. It will doubtless please your friends to know that you are well, and that you look forward to getting home to them. Is it not so?" As he spoke he handed me three sheets of note-paper and three envelopes. They were all of the thinnest foreign post, and looking at them, then at him, and noticing his quiet smile, with the sharp, canine teeth lying over the red underlip, I understood as well as if he had spoken that I should be careful what I wrote, for he would be able to read it.

Dracula, 12 May

"Now I know well that you medical men speak in camera, and that a man must not expect to know what they consult about in private. But this is no common matter, and, whatever it is, I have done my part. Is not that so?"

"That's so," I said, and he went on:—

"I take it that both you and Van Helsing had done already what I did to-day. Is not that so?"

"That's so."

"And I guess Art was in it too. When I saw him four days ago down at his own place he looked queer. I have not seen anything pulled down so quick since I was on the Pampas and had a mare that I was fond of go to grass all in a night. One of those big bats that they call vampires had got at her in the night, and what with his gorge and the vein left open, there wasn't enough blood in her to let her stand up, and I had to put a bullet through her as she lay. Jack, if you may tell me without betraying confidence, Arthur was the first, is not that so?" As he spoke the poor fellow looked terribly anxious. He was in a torture of suspense regarding the woman he loved, and his utter ignorance of the terrible mystery which seemed to surround her intensified his pain. His very heart was bleeding, and it took all the manhood of him—and there was a royal lot of it, too—to keep him from breaking down. I paused before answering, for I felt that I must not betray anything which the Professor wished kept secret; but already he knew so much, and guessed so much, that there could be no reason for not answering, so I answered in the same phrase: "That's so."

Quincey, 18 September

I don't remember who it was that first pointed out the way Dracula uses language in this passage to entrap Jonathan, but I thank them from bringing it to my attention because it let me notice Quincey doing something very similar today. They both use this confirming question "Is it/that not so?" three times in one conversation to get their way. But they do it for vastly different purposes, with Dracula using his words to entrap and restrain Jonathan more and more, until he eventually is forced to conceal the truth. Meanwhile, Quincey uses his words to draw Jack out and convince him to be more open, until eventually he is convinced to share his burden.

The first time, they precede it with a statement of what is generally accepted to be true, and link it to their own actions, in doing so refuting an objection that would normally be raised. People can hire multiple lawyers if they wish and it's legal for Dracula to have done so. The question of whether this is true derails any objection about it being unnecessary, because Dracula's not asking that. He's asking if this is the situation. Of course. Doctors usually speak in confidence about their patients, but this is an unusual situation where Quincey happened to overhear their conversation, as well as already donated his own blood. The question of whether this is true derails any objection that he shouldn't be privy to this information, because he's not asking that. He's asking if this is the situation. That's so.

The second time, they both are pushing further, and once again citing earlier experiences in order to avoid refusal. Dracula expresses his desire for Jonathan to stay, and references their contract, stating that he was told Jonathan would serve him however he wanted. Here Jonathan could say that what Dracula's asking has nothing to do their work which is already completed, but both the phrasing (which threatens that Jonathan refusing will reflect badly on Mr. Hawkins) and the next line move the conversation along before any such refusal can be given. Dracula has upheld his end of the agreement. What can Jonathan do but accept? Quincey extrapolates from his own experiences and references the conversation he overhead to seek more information. This no longer directly involves him and could be seen as confidential, but the way he phrases his inference (based on evidence meaning he pretty much already knows) and then seeks confirmation moves things along to make it harder to deny him. That's so.

The final time is the biggest ask. Dracula puts on his smoothest voice as he tells Jonathan he wants him to write his letters but only speak of business. In fact, he tells Jonathan exactly what to write about. He phrases it as though this is what the recipients would most like to hear, that he's doing well and looks forward to being home. And once again, that's true but writing it would be a lie. Because Jonathan isn't doing well and doesn't know when he'll be coming home. And yet Jonathan can tell from the way Dracula phrases it that he must tell this lie anyway, because his letters will be read and he will suffer if he writes differently. So we've moved on finally from Dracula doing what he wants on legal matters, to keeping Jonathan under his control as long as he wants, to making Jonathan act against his own wishes by hiding the truth of his situation.

Quincey's final one is his biggest ask as well. With this one, he moves past his own direct experience into speculation about an event he wasn't present for; but he makes it a point to bring up his own experiences once again which lead him to think what he does, both that Arthur gave blood since he seemed weak, and that Lucy is suffering from something causing her extreme blood loss like the vampire bat that killed his horse. Just like Dracula, Quincey expresses emotion on his face/with his voice here, but it's genuine and not a deliberate act in the same way. He also, like Dracula, brings up other loved ones and makes Jack consider the feelings of others, whereas previous statements/responses were more fact-based. Except the loved one whose feelings Jack is considering is Quincey himself. We see that Jack decides to speak because there's no point in him hiding information anymore, since Quincey has already established how much he's figured out. So we've moved on from Quincey only speaking of his own experiences, to those he's witnessed being discussed, to things he's speculated about, and he has managed to learn the entire truth by convincing Jack to speak to him.

It's just kind of a cool contrast that I never noticed before.

[melanie-ohara]

See How Deep the Bullet Lies - Chapter 2

Whumpuary2024, Day 26 - Prompt: "I'm Fine"

Shepard says she's fine. Liara believes she could be, eventually

AO3 Here

Shepard sat on the couch and watched the clouds of stars drift by out of the observation window. Thessia was far behind now, not even visible as a black dot against the sun without a scope. Joker had dropped them out of FTL for a silent-running approach to the system's relay so they could slink away with their tail between their legs. Shepard wondered why the Reapers didn't have better active scanners - even with their heat sinks active, there must be a way for a race as advanced as the machines to locate them against the background of space. Maybe they just didn't think the Normandy was worth it. 

Behind her the door opened, and Shepard couldn't help but tense. 

"I thought I locked that," she said. 

"You did." It was Liara. "EDI told me where you were."

"I was hoping to be left alone," Shepard said, trying not to sound annoyed and failing. 

"You have a cabin for that," she replied. 

Shepard could have locked herself in her room, it was true. Liara knew the door code, but it would have been easy enough to change it for a few hours. But she needed to be down there, on the crew deck, where she could still hear people going about their duties around her. A reminder that life went on.

"Okay," Shepard said, blowing out a breath and getting to her feet so she could face Liara. "What's up?"

Her eyes were still red from crying and she hadn't fixed her running eyeliner yet, but she shook her head. "Not me, Shepard," Liara said. "I'm worried about you."

"Liara, you just lost your planet ."

She shrugged. "You first."

Shepard looked away. If Liara felt guilty for collapsing into her bed and sobbing for her lost world when Earth was occupied too, she'd never forgive herself. It didn't matter that it felt like every Reaper on her planet was standing on her chest, she still couldn't resent Liara for her own grief. 

"EDI said your metabolics - "

"More stress than the Skyllian Blitz," Shepard interrupted, "I know. Joker…" she stopped. She regretted their argument almost as much as she regretted not putting a bullet in that smug assassin's head, but he'd shut her out of the cockpit for now. It was technically against every rule in the book, but she let it slide because she deserved it. "He mentioned it. And if EDI has concerns about my health," she said, raising her voice and glaring around the room for the invisible sensors the AI used, "she can talk to me herself."

Now that she had a body, it was a little strange to hear her voice through the speakers. "I believed it would be more productive if an organic member of the crew attempted the conversation," she said. Shepard was getting better at reading the subtle emotions in her clipped tone, but she refused to recognise the care in it now. "Especially one with whom you share an emotionally significant bond."

Liara blushed, and Shepard jabbed a finger at what she hoped was a camera. "EDI, I'm fine." She moved her finger. "Liara, I am fine . Please will you both just leave me alone for an hour?"

Liara shook her head sadly. "Shepard, you're not fine," she said. "You haven't been for a long time."

Shepard rolled her eyes and took a few steps towards her. "Yes, I really am," she said, and reached out to grip Liara gently by the shoulders. "It's just a little stress, that's all."

"The last time you were even nearly this stressed you got shot in the head," Liara pointed out, reaching a hand up to cup her face. Shepard felt her tracing the path of the scar carved into her skin. "And we haven't even talked about this scar," she whispered.

Shepard broke away as fast as she could without scaring Liara and stomped over the window. She could see Liara in the reflection, her skin freckled with stars. "What about it?" she said, coldly. 

Liara quickly wiped her eyes with the pad of her thumb, thinking Shepard couldn't see. "When you came to Illium, it was gone. And then you came to see me on your way back to Earth, and it was back. I checked it against old images, Shepard, I know it's not the same scar."

Shepard shrugged. "I had it put back." 

Liara came up behind her, but didn't reach out yet. "If it was done surgically, it would match exactly."

"Thane - " Shepard started, and then stopped when a lump rose into her throat. She coughed to clear it and shuffled her weight, and then froze when the back of Liara's hand brushed against her own.

"You had him recreate the scar, I know," Liara said softly. "A person who's fine wouldn't have someone cut their face open, Shepard. Even if by someone they love."

Shepard opened her mouth - not exactly to protest, but to justify herself: the two years they spent apart had changed Liara until she was almost unrecognisable, Shepard had been scared and hurting and desperate for a kind of affection Liara had closed herself off from, and - 

"Don't," Liara told her, her fingers clinging to the edge of Shepard's palm. "Don't diminish what he meant to you. You loved Thane, and if things had been different, I might have loved him with you," she said. "You know that." 

Shepard sighed. "I know." It would be easier if she hadn't. His death wouldn't hurt so much, and her recreated scars would mean a little bit less. "I'm fine. At least, enough to fight this war."

"Is that all that matters?" Liara asked. She was looking at her through the reflection in the observation window, her eyes wide and wet and so blue Shepard thought they looked like twin supernovas in the distance. 

She looked into those supernova eyes until she had to blink. "What else is there?"

Liara curled her arm around Shepard's and pressed against her side. Shepard stood fast against the weight of her, feeling that unless she remained a bulwark she might just fall apart. 

"There's us," Liara offered after a moment. 

Shepard tilted her head. "There's no us if we don't fight."

"I'm not saying we roll over for the Reapers," Liara said. "Just that there's more to life than this war."

"I know," Shepard said. "There is. But - "

"Hush," Liara breathed. "Just be with me, for a moment."

Shepard waited for the tingle at the edges of her consciousness, but Liara didn't try to initiate a meld. It was for the best, she thought, what was in her mind at the moment wasn't something she wanted the woman she loved to see. She wondered if something similar was happening in Liara's head too. The things Shepard had thought about as the Normandy rabbitted to Earth weren't worth ever contemplating again, and she couldn't imagine Liara's thoughts were as peaceful as she was trying to be. 

They were trapped in an unending nightmare, and Shepard had been fighting non-stop for six years. But the view out of the window was endless calm, and Liara was beautiful and loved her. The moment they were sharing was an island, and Shepard wanted to take refuge from the stormy sea there. She wasn't fine, but she could be okay for now. 

With a sigh, she laid her head against Liara's crest and relaxed into her body. 

[fangirlingfromdownunder]

Brotherly Comfort

Summary - Part 16 in the Comfort series

Pairing - Dean Winchester x Reader, Reader x Sam (platonic), Reader x Bobby (father-figure)

Warnings - mentions of pregnancy and miscarriage, 

Series Masterlist | Masterlist

A/N - G’day guys, I just wanna start by thanking you for all the likes, reblogs and follows since my last post, I really appreciate it. I know this can be a tough topic for some people, I apologise if this brings up any memories for anyone – remember that you’re not alone and help is available.

After a few days recuperating at Bobby’s, you’re finally back in the Bunker. But since you got home Dean’s been twice as protective as when you were pregnant, if that was even possible. During the first few days he refuses to give you more than a brisk kiss or cuddle in bed despite getting the all-clear from the doctor – provided you use protection for three to four months – not that you have ever really been in the mood anyway. And despite your initial open line of communication, you both eventually shut down. Every time one of you tries to broach the subject the other shuts down. After a while, you start to barely see each other. Dean delivers you three meals a day and runs baths to ensure you’re maintaining the bare necessities for survival, but you can barely call what you’re doing living. And you can barely call your relationship an engagement, he’s become much more like your carer. He takes you to bed but gets up soon after, leaving you to sleep and wake up in a cold empty bed. He hasn’t even been on a hunt since you got home. He’s so focused on researching ways to banish all the evil and also ways to protect against future pregnancy issues. 

You wake up to the cold, empty bed that you’ll never get used to. You subconsciously touch your stomach and curl up into a ball hugging Dean’s pillow to your chest. You feel like you have no tears left to cry, at this point, you’re starting to just feel numb. The door swings open, startling you.

“Come on, get up, I have a lead and you’re coming!”

You turn around and stare blankly at the taller Winchester, “I’m not…You’d be safer with someone else. Take Dean.”

“Dean’s on a hunt with Bobby so you’re coming with me. Get up.”

“Sam-”

Sam takes a seat on the bed beside you. “I know what you went through was traumatic and sad and I wish it never happened, I really do. But I can’t watch the pair of you wither away in depression. You need to find a way to start living again. You and Dean can and will get through this and you’ll try again – the pair of you used to go at it like rabbits in here and when you get through this, well I’ll have to find my earplugs again I’m sure. Once that happens it won’t be long before we’re hearing the cries of new life. One day you’re gonna be an amazing mother, but for now, you just need to get out of bed and find yourself again. So come with me, I’ve got a lead on some strange deaths in Illinois. You come with me and let out some stress by putting a few bullets in whatever’s doing it and we call it a day.”

“I don’t know, Sam. What if it goes wrong? What if I can’t defend myself or protect you? It’s been a long time since I’ve been in the field.”

“Just one step at a time. Just come with me, and if you still feel like you can’t do it when we get there, stay back at the motel. At least get out of the bunker for a few days. Look, Y/N, you’re like a sister to me…you and Dean get married you will officially be my sister-in-law. I just hate seeing you like this.”

“And what’s Dean think of this?”

“Bobby’s got him distracted. He’ll understand later. You both need this. You need to find yourselves again and then you’ll find your way back to each other.”

“Fine, I’ll come with you but I’m only coming for the ride. I haven’t hunted in months I’m not reliable.”

“You’re a badass hunter, you don’t lose those instincts in a few months. But we’ll just see how you feel when we get there. I promise won’t force you to hunt if you’re not ready. But you need to get out of bed and out of the bunker.”

“Alright. Give me half an hour to shower, change and pack.”

“I’ll be in the library when you’re ready.”

You do as promised and join Sam in the library half an hour later with your bag, filled with your original knife and gun as well as toiletries and a few outfits. 

“We doing this?” you ask as you walk into the room. 

“Yep.” Sam stands up and leads the way to the garage. “You like the red car, right?”

“Yeah, I do, but don’t tell Dean or Baby.”

“You take the first shift driving, I wanna keep researching.”

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

The sun is just beginning to set when you and Sam pull a park at a cheap-looking motel in Peoria, Illinois. Sam goes to the reception to get a room while you wait in the car. The eight-plus hour drive ended up being quite enjoyable. You listened to music that Dean would never allow through Baby’s speakers and sang along. When Sam took a turn driving you even listened to one of his favourite serial killer podcasts and you found yourself very intrigued. You and Sam had never been on a hunt together without Dean, but now you were wishing you had. You know if you ever told Dean about this trip and how much fun you’d had just driving he’d get super jealous and upset, even though you’ve only ever seen Sam as a friend or brother. That’s not to say your road trips with Dean aren’t fun, they’re just different. You always sing along with Dean’s classic rock music too, but he doesn’t like trying new things or talking much. Serious conversations are a rarity in your relationship, although he has been trying harder recently. Prior to Bobby’s recent meddling, the only times you’ve really been able to have a serious conversation with him is after a fight, injury, sex or if he’s drunk enough to let down his guard. In fact, that was how the two of you started dating: he was drunk and horny after a tough hunt. You’d been hunting with them for a few months at this point and despite getting along better with Sam, your heart and body wanted Dean. So you took the plunge; you got between him and the blonde he’d been hitting on at the bar and went in for the kiss. Then you turned around and told the blonde that he was taken. Shocked by your actions Dean just stared at you until you dragged him out to the backseat of the Impala. 

“Y/N? Did you hear me? Room 10,” you hear Sam say, waking you from your reverie. 

“Yeah, sorry,” you say shaking your head and taking the car out of park. Sam leads the way to the room as you pull up in front. He helps you grab your bags and goes inside. 

“How about you get comfy? Shower, whatever you need to do and I’ll pick us up some dinner,” Sam says as he dumps his bag on the bed nearest to the door. 

“Ok,” you say, tossing him the car keys. You watch him walk out then go for a shower and change into comfier clothes. When he returns you’re sitting on your bed with your laptop on your lap going over the news articles and lore that Sam had sent you for the case. He hands you a paper bag and a soda, you look over at him and see that he has a beer.

“You know I’m not pregnant anymore, Sam…”

“Right, of course. Sorry.”

“Don’t apologise, rectify this situation. I thought this trip was all about me finding normality again?”

He nods and hands you his beer and gets himself another from the six-pack he bought. You open it and take a big sip and make a face as you swallow. “I never did really like beer. Wine and cocktails are much better, but don’t tell Dean that either.”

“Then why’d you want the beer?”

“Normality, Sam. This is how we always start a hunt. And if you want the truth, it reminds me of Dean.”

“Of course. Hey, Y/N, can I ask you a question?”

“Always.”

“Why Dean? I just mean, you and I have always gotten on better…if I’m honest, that night at the bar I thought you were gonna kiss me and then you went over and kissed him instead…”

“Did you want me to kiss you?”

“Maybe…But that’s not the point.”

“Sam, you can’t say this to me now. I thought you were all for me and Dean fixing things. We’re engaged. We almost had a kid together. I love him.”

“I know, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything. I don’t even know why I brought it up. Things just felt different in the car today, I guess. It reminded me of old times, you know…before you and Dean…”

“You said it yourself earlier, you’re going to be my brother-in-law soon. We’re close, but not like Dean and I are. I have always had fun with you, and while we do get along better most of the time, we never fight, and I still generally go to you first when anything’s wrong, and Dean knows all of that. But that’s just because it’s easier with you. Maybe, it should have been you, maybe…But I can’t really explain it. I was just never attracted to you like that, not that you’re not good-looking, you are. I just-”

“Dean just gets all the girls…I get it. Even engaged he can get any girl’s number with just a look.”

“He’s been getting other girl’s numbers?”

“He always throws them out. I think he just likes to know that he can. He’d never act on it. He knows how good he’s got it with you.”

“Maybe not. I might not be able to give him a family…”

“And you think those other girls can or would? They just want a good lay.”

“I love you, Sam, but you’re like a brother to me. I’m sorry if you wanted things to be different between us but I’m with Dean now. And despite our fights and issues, I hope I always will be. The heart wants what it wants. I’m sorry if that hurts you, but I hope we can work past this. We’re family.”

“I just…he doesn’t treat you right. You deserve to be treated like a queen or like the badass hunter you are, but instead, he treats you like a child and locks you in the bunker. I can see the effect it has on your confidence. All you have is sex, all you’ve ever had is sex.”

“Sam, that’s not true. Is he overprotective sometimes? Sure. But he means well.”

“But you stopped having sex and now what? You’re barely talking.”

“That’s not why and you know it!”

Sam gets up and storms into the bathroom slamming the door behind him. You down the rest of the beer, grimacing at the burn in your throat. You try to focus back on the cases in front of you to block out Sam’s troublesome confession and accusation. The words all jumble together, so you grab your keys and go sit in the car instead. You can’t bring yourself to drive so you pull your phone out. Before you can stop yourself, you’re dialling Dean’s number. 

“Hey, sorry I left without saying anything, I had to come help Bobby with something.”

“I know, it’s fine. I just need to ask you something.”

“Shoot.”

“Is there more to our relationship than sex?”

“What makes you ask that?”

“Just tell me the truth, Dean.”

“Of course. You make me feel safe, happy, and hopeful. All feelings I haven’t felt since I was four. You make me want to be a better man. You give me a reason to live and fight harder to get to the other side of this dangerous, messy life we lead. You make me believe there is a way out. I don’t tell you every day, even though I should, but I love you. I just…since you lost the baby…I guess I’ve felt lost. Like maybe there isn’t a way out or a future for us.”

“Dean…don’t say that.”

“You wanted the truth…I knew I never should have got my hopes up. You let me believe and then you let me down, again.”

“Don’t you dare blame me! I wasn’t sure either, and you’re the one that convinced me! You’re the one that told me it would be okay. I know you’re hurting, Dean, but so am I.”

“Hunters just aren’t meant to have relationships or families or futures.”

“Dean, baby, please. That’s not true.”

“Look around, sweetheart, it is.”

You feel like you’re suffocating in the confines of the car, you yank at the handle and stumble out as quickly as you can. You take a few deep breaths of fresh air and then crumble to the cold road in tears. You hang up without saying a word.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

Tag list: (Leave a like or comment on this post or let me know below if you want to be added to the tag list for this series)

@bitchwitch1981, @muhahaha303, @justrealizedimmascifygurl, @mcdowell-123, @leigh70, @marvelsmarauder, @losa12308, @tapedeck-hearts, @luvjaida, @peachtxa, @ambearsstuff, @shadow-of-a-cloud, @slut-for-buck, @iprobablyshipit91, @sassy-pelican

[furymint]

2024 Creator Reflection

FFXIV.

1. Playing with each others' fingers

it was nice to write wwi again... id planned for a complete conversion of nol and eli's story into this verse, but other hyperfixations got in the way and i forgot all my research for it (thankfully I have lots of notes). i liked how both of them are ridiculous here, and how nolanel is able to show both reason and disorder under an incompetent system.

2. Frightened

i think this was the strongest nol/eli writing this year. i had a lot of fun working out the correct verbs and balance during the fight. challenging nol w magic and garleans was also satisfying. i didnt get to participate much in nutley's extraordinary Tower rp plot, so im glad i could write this little bit of nol during endwalker. his silly convo w eli abt crushes is also set during that time.

3. Possessive Hand-Holding

This one is cute. I like culture shocking nol and eli with each other's communities, but i usually do that w nobility or penury, not making nolanel walk into a cruising district HGTHGTHHU 

FFXVI.

1. For Now I Am Winter

i have two more to write, but this is 200 words each (plus a couple bonus longer ones) of teredios in winter. i got to write some wwi au which kind of made me rly happy. i started to get used to the tiny frame as i continued throughout the month, and it rly enabled me to explore some ideas whether or not they fit in such a limit or not. i ended up liking each response in its own way, but i think 4. tinsel, 10 icicle, and 16. candles are my favs. i also need to give a big thank you to my friends for absolutely exploding my emails w comments. you make me so happy 😭😭😭

2. the waves now loose

tall ship brain rot finally indulged in.. it was fun to be back on the water after so long. getting to write invulnerable, young, spiteful dion after coming from my tired post-game dion was also great fun. it took me about 4 months to finish it and it began w this bullet point i cooked up while brainstorming lavendre's 2023 secret santa/No murmur against Fate.

even if this is canon-compliant tedi (the sanbreque navy is REAL OK🤡), i liked getting to establish some more of terence's refusal to accept the wider financial responsibility of knighthood bc that will be big in The Light I Hear ch3. talking abt the violence and tragedy of the ship is what i did best tho i think.

'terence writings words on dion's back w his finger' is a very old concept i had in my pocket for nol/eli which never had the right time. this fic has the longest and most explicit smut ive ever written (which isnt a lot lbr) and i think it finally kicked that bug out of my brain that liked writing it. which is also to say, idk how to reflect on it bc i feel neutral towards it rn. i have a lot of brainworms i need to wake up in 2025 to feel passionate again.

im not gonna put too much detail into this before i make myself upset. i didn't really meet any of my goals from last year. i did a lot of tellier research and made some astounding developments on that end, but not much else. i want to write more no matter what. i can feel the rust on myself every time i try to write, and when i look at my older writing and its beauty i get paralyzed by how i can no longer produce something like it right now.

i had a lot of good times last year too, though, and miku expo was probably the best day of my life. i also got to see kikuo, masashi hamauzu, nothing but thieves, and ffviir2 orchestra. we went to new york and i met karo and anew! i went to tellier's apmnt and found new poems! i made wyvern tails and gave a few out. i played a lot of disney dreamlight and made some decor im rly happy with. i plotted jillian's xmas gift for a while and she really liked it. i enjoyed the new dragon age game a lot. i bought some books im super thrilled to have. i got the sculpture arts aerith statue.

i need to build my stupid pc no matter what. i need to take care of myself. i need to let myself write instead of fearing my inability. im going to finish my degree next year. im scared about 2025, but it'll also be the year me and jillian get to see hachi. i really hope we can see hitorie at miku symphony.

thank you everyone for being my friend

past reflections:  2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023

[fightingwithtruelove]

What are your top 5 Chenford moments? 👀

ARE YOU INSANE? Like only 5? Of all of them???????

Fuck.

Okay, but since you did not specify, these are not in any particular order 😜 Also this got LONG. I apologize. I went off.

The 4x01 hug because it definitely introduced us to the new era of Chenford. Up until then, they were mostly portrayed only as TO and rookie, and that scene challenged that status quo. Because Lucy needed a friend in that moment and Tim stepped up. And they almost crossed the line into something more, but they didn't. Because neither of them was ready, and it was the wrong time, and if they did at that point, it would have cheapened their relationship in the long-term. But the whole teetering on the edge of more was such a delicious scene. Not to mention that Lucy is probably one of the few people that can just ask Tim for a hug and he gives in without a word. I loved how open with him she was in that moment. She wasn't trying to hide her grief, she wasn't trying to be strong. She was sad and she wanted a hug, and deep down she knew he wouldn't refuse her.

This kinda brings me to the next scene which is sort of an inconspicuous one, but I will scream about it in the tags every single time. The way Tim acts in 2x12 is already just stuff made in heaven, but there's this one scene that always made me so feral... When he's telling her he heard they dodged some bullets, and she asks if he's keeping tabs on her, Tim doesn't really respond to that. Instead he reaches out by saying "Look, if you need anything, let me know." And this is prefaced by the fact that Lucy looks totally okay in that scene, she's actually kinda gloating/has a smug grin on. But already, so early into their tentative friendship, Tim sees her. And the most important thing in that moment is that Lucy doesn't say she's fine like she's been telling all the people around her, like Nolan, and even Harper. She doesn't put on the carefully created facade. In that moment, in the middle of the station, she decides to be vulnerable with Tim. You got a time machine? She's letting him know that she's not okay, that she's not fine, but that nothing can help right now, because he can't turn back time, and time is all she needs essentially to heal.

And Tim doesn't make a quip remark, or dismiss it. He says Wish I did. We know from the later scene that he felt largely responsible for what happened to Lucy, so this comment makes sense, but I also feel like even in this moment, if he could fix this for her, he would. He would carry her pain if he could. But he can't. He can only check in and later in the episode empower her to feel less like a victim, and more like the resourceful and badass cop she is.

The Nevins scene was my all time fave for a long time and it still remains in the top 5. It fully cements the notion that what happened to Lucy, they went through something together. It bonded them in a way they weren't expecting. Tim could've moved on, but he knew what Lucy needed in that point (which was briefly after DOD) was stability. He wanted to be there for her, he wanted to see her through to the other side. And of course he masked it by some ridiculous thing, and of course she saw right through him. I will also never get over how much this scene looks like a date. I WILL NEVER STOP SCREAMING ABOUT THE BODY LANGUAGE IN THE NEVINS SCENE.

I saw someone say that 4x09 is titled Breakdown because they're having one when watching this scene and like.... BIG SAME. And I know a lot of people say this is one of the few vulnerable moments for Tim, but I actually think this very nicely showcases how vulnerable Tim has allowed himself to be with Lucy since the beginning. They weren't even friends when he shared the Isabel story with her (some of it because of need, but most of it was because he needed someone to listen). Tim shares so much of himself with Lucy throughout their time riding together. That's why this scene makes sense. That's why it doesn't feel forced or surprising. It just feel them. Two things to point out in this scene, imo, are that Tim obviously cares deeply about what Lucy thinks of him and how she sees him. And she's not longer his rookie here, but he's her superior officer still, and yet her opinion matters. He doesn't want her to think he's anything like his dad. And how Lucy immediately recognizes that yes, obviously reassurance is in order (especially after her ooc comments in the previous episode) but that the man just needs a hug. They're always so great at anticipating each other's needs. Sort of like after DOD it was Tim who knew what Lucy needed, and it actually also reminds me of the s1 scene where Lucy comes out of Isabel's apartment and tells him it's pretty clean. Lucy knew what he needed then and does now, and that's why I don't get why she's apparently so oblivious to how much pain the UC situation is causing Tim, but that's another discussion lol.

The 2x11 scene will forever remain one of my favorite scenes in the series. In the WORLD. It was the scene that got me watching, I saw a gifset and then I went looking for the video and then the video sold me on the show. But I will literally never be over it. The music, or lack there of, Tim's desperation that we've seen building up the entire episode (the man literally broke his code to find her, he slammed someone's head against the steering wheel and threatened him with bodily harm). The rest of the crew standing around, feeling so helpless - you can see it on their faces that they've basically given up. But not Tim. Tim didn't give up. He didn't stop searching and he didn't stop pushing air into her lungs until she took a breath. Until she was sobbing in his arms. And even then, he was probably so glad to hear her sob, because that meant she was alive.

Lucy Chen is alive because Tim Bradford absolutely refused to give up. That man looked death in the face in that episode and said Not today. Not on my watch. (And then proceeded to spend the entire night in the hospital with her, his hands all bruised and beat up from digging her up, so Lucy would feel safe when she woke up.) WHY AM I STILL CHOKED UP ABOUT THIS AFTER ALL THIS TIME?????

HONORABLE MENTION: 3x14 scenes, because that episode was made from dreams and rainbows and I still can't get over it.

[mimiexe15]

chapter 5: a new generation

Mira, Magica

Mira pov:

I immediately got dressed and then started heading out of the place with Yuri and kyubey I still wondered where he was this entire time "OK I'm sorry but I just got so many questions right now but first question where were you? Kyubey

I as said those words I was I was pulling my boots on and grabbed my soul gem then Yuri help me climb out the window "well the long story really I basically got kidnapped" Kyubey got kidnapped!? I mean, I guess that explains why he didn't warn us I was still holding Yuri hand. It felt cold, but nice.

"You got kidnapped, but by who and more questions who were those witches why were they different? They had intelligence they knew how to fight actual magical girls" Yuri looked at me and then back at Kyubey

"You mean, those witch I would hardly call them witches Been dealing with them for quite a long time I think they've been around for years now I'm guessing Kyubey didn't tell you about them yet" Yuri looked at me with a cold expression. I was still confused, but I guess it made sense but hold up. 

'Kyubey knew!?"

Kyubey then looked at me once again blinking with his emotionless face "of course I knew I never wanted to share the full information until Your girls were ready." When he said that I can't help but feel a bit of anger .not ready ..but at the same time maybe he was right I could barely defend myself.

I still always wonder when I look at my friends soul gems they get tan slowly, but mine seems a bit more sped up for some reason. but felt nice holding Yuri hand  I then look back up at Yuri as we walked through the streets "why do you want to help me?"

Yuri let out a deep sigh "well I would've refused at first and I was planning on it, but the fact I couldn't help but feel pity with that begging face to say the least"she smirk when she said that did I really look that stupid when trying to ask her...but then again I was begging I mean it works, but maybe she sees me as a dumb idiot who can't do anything??

I continue thinking to myself, still questioning my life. Yuri and I stopped somewhere. It was a large alleyway no one was even there, but it was nighttime so it made sense Yuri then look back at me "before we start Kyubey would like to talk to you for a minute"

Kyubey then hopped off of Yuri shoulder and looked at me

"if I'm correct your grief seed has run out of energy you can no longer use it or else witch the inside of it will be reborn again" Kyubey said those words right in front of my face I was surprised he knew that but then again he created the magical girls. Or maybe I'm wrong. I don't know. Maybe he's just a magical companion."umm ya" I said responded to him

Kyubey Blinked at me and then seem to be what I guess was a smile. It's hard to tell "have no fear I can take care of that for you just give it to me"I looked at Kyubey who told me that I gave him the grief seed I defeated from that weird train a couple days ago and handed it to him 

he played around with it on his tail and then put it in his red spot  on his back as it immediately disappeared.I was immediately surprised when I saw that. "Wait wait wait where did it go?"

"It's been converted into energy. It won't cause harm to the world anymore. Well, unless one of it's familiar it escaped and it's been reborn again." Kyubey Said as he walked "well, I'll leave you guys to work now"

I watched him walk away with me being speechless before I turned back noticing  Yuri had her sniper pointed right towards me I immediately panicked. I thought she was going to train me not shoot me she immediately shot the bullet as I immediately frozen  but it just went right through me. Was it not even a real bullet?!

Yuri look at me calming And then spoke "can you not dodge a bullet?"... I looked around for a second. This is awkward and mostly embarrassing. "No" I said, she then slapped her face. "We're gonna have a lot of work to do and to answered the question about the bullet that was an illusion"

When I heard Yuri say that I was completely embarrassed....how does this girl know what I'm thinking? Why is she so pretty? She must think I'm an idiot. Why do it have to be a student council member? I really really just wanna pull my hair out and wanna wrap myself under the covers

Yuri looked back at me "Let's just get started"

(Insert training montage because I am not writing a scene of them training that was difficult plus I think you guys wouldn't to have fun reading that)

Narrative pov

Mira has gotten better from last time a bit she learned how to platform and Dodge bullets, sharp objects, and defending herself but still had a couple ... errors as she still fell a bunch, still had problems using the weapon correctly at least she's getting somewhere

Mira slowly sign to her self as she sat down for a moment in one of the abandoned stations near the alleyway Yuri came up and sat beside her  Yuri then put Cup of noodles down "do you want one? I have a second"Yuri said, Mira looked back at her and simply smile "sure I guess"

Mira grabbed a cup of noodles and it openedi before Yuri hand her some chopstick, Mira starting eating. Yuri then laid back as she opens her cup and feed a noodle to Kyubey

"so why are you always so negative?"Mira then looked at Yuri, who said that Mira with her mouth still full, but quickly slurped up "what do you mean?"mira said looking at Yuri

"I think it's obvious I've always seen you at school with yourself  known your nasty, anxious wreck, even though you have great friends there your not exactly confident in yourself"said Yuri trying to explain what she meant

Mira, then look down "well I think it's obvious this world can be cruel something bad about to happen no matter what even when things look joyful. maybe I have a nice dad, but I have  never really got to know my mom" she had a frown on her face  "besides, I doubt the most positive person could be positive. when They're about to die"

After hearing that Yuri had a surprise, but cold expression, she wasn't expecting to hear that "what do you mean you never got to know your mom?" Yuri said  "she just kind of disappeared one day"Mira replied.

"Well just telling you you should stop being depressed or looking down at things if you wanna keep being a magical girl" Mira was confused when Yuri said that

 "you're not going to just get through life being depressed plus your emotions are connected to your  soul gem the more you spiral into your despair easier it get corrupted" Yuri said that lookIng calm mira was surprised when hearing that, but it also explained a lot on her mind

"Thank you"Mira said smiling. She then tried to finish up her noodles despite her being cold  it seemed like she wanted to help. She was a confusing girl to say the least. Yuri got up when she finished "now, then let's get back to wo-" before Yuri could continue her sentence mira immediately hugged her she then smiled, "no seriously thank you"

Yuri was surprised, not expecting to get a hug, especially with her being perfect girl for once in her life it wasn't a thank you but for being there "you're welcome I guess" Yuri then pulled her aside  "now come on. We still have a bit of training left"

Mira got up and put on confident face Kyubey only sat and watch the girls train they're just  them he may have found the right girls after all 

mira and started to learn how to control her weapon it was connected to her brain and what she was thinking so she learned just think of a weapon and wand would materialize it. She still had a lot to learn though things for sure if she stop thinking about it stop. She still had some failures  though..

Mira pov:

Focus gun gun, then angle and shoot! I reopened my eyes at the target I actually did it. I successfully aimed it. My wand didn't transform back and I actually shot something! "Hey mira have you actually fight a witch?"looked at Yuri, who watched her Soul gem glow

"Only once I have actually defeated one, but that was a lucky shot" I looked at her embarrassed. I never actually got into a real fight with a witch other than those two though mostly ended up losing. 

"Well I hope you're up for fighting another one because when a soul gem starts glowing it indicates a witches nearby" Yuri said, looking at meI was surprised when hearing that did Kiki and Raya if they did, they would've told me

Kyubey Then looked around for a minute "and by the looks of it, it's a recent one meaning no one will be harmed ... not yet. At least you should probably get going and put those skills to work"Kyubey looked back at me. I nodded my head when he said that.Yuri then grabbed my hand as we started heading towards where the witch could be

We eventually stopped at an old abandoned diner before Yuri raised her sniper and shot. One of the walls revealing a childish looking door it had a little plushy hanging around it there was a small flower symbol under it still wonder why they have the symbols  yuri looked at me "are you actually ready to fight a witch?"

I looked back at her and raised my head, nodding this time for sure I'll do better "ready, as I'll ever be" we open the door as both of us went in and turned into our magical girl forms we both entered the labyrinth. 

I knew each witch labyrinth is different in their own way, but this looks like a giant pillow fort, made out of a bunch of fabrics. Made me a bit dizzy from looking at all the patterns ..uhg. "Keep your guard up" I looked at Yuri, who said that and nod we opened one final door in front of us, a pink chest

Is that seriously the witch were fighting? It's just a toy chest"is that the witch" I asked as Yuri looked at me "most likely. Witch coming all different sizes, but I can see why you're a bit weirded out by this one"

We both looked down at the toy chest in front of us before it opened as a giant worm like thing came out do you know what kind of look like a sock puppet it's split its face open that things scared me something so innocent turned into that..it made me froze....I'm going to die....

(This update description above me may be updated in the future since we didn't have a canon design for the thing above us and also yes it was based off Charlotte)

"Well  S- - -"

I was speechless as I heard that voice in my head again I felt frozen in place like I couldn't even say a word or or move "and it's time to get going" felt those cold hands grab me again knowing it was Yuri. She moved me out of the way...I almost died. Did I just witness death in front of my eyes??

I could feel my own body sweating note to self don't trust a cute toybox...I also might need therapy.. I watch Yuri reload her sniper before heading back in fighting. Whatever that thing is I mean I know it's a witch, but I never think somethin- never mind I just need a helper. I can't stand around and be useless.

Narrative pov:

Mira head after Yuri into battle she was trained well so she should do better than last time from fighting a witch her familiars known as goneis immediately spring into action, Yuri shooting each one that tries to get closer to her 

Mira was trying to keep up as her wand materialized into sword, she was hoping for a mallet or hammer, but this is going to have to do "hey Yuri" Yuri looked towards mira and she said that before shooting a familiar behind her "ya?" Mira looked for a minute before slashing one of the familiars

"I was just wondering, maybe we could be friends or you can possibly come to my friend group if you know you have time"Mira said before dodging the witch who just launched at her "I'll think about it"yuri replied before jumping above the witch and shooting it in the eye before it started screeching

And immediately started ramming into the wall Mira  sword, then turned into a spiky baseball bat hitting it towards Yuri who once again, reloaded her shotgun and shoot it right in the face, the witches worm collapses to the ground "huh good job with the witch"

Mira got embarrassed and started blushing panicking a bit. She wasn't expecting a compliment. "we-l -l tha- nk you b-but you did much better than!"Mira said stuttering she smiled and trying her best not to act like some awkward, anxious wreck

 Before the two girls can finish the witch burst out of the smoke just about to eat the two before a sickle with chains wraps around their body and pulls them in Mira was surprised, knowing exactly who that sickle belong to

Jiko holding the chains to the sickle was there Kiki and Raya appeared above as they stomped on the on the witch as an immediately went flying like a hot air, balloon, the labyrinth shattered into pieces after that usually indicating the witch has been defeated

 Raya then waved rapidly at Mira after defeating the witch "there you are girl we thought you were still asleep" said Raya kiki just sign at least knowing her friend was safe Jiko just try to finish eating the can of chips she had in her hand

"So I'm guessing there are your friends I saved yesterday" Yuri said looking at Mira with cold a expression  Mira  looks back at Yuri "yeah they are my friends" Mira said that with a shy smileand then looked back at her the people she cared about

Kiki then walked up to both yuri and Mira  "glad you girls are safe oh and Mira is this the girl you were talking about right" Mira then looked Embarrassed"well yeah I- " before she continued Yuri interrupted "She basically asked me to train her and I said yes your friend has a lot of potential you know that right"

Kiki only nod "hey Mira, guess what!?" Raya said shouting "I was able to befriend Jiko" Jiko looked back at raya when she said she immediately responded with a angry expression "WHAT we're not friends. We just made a deal!"

Raya turned to Jiko With a cocky expression "you still accepted it though" Jiko eyes flared up when she heard that, she just continued arguing with her as Raya  got under her skin "that's not how logic works you idiot!"

 Kiki and Mira watch the two girls fight  then Mira noticed yuri leaving "hey where are you going? I thought you were staying" Yuri then look back at her "I did my job of training you therefore means my purpose of being here is no longer needed"

Mira then grabbed Yuri's hand "wait you still have a purpose well a new one at least you're my friend now meaning you should try to get along with my other friends"Mira said, looking at Yuri with a smile. 

Kyubey Watch the five girls chat with each other. He did it. He made a new generation one that could be more powerful to defeat the council. A new and better...holy quintet.. 

However, it was shortly interrupted with a loud silent eeeep!

Something fell right in front of them. The first object was a grief seed from the witch from earlier but the second one was a small creature plushy looking thing 

it had light blue dog ears with bells on them it wearing a toy chest on its head, one of its eyes were bleeding, and it was wearing a fluffy collar with pom-poms hanging down from it. It also look like it had little sock puppets on its arms. It looked injured...

To be continued

(I am happy how this chapter turned out we're pretty much halfway through the book surprisingly If you guys are curious, how Raya befriend Jiko there will be a flashback in chapter 6 to explain it either way thank you for the support on this AU and book. See you in the next chapter.)