#tia disgruntled

[expectiations]

i'm sorry but parading around a Pond-centric fic in the Pond tags and then taking away the quote "Doctor/River "romance" unquote is not what a Pond centric fic should be and should ever be. Begone from my sight, thou foul heathen.

[tibialtybalt]

detectives and detonations my beloved.

[woso-dreamzzz]

Cub and Älskling 

Mapi Leon x Ingrid Engen x Child!Reader (Cub)

Fridolina Rolfö x Child!Reader (Cub) x Älskling 

Summary: You meet Frido's Älskling 

The baby is very little.

She's small and cute and is cradled very tightly in Frido's arms.

You stare at her, eyes not moving as she wiggles around. Her eyes are wide as she stares back at you.

You lean closer and her little hand is free of her blankets.

She punches you in the face, right in the nose.

You gasp.

"Mami," You say, turning to look at her," She's so cool!"

Mami laughs in disbelief. "Cool, huh? She just punched you."

"Yeah!" You nod frantically," And I'm bigger than her! She's so cool! Is she your baby Tia Frido?"

Frido shakes her head. "She's my baby sister. I like to call her Älskling."

"Hi, Älskling," You say before gasping again," She smiled at me! Ingrid, did you see? She smiled at me!"

"She must like you, Cub," Ingrid says," You're very likeable."

"I know," You reply," But Mami says babies are difficult sometimes. It's good that she likes me."

You've been waiting for ages to meet Tia Frido's little sister. You weren't at training the day the rest of the team met her.

Ingrid had to send you to nursery that day because it was picture day and Mami really wanted a fancy picture of you.

It made you a little sad to not meet Älskling then but you're happy you can meet her at your house. She keeps looking at you and smiling and you smile back.

She looks really cool and Frido sets her on the floor to explore there. She can't crawl just yet but she can sit up and look around.

She reaches for you and you shuffle closer.

"Careful, cub," Mami says," Remember, Älskling's only little. You must use gentle hands like with Bagheera."

You nod very seriously and get closer again, sitting on your knees. You've got the magic wiggles but you're trying to keep them at bay because you don't want to scare Älskling.

You give her your hand and she wraps a whole hand around one of your fingers. You stare at her, mouth slightly hanging open as she lets go of you.

She grunts, hand curling into a fists as she punches your finger.

You giggle, wiggling a little bit on your knees in excitement.

"She keeps punching me!" You tell no one in particular," She's so cool! Can we keep her, Tia Frido?"

Frido grins triumphantly. "I knew you'd be on my side! But, sadly, she has to go back to Sweden at some point. She lives with my parents. I'd have to kidnap her if she stayed here."

"That's okay," You tell her," You can stay here. Älskling can sleep in my room and you can sleep in bed with Mami and Ingrid!"

Mapi turns pale at that thought.

"I think it would be better if Älskling stayed with her parents, cub."

You flash her a disgruntled look. "Älskling's my new best friend," You say," She can't leave!"

"Don't worry," Frido says," I'll be making sure she comes to visit a lot."

You nod. "Good because she's my new best friend and I want to show her everything."

That sparks an idea in you and you hurry off to your toy crate. You didn't use to have one until Ingrid moved in, took one look at the messy apartment and came back with little crates and storage bins to put things in.

You kind of like your toy crate now because all of them are in the exact same place and you know where to put them when you're done playing - though Ingrid has to remind you a lot to actually put them back in the crate.

You grab a few things you think will interest Älskling like your yellow digger and your magnifying glass. You snatch your løve (lion) from the sofa as well and crowd into Älskling's space again.

She's smiling again and making little giggly sounds as Frido tickles her.

"Here, Älskling," You say, placing your yellow digger next to her. You demonstrate how it moves before showing her the magnifying glass. She seems more interested in that than anything else so you let her hold it.

She's got a very good grip and lifts the toy up to her face before putting it in her mouth. You giggle when she pulls a face at the taste but then sticks it right back into her mouth.

"She's silly," You tell Ingrid," But still fun!"

"You were silly," Ingrid tells you.

"But not now."

She laughs. "But not now."

You keep your distance from Älskling for a little bit, playing by Frido's feet with Bagheera and your digger. You let your magic wiggles all run out before you're up on your feet again and ask the question you've wanted to ask since Frido arrived.

"Can I hold her?"

"Say please, Cub," Ingrid prompts and you correct yourself.

"Can I hold her, please?"

"Of course!" Frido says, tapping the spot next to her," Let's get you comfortable."

[try-set-me-on-fire]

Tagged by @devirnis for Fuck It Friday! I’m going to put this entirely under the cut because it’s more ER nurse Eddie au and is him telling Buck about being shot at work by a family member of a former patient who died, which is a classic medical drama trope but might be understandably upsetting. Anyway….. tagging @rewritetheending @shortsighted-owl @burins @rogerzsteven @ anyone else who wants to share!

"I got shot," Eddie says, and then shrugs a little because he hadn't quite meant to say it.

"You got shot?" One of Buck's hands flutters up for a moment, half reaching towards him. Eddie wonders if he has a girlfriend out there somewhere. Eddie wonders about his own girlfriend, out there, somewhere. “Who- what? Where?”

When, how, and sometimes why. Christopher just had this English lesson. “In the ER.” Buck’s wide eyes get wider. “Disgruntled…” Eddie sighs, runs a hand through his hair. “Former patient. Or- his brother died. Someone made a mistake. His brother died.”

Buck’s fingers tighten on the baby bag he’s carrying, and he flinches at the word brother. “Did you make the mistake?”

Eddie tilts his head. It’s not the question he was expecting. “No. I wasn’t even there the day it happened.”

“That’s…” Buck leans forward a little without seeming to realize. He’s frowning, forehead creased up and tugging his birthmark around. “It’s not fair.”

Eddie huffs out a breath that might be a laugh, which feels a little mean. For who? Eddie? The grieving man? The 22 year old brother who choked to death on his own vomit because a shift change and an influx of patients from a ten car pile up meant no one checked in on the drunk kid in bed 3 until it was too late? It was his birthday. He’d been out celebrating. He’d never get to celebrate another one, and his brother who’s eyes had been cracked open and raw as he’d held the gun is dead now too, and Eddie has an old scar on his left shoulder and a new one on his right and he can’t walk through the ER without his hands shaking. It’s not fucking fair.

"The world's a bad place, Evan,” he says to a man going to visit a new baby who’s just been brought into it. Eddie’s pretty sure the miserable look on Buck’s face is just a reflection of his own.

“It’s Buck,” Buck says.

��Right.”

Eddie should… leave, he should continue his rounds, he shouldn’t be having this conversation. Not with this person, anyway. Ana, his tia and abuela, his therapist - all of them have been trying to get him to talk about it, but it’s too big and sad and awful and if he drags it outside of the hospital walls it will stain his entire life and he’ll never get the spots out. But he’s… the stains are there already, he’s coming to understand. Christopher looked at him this morning, after Eddie had spent the night dragging himself out of nightmare after nightmare, and there it was in his expression. Eddie doesn’t know what to do to fix it. Eddie doesn’t know how to fix any of it.

And then Buck says “I wish I’d been there.”

It knocks the wind out of Eddie for a moment. He pictures it, Buck standing there splattered in blood, crimson smeared all over his face and obscuring his birthmark, making him look like some entirely different person. A shudder runs up his spine. “I’m glad you weren’t.”

“Eddie-“

“Buckaroo!” A short man walks out of one of the rooms, eyes tired and so full of joy. “We’re not allowed visitors, what are you doing here? Is that- where’s Albert?”

Eddie leaves. He walks away, leaves them to it, but when he looks back from the nursing station Buck’s expression is so regretful and sad he has a moment where he wants nothing more than to be there at his side.

But he reminds himself that the man is a stranger, and Eddie has work to do.

[allthingsdarkanddirty]

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A disgruntled demigod. A lost city. A sacred alliance.

When Alex is abducted by our newest foe, I have the entire nation searching for him. But Miletus has a plan and it includes my fae lover.

In our quest to return him, we form an uneasy alliance with the Atlanteans and search for a way to save a forsaken people. We learn we must retrieve a rare artifact, but that too comes at a price.

With the fate of a species hanging in the balance, do I save the Shrouded Nation or the man I love?

Find out what lurks in the shadows of Ravenholde by reading Son of the Soul, the new Paranormal Women's Fiction series readers are comparing to Shannon Mayer, K.F. Breene, and Victoria Dannan.

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About The Authors

A USA Today bestselling author, Brenda loves everything paranormal. She has co-authored over twenty-five books in the best-selling Dark Warrior Alliance series, as well as the Hollow Rock Shifters series. She also has best-selling solo titles readers are raving about. Brenda created worlds that feature dangerously handsome heroes and feisty heroines. With the help of popcorn and candy, she takes dragons, fairies, witches, vampires, and so much more and brings them to life. She lives in Texas with her husband and three kids who fuel not only her heart but her life. If she's not writing, she's reading, traveling, or knee-deep in projects with her husband and five sisters. She encourages readers to Dream Big. If your dreams don't terrify and electrify you then they aren't big enough!  

Tia Didmon is a USA Today bestselling author of provocative paranormal romance. When Tia isn't busy writing about sexy shifters and dreamy demons, she spends her time binge watching The Order and reruns of The Vampire Diaries, cooking with her daughter, and serving her cat. Her love of writing stems from a self-diagnosed book addiction.  Subscribe to Tia's newsletter at tiadidmon.com for a free book and start your journey through Tia's supernatural world today!  Find Them Both Online! https://www.brendatrim.com https://tiadidmon.com

[prvtocol]

💭 + santiago

𝓗𝓮𝓪𝓭𝓬𝓪𝓷𝓸𝓷𝓼 — send 💭 + a topic to receive a headcanon about said topic. ( accepting !! )

Santiago Moncada, former Valentino, Los Piratas’ gang enforcer, and the president’s (Vaas) righthand man. Brianne encountered him at the same time she met Vaas in 2076; he was the big burly ganger seated in the driver seat of her hijacked car with the flashing red, black spider fashionware on the back of his bald head. He didn’t speak to her, Vaas did the talking, but he left an impression of someone cold and unreachable. If Vaas didn’t kill her in the months that followed, she knew he would be the one to do it. She never expected him to become her husband, the father of her children, the love of her life, especially not when pinned in a protection racket by Vaas, but it somehow worked out that way.

After the protection racket set up, she would occasionally see Santigo at the gang parties Vaas threw each month or so at her estate, always distanced from the other ganger’s shenanigans and maybe smoking a cigarette in her back garden. Vaas drunk introduced her as “Brenda,” making them shake hands while Santiago corrected his friend before she got dragged away. His eyes were cold, distant, and uninterested. It would remain the same whenever crossing paths.

One morning, he showed up at her door to retrieve Vaas for an important meeting that day; the president was still undressed, asleep in her bed nursing a major headache. Santiago made her wake him up. Horribly self-aware, the enforcer's presence induced a huge amount of shame and embarrassment. She suspected he saw what was the truth; she’d become Vaas’ dumb corpy plaything to use and discard. She didn’t want to be seen that way by anyone. But it was the first time they exchanged more than a few words since she invited both Piratas to have coffee after. They shared disgruntlement when Vaas depleted the milk straight from the cartoon, she made them pancakes, the two discussed gang business, and she just stayed in the background. While she had gotten used to being around Vaas, being around Santiago remained slightly awkward. But she would say "hello" and "hope you've been well" whenever she saw him. Once she got a voicemail from him claiming he contacted the wrong person; it made her a little curious about him. Eventually, she figured out he was the epitome of the strong silent type. Even noticed at one point he had a set of beautiful though stoic brown eyes.

It wasn’t until she was dismissed by Arasaka, in those tense weeks following when she went into hiding at the clubhouse and the gang set up her protection services, that they held longer conversations. He was not at all like Vaas, which she already suspected, and perhaps not even like most other gangers. Rather he was someone with a level head, calm and collected, direct in his words, and lucky for her, very determined to protect the gang’s assets. He scoped out that she was being headhunted and he came through choosing her crew of Los Piratas security; all decent and reliable men. She discovers he’s the same.

Following this, their interactions increased. He’d stop by to check in on her security crew's needs and Vaas if he was parked there in one of his drugged, depressive episodes. Sometimes he’d use the place’s quiet to do paperwork. She became more relaxed around him and encouraged him to stay and eat along with her crew who she began cooking daily meals for. They’d text as well but they were short, often regarding the same business. She liked him more than she thought she could considering their start. Like the rest of her security crew, he was different. A good man. It really wasn’t until Vaas’ disappearance that their relations took on a closeness unlike before.

It was Santiago who told her about Vaas’ cyberpsychosis. She hadn’t seen or heard from him for many weeks and she gathered the courage to ask Santiago if he was okay (knowing he was getting worse). She always knew the two were close; Vaas spoke of "Tiago" like he was a brother and they relied on each other as such. Despite his closed facade, she could tell even before this that what Vaas was going through pained him. It made Brianne concerned for him too and her texts were less about Vaas. Maybe he wasn’t receptive to that at first, but she didn’t care. 

Then Santiago took on the unofficial role of gang president and ended the protection racket, which was a shock and hard to process. She saw how the stress of this role along with searching for his brother wore him thin. It didn’t stop her invitations to come over and eat, to try to decompress on more quiet idyllic grounds, to stay and rest if the hour was late, knowing he hadn’t slept for days. Her own complicated grief had her neglecting herself too; leaving dishes unwashed in the sink, not trimming her indoor plants or tending her garden, and she noticed he began doing little chores for her when he’d stop by. His company, someone to share that heaviness with, brought a lot of comfort. At one point they knew Vaas was never coming back and they were left with each other.

Their love snuck up on them; like that feeling of a gentle touch to the other’s hand for comfort, the warmth of a hug that lasts a little too long, the realization they didn’t want to lose the other from their life also. A quiet love of lives intertwined. She saw in him a protector, someone she could trust, a gentleness she wasn't used to. They kept it a secret along with burgeoning plans to leave Night City together. The boss’ designation of a new gang president and the threats he brought to them both only brought a sense of urgency to it. Leaving together felt right. 

Santiago fits the mold of her perfect man. Strong and very masculine, protective, and traditional in the role he takes, making her his valued counterpart, attentive to her needs, generous and gentle, with a love of food. She’s come to understand him and his quietness; his introverted need to be alone sometimes to recharge. Also, of his need to tackle a job that makes him work hard, to escape the mundane for a sense of normalcy from what was a hard life on the city streets. Even if she fears the risks he takes, she respects and supports him. She also knows how hard it was for him to adjust to an entirely different lifestyle in France. And as a father, he shows the same attentiveness and care to raising his sons, becoming the best version of something he didn’t have growing up. His dedicated companionship is exactly what she dreamed of finding with someone someday. And with him by her side, all the hardships faced prior made a little more sense.

[tialinffxiv]

FFXIV Write 2023 prompt #25: Call it a Day

Knocking on the office door got no response, so Rhanmai opened them quietly, peeking inside in search of Tia.

And there he was- a fluffy, red lump snoring softly on the desk, among the piles of papers, half-finished cup of tea and Hedgie sleeping as sweetly in his little basket.

He took a moment to admire the snoozing form of his partner- however, he couldn’t let him stay like that. It was concerning that he yet again was working so hard that sleep found him far away from his bed. Rhanmai sighed at the sight of tons of papers around him. Being a hard-working person wasn’t a bad thing. But being the one overworking himself was not at all a good thing.

He gently brushed away the hair from Tia’s forehead and petted his ear. But that was of course not enough to wake him or even disturb his quiet snoring. There was a much more effective way.

“Man, I’m so hungry… skipping dinner was not a great idea after all~”

Rhanmai watched with amusement how Tia’s ears flicked for that. The red lump raised slowly from the desk with a disgruntled sound and stretched, before gazing up at Au Ra.

“Good mor–” Tia sleepily looked around at the dim lights of the room and darkness outside the window. “Erm… good evening?”

“Mhmm, it’s getting really late and I doubt your desk will be a very comfortable replacement for a bed.” Rhanmai smiled softly at him and let Tia rest head on him, petting the messy nest of his hair. “Isn’t it about the time you call it a day?”

“Mmm… just that here… need to finish it first…”

Rhanmai sighed and smiled at the sleepy Viera, who, despite saying that, snuggled face into his side, ready to snooze away again.

“Yes, of course. You need to finish it tomorrow, after a proper rest.” He carefully pulled Tia to himself and lifted in his arms, letting him cuddle sleepily to his chest. “End of a work day for this little bunny. Off to bed with you.”

[angstyandromanticwriting]

Benjamin X Reader Forbidden Love prompt with cute moments and light angst

!TW: Implied suicidal thought (“I probably would have ended up killing-..”), mention of depression, bullying (not detailed), violence, insult (‘freak’), unconsciousness!

“Are you okay?” Benjamin inquired gently, and you nodded your head slightly, glancing up at him.

“Can I stay with you tonight, please?” You requested, and Benjamin frowned.

“T-Tia wouldn’t let you stay with us,” he answered, a pained expression on his face. You bowed your head, knowing he was right. “I’m sorry, Y/n,” he stated, and you nodded gravely, forcing a weak smile up at him.

“It’s okay, B,” you reassured quietly, and he carefully picked you up in his arms, carrying you back to the Cullens’ and Hayes’ home. As he laid you down on your bed in the spare room they’d given to you, you held his arm, not wanting him to leave yet. “Do - Do you love me?” You whispered, and Benjamin nodded, sitting on the edge of the bed beside you.

“I’ve been in love with you since we were kids,” he mused, smiling warmly down at you.

You reflected the smile, but it was fainter than his. “Good,” you responded, “I - I was just checking that you still..” You stopped yourself, hiding your face from him. You shuffled closer to Benjamin, and he leaned down, wrapping his arms around you. “You’re really warm,” you stated, and Benjamin nodded; he’d warmed himself up for you to make you feel more comfortable and relaxed.

Once he was certain that you’d gone to sleep, he carefully withdrew his arms, before he stood up from the bed, wishing he could stay with you. “Goodnight, Y/n,” he whispered as to not wake you up, before he dragged himself out of the room.

༺𐦐༻

You would be surprised when Benjamin turned up to the house the next day; you thought you wouldn’t see him until next week as he was normally away on the week-end. “B? What are you doing here?” You inquired, a smile tugging at the corners of your lips.

Benjamin held up your hoodie that you liked to wear sometimes, and you would be surprised, realising that you must have left it at his house. “This reminded me of you,” he answered, before he offered it to you, and you nodded your thanks as you accepted it from him. “I love seeing you smile,” he stated, and your smile grew for him.

“I - I love seeing you smile,” you returned, and he smiled toothily. You wrapped your arms around him, and he returned the hug. “I honestly don’t know where I’d be right now if it weren’t for you,” you expressed, “I probably would have ended up killing-..” You stopped yourself, and Benjamin frowned, bowing his head slightly; he remembered that you’d struggled with depression for a while before you both started dating. You sighed shakily, forcing a smile up at him again. “You made me a better person, and - I - I thank you for that, B,” you whispered, burying your face into the crook of his neck. Benjamin rubbed your back, and you felt a little bit better.

༺𐦐༻

Whilst Tia was away with her father, Benjamin was able to visit you more often, and you both made sure to spend almost every minute together. The next morning, you were searching for your light blue sweater you liked to wear, though you couldn’t feel if it was cold or hot outside. “B!” You called, wondering if he’d seen it, and you shot him a disgruntled look when you noticed him wearing your sweater as he was watching television on the sofa. Benjamin smirked, looking over at you. “Why are you wearing my sweater?” You asked, and Benjamin tried not to laugh.

“I’m just wearing it because it smells like you,” he answered, and you shook your head, grinning; you couldn’t help it.

“Idiot,” you whispered, giggling, before you sat beside him. You lifted your hand to play with his hair, and would be surprised by how soft it was; you assumed he must have had a shower earlier, or something. “Your hair is really soft,” you mused, and Benjamin smiled warmly over at you.

“Good,” he responded, “I wanted to make it soft for you because you tend to play with my hair a lot.” You winced, embarrassed as you looked away from him. “You always get embarrassed with me,” he pointed out, “you shouldn’t be; I love it when you play with my hair; I thought you already knew that.” You wouldn’t respond, thinking you’d say something stupid.

༺𐦐༻

“Fuck you, Jacob!” You shouted, storming away from him.

Jacob ran after you, a hurt look on his face. “I - I didn’t mean that, Y/n, I just-” Jacob caught your arm, turning you to face him, “I just want to be there for you if things get worse, okay? Is it so wrong for me to want you to be happy?”

“Things can’t get worse than this,” you murmured, trying to tell yourself that, too. You pried your arm from Jacob’s, and he watched as you continued walking away.

༺𐦐༻

You had decided to go to the park nearby, leaning against the wooden fencing which was to stop people from falling into the lake below. You would be startled when someone placed their hands on your sides, and you turned around sharply, visibly relaxing when you realised it was only Benjamin. “Hey, B!” You greeted, throwing your arms around him.

Benjamin returned the hug, glad to find you alone; he always felt like he had to act more distantly with you if someone was with you, or if Tia was with him. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” he claimed, holding you at arm’s length. “I was worried that the Volturi had tried to take you again,” he admitted, and you frowned, shaking your head.

“They could never take me away from you,” you stated, and he tried to believe you, smiling softly.

Benjamin leaned on the fence beside you, looking up at the night sky. “Shooting star!” Benjamin exclaimed, and you would be surprised, trying to search for it. “Make a wish,” he instructed gently, and you would silently make one. Benjamin shuffled closer to you, tilting his head partially. “What did you wish for?” Benjamin inquired, and you glanced up at him hesitantly.

“You know what I wished for, B,” you murmured, and he nodded gravely, lowering his head slightly; he always wished for things to go back to normal, too; he was sick of hurting you consistently after he’d had to marry Tia. You decided to change the subject, knowing you had little time left with him. “So - What are you doing here? Didn’t you have that thing with Tia and her dad?” You questioned, and Benjamin grunted, looking away from you.

“I told Tia I would be late,” he answered, fidgeting with his hands which were perched upon the wooden fencing. You winced, worried that Benjamin would get in trouble. “I couldn’t get you out of my mind, Y/n, I had to see you,” he added, turning his body to face you properly.

You stepped closer to Benjamin, wanting to hear him say that he loved you again; you felt as if you always needed a reminder, especially after everything that had happened recently. “Why couldn’t you stop thinking about me?” You asked, and Benjamin placed his hand on your cheek delicately; he treated you as if you were a fragile porcelain doll that could be broken.

“You know very well why, Y/n,” he answered, his face inches from your’s, “it’s because I love you.” You smiled weakly, before you connected your lips to his. Benjamin checked his watch, and decided that he and you had enough time to go to your favourite shop together since you liked to see the different items and plants that they had. “How about we go to Hortus?” Benjamin asked, and you hesitated.

“Are you sure?” You asked, and Benjamin nodded. “I - I’d love that,” you concluded, and Benjamin offered you his hand to hold as you both made your way out of the park. “You’ll let me pick a plant I like?” You pried, and Benjamin would pretend to think about it for a moment. “You owe me,” you whined, and Benjamin nodded; he did owe you after everything.

“Fine,” he replied, “pick out whatever you like and I’ll get it for you.” You silently cheered, and Benjamin chuckled when he noticed the look on your face. “I haven’t seen you smile like that in ages,” he claimed, and you giggled.

“I just really like Hortus,” you stated, and he could see that you did.

↯

Benjamin didn’t tell you, when he decided to go back to the Hayes’ and Cullens’ house, that things didn’t go very well with him, Tia and her father; he could tell that her father no longer approved of him as he’d accidentally snapped at Tia in front of him; he couldn’t stop himself from doing it. You opened the door for Benjamin, Alice had told you that she’d seen him coming back, but she wouldn’t dare tell you things hadn’t gone well for him; she, too, didn’t want to worry you, so she informed Carlisle and the others about it, instead. “Hey!” You greeted, and Benjamin smiled sweetly at you, before he wrapped his arms around you. “How was it?” You inquired, and Benjamin lied, saying it was just ‘fine’.

You led Benjamin upstairs, wanting to play a card game with him, and you both settled on Change the Suit. “You’re my Queen of Hearts,” Benjamin stated as he set the card down, and you giggled, looking away from him. “Are you blushing?” Benjamin inquired, though he knew that you couldn’t really blush when you were a vampire. You hid your face more, believing that you were for a moment, until you remembered that you were a vampire, and you playfully slapped his shoulder with your free hand. Benjamin chuckled, amused by your reaction.

༺𐦐༻

Benjamin would be angry when he found someone bullying you outside of the high school you attended, and he shoved the boy away. “Leave her alone!” Benjamin hissed, and you held his arm, worried that he’d be found out.

“Benjamin stop,” you whined, trying to pull him away, but he wouldn’t move.

“What are you gonna do, freak?” The bully spat, and Benjamin felt himself losing control. “You’re just a softie,” he added, and Benjamin accidentally pushed you away from him, making you fall backwards and lose consciousness as you’d hit your head on the floor pretty badly.

~~~~~

Hope you enjoyed this prompt! ❤️

[casitafallz]

LTRL AU |  Talking Between Relatives

Vera knew it’d take time for anyone—aside from Luisa—to come and visit her shop. It had been a day since she had spoken to her son, and she had fortunately seen Agustín leading his disgruntled wife through town during the morning to—she hoped— was Dr Lopez.

But she had thankfully caught one of the Madrigal she had seen rarely about since she had heard his return. So, she had invited him into her shop at lunch after most of the girls had hurried to eat with their families. The fact he had without a second invitation was a surprise, despite also not going home for lunch either but she was glad to see him sit down and she put together a cup of chocolate Santafereño and a few buñuelos she had since she didn’t like his too-thin frame.

Bruno sat, a little awkwardly but seemed to enjoy it, though seemed to knock on wood stool often which seemed to settle him more.

“How would you like to be addressed, Señor Madrigal or Bruno?” Vera asked politely, as she took a seat and picked up her own crocheting, and began to continue.  

Bruno looked up in surprise. “Er… Oh, Bruno’s fine.” He answered.

“Then feel free to call me Vera.” Vera smiled, “I’m glad you took up my offer.”

Bruno shrugged, “A…passing sleep vision last night showed I’d be here. I figured…I’d see what happens.”

Vera nodded but it made immediate sense. The man had no release from his gift, even in his sleep it seemed. “Well, I was hoping we could have a…talk in regards to your family. I can’t imagine it’s… all too easy.”

Bruno paused for a second. “Are you a therapist as well as a seamstress?” Bruno eyed her wearily. “Agustín said you were good at reading people…”

“I’m the youngest of seven, Bruno. I’ve learned to read people by necessity—my older siblings at the least—or risk losing food or personal objects… or getting tackled down a flight of steps by accident.”

“Seven?!”

“Well, there was more and after me but nature is not always kind.” Her mother never went into details so Vera didn’t pass that a second thought. “Nonetheless, I learned young and my mother taught me a lot as well. Was…your mother a single child or did she mention any siblings to you growing up?”

Bruno slurped on his mug thoughtfully. “No siblings, but her mother was a twin. She never talks about her mother or Tia; only that she had them. Wouldn’t you know if my mother had siblings? You came from the same town and you’re close in age, aren’t you?

“Same town but different ends of it.” Vera corrected, gently “Plus, she wasn’t a Madrigal when she was growing up. I can’t remember her maiden name at this point, however, I knew the Madrigal family well.”

That caught his attention, his eyes widening, “Wait, you knew my father?” He leaned forwards.

Vera hummed, not fully committedly. “Si, he belonged to a…small family. A sister and his parents. His family owned a shop close to ours, a bookshop, actually. His family would come in mostly for a new outfit every so often. We sold things a little cheaper so our store was more visited. His family was…known by the fact his father was pale and had such a mass of red hair.”

It was a…distant memory, but she hadn’t been part of the business to care about who came and went too much until she had started to pay attention to boys. But the redhead was easy to remember as they were so rare, more than the blondes. There had been an old woman with red hair and green eyes but Vera couldn’t remember what happened to her. She knew the woman’s family all had dark hair so who knew where her descendants ended up?

 “I… think Pedro was a writer? He loved reading. His father used to drag him to my parent's shop for new clothes but he always spent his money on books or notepads than his clothes until his sister cut the threads out of his shirt once to make a point on his spending habits.” Vera hadn’t realized she had stopped looking at the twig of a man until she had looked up from her wool work to see she had his full, wide-eyed attention.

“My…our grandfather was a redhead?” Bruno sounded a little excited at that. “At least we know where Pepa got her looks.” Bruno leaned forwards in both excitement and anxiety about her words, “He was a writer too? W-What did he write?”

Vera paused, though she felt…confused, did Alma not tell her son of his father or his paternal family?? She hardly felt like it was her place to feed her son information of a lost man when she should have done so. On the other hand… there must have been something to hold her back. Vera’s mind touched on her son, her lost son.

Grief.

It was almost annoying to hold the same reasoning but… she supposed that they all had their pain held in different places and in different degrees. Vera knew how to handle hers. She had bid her griefs farewells and let them come and go when they visited since. There was no true way to let it go. She had learned to cope… or risk being caught and left stranded and never moving forwards.

“It varied, I…never got involved in his work. Poems were his main interest but… his last few years, his work got more…political. He wanted to help out his town and to have more of a voice for them as well. But… typically people who got dabbled into politics or expressed their option too much were often sought out and killed.” It was sad to think about that, but she had to think that… the following of them that day their town went to the flame was not without purpose. People with influence or in a position of power were often tracked down and killed for their actions; it had been a common thing in the large, open towns and cities for that to happen. Vera looked up sharply, “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to…imply anything.”

Bruno’s face was…uneasy but oddly calm. “It’s fine.” He sucked in a heavy breath. “It just…. I never thought of it that way.”

“Your father’s death?”

“The senseless killing.” He knocked gently on his stool. “and yeah, that too. I…never thought there was a reason for it beyond terror…and war.”

“Encanto is a safe haven and it’s all you’ll ever know, Bruno,” Vera spoke. “Me, your mother… everyone who was part of the fleeing share burdens with that knowledge of what people will do for control and power. We were all just…civilians caught in the middle.”

“But…Pa died for a cause?”

“He…may have been a target for his public views, si, but you and your family were most likely his cause to protect from the moment he met your mother.” Vera didn’t want to diminish the man’s noble sacrifice; it was for his family and only that when the moment came down to it. An honorable, but brutal death.

“Does… did my Mother know about… what he wrote about?” He almost looked hopeful and conflicted at the same time at the idea.

“I assume so. He moved away when he married. I didn’t see him until he was leading the survivors away with your mother a year later.” She hadn’t even known he had died until morning, the spurt of magic had been a wonder and a distraction.

Bruno took another deeper sip of his drink. “Do you have many stories about him?”

“I do but… some don’t paint him in a positive light.” Vera was careful. “Why don’t you ask your mother for more stories?”

Bruno visibly deflated at her suggestion. “Mama never tells us the bad things, barely anything more than him being a good man who gave his life for us. It’s… hard to see him anything less than that. It’d…” Bruno hesitated, “It’d be nice to hear him more human and with flaws.”

Vera felt her resolve soften. It made sense… Alma put her husband’s memory on the highest of pedestals for all to see the good.

“Well, let’s make a deal, you help me find ways for your family to…get on the road to…stability and I’ll tell you all that I remember about your father and his family?” Vera offered, as much as she knew he’d want to hear more now… she’d have to steer the conversation to where she needed it to be. Less on the past, and more on the present.

Bruno hesitated for a moment, clearly weighing his options as he picked up one of the cheesy bread balls and ate it. “That is….acceptable, I suppose.”

“I am not the only one that knew him, I can point you to a few others who may have other stories as well.”

“Please do.” Bruno ran his hand through his hair, “So… where do we start?”

“Well, I’m not the one to go all the way back to the start of the issues, so I’ll go with the more recent stuff. So, to put some perspective on the matter; following the attack on Mirabel; Isa’s been punished and so, what has the rest of the family been doing the following nine months after that?” Vera questioned, continuing her work with the other blanket for the baby to remain busy with her hands. And, not to mention Isa would need a few spares from either spit up or poop so she’d happily make the girl a backup.

Bruno shrugged, setting his mug down in favor of his plate of fwood he put on his lap. “Well… I noticed they simply…carried on. A little less intense work in town but…it never overly changed. Mirabel was the one to push her mother away from the town's reliance on her gift which… was probably a smart idea.”

“How is she?”

“Who, Mirabel or Julieta?”

“Julieta.”

“I can’t say. I’ve… sort of stayed with Antonio and his animal friends a little mostly to avoid all the drama. He can talk to my rats you see and… it’s just nice to talk to someone who can actually help direct the rats to position.” Bruno seemed to lighten up more as he spoke, “He’s a...very bright kid.”

“I sense the lingering in your undertone, Bruno.” Vera looked up from the blanket, “Is Antonio alright, that should be addressed, I suppose. He’s young and… I suppose he can be easily missed in the mess that’s happened?” Perhaps Bruno’s hanging around also kept Antonio being exposed to such family messes.

Bruno nodded, “He seems alright. But, I suppose he misses how things used to be. I’ve…tried to explain that the family’s going through a tough time in knowing what to do. He thinks what’s happening is Isabela keeps getting into trouble or someone else is and doesn’t know the resolve. One thing after another.”

Vera nodded though she supposed that was a very one-sided thing that could be resolved quickly. “Why don’t you simply talk to Pepa or her husband about his feelings? I can’t imagine she’s realized among the mess.”

Bruno hesitated but nodded, “I suppose. Dolores wasn’t soft on them and… I think they’re doing better with her today at breakfast. They didn’t realize how…affected she is with her gift.”

Though there was no mistake he spoke with a sense of…familiarity. Vera could only assume it was a mutual feeling, given his own gift which she… didn’t care much for. It wasn’t relevant to her and so, didn’t care. She wasn’t the type to ask for a future. Why spoil her own future when patience was a virtue?

Though, looking at his scrawny face and dark eye shadows… he looked far rougher than he should.

“Then, as long as they keep their eyes on their children then it’s not our business. But, how are you handling this, Bruno?” Vera asked. “I can’t imagine it was easy to appear and get thrown into drama.”

The man in question shrugged. “I can handle it, just another day in La Casa Madrigal.”

“You’ve otherwise told me you’re hanging around with your five year old sobrino to hide away from the drama. Don’t you think that it would be…healthier that you shouldn’t resort to such methods for peace in your own home?” She set the last stitch on her work for now, to give him her proper attention. “You shouldn’t have to live that way, not because of your siblings or your mother. There is more to life than that.”

Bruno huffed out shortly, “I’m sure it’ll be fine.”

Vera raised an unconvinced, sharp eyebrow up at him, tilting her head to look over the rim of her glasses. "Nine months and no improvement, it’s not fine and no one is willing to talk. I’m not above blackmail or bribery if it gets results.”

“Bribery? That won’t work.” Bruno snorted in amusement.

“So you wouldn’t like rat pockets in your ruana?”

Bruno paused, remaining still for a moment though she could see the wheels in his mind picturing such a thing with some degree of desire. His hand tugged on the front of the one he had. “I see your point.”

Vera smiled though she was glad to listen to Mirabel’s titbits about her family. Bruno and his rats were…common in her talks. She didn't doubt Mirabel already planned for that for him for his gift this Nochebuena.

“I think the problem in the family comes from one source and to solve the family issues, you need to start at the source. Your mother, Bruno.” Vera started, “I hope you’re not too offended on that?”

Bruno shook his head. “I’m not… but I don’t like hearing it. I know…that you’re right. I’ve tried to tell Mama but…it’s hard.” Bruno picked up another Buñuelo, tearing it in half and slowly began to chew. “She doesn’t listen for long.”

“Then she needs a motivation to change…one that doesn’t risk anyone in the family.”

Bruno shook his head uncomfortably. “I… know your intent is good, Vera but…should you really be putting yourself into our family problems? You threw a fit when Luisa did…”

Vera inhaled deeply. “That is different. I have no intention to break into your home and catch anyone unawares. I don’t intend to force myself into a situation like that. I just need to shine a light on the problems and I can point out alternative methods to deal with the problem than your current methods. To do that, I need to understand. The one thing I’ve noticed is no one in your family is actually talking to each other. No talking, no solution.” Vera clarified. “Someone has to start talking.”

Bruno stared for a moment, though his eyes didn’t meet hers. “No one likes talking… it’s uncomfortable.”

“There’s always a breaking point, Bruno,” Vera replied, her voice soft. “Isa broke first. Who’s next?”

Bruno’s shoulders slumped “I hate that.”

“I know. But once it’s all out, feelings and…problems, the family may actually be able to move on. Be a family not treading on eggshells around each other...” Vera fiddled with her blanket. “Broken families drift apart. While I lost everyone, Bruno; my parents, my siblings, and the rest that never made it to Encanto so I’m not willing to allow a loss on such a scale to happen to my son’s family if there’s a way to stop it.”

“You took Isabela.”

“Yes. But that doesn’t mean forever, she needed that just as much as the rest. The point is, the family needs to heal and they can heal their bonds with Isabela as well to the point she’s willing to return to Casita. As a family. Not by force, not when neither side is ready.” Vera pointed out, “Do you need your own vision to see how that might end if the family try that?”

Bruno’s expression didn’t change too much though he nodded. “You have a point.”

“All that’s needed, Bruno, is for the family to be forced to talk; about their problems to their parents and for them to figure out how to fix them. No matter how messy. Apologies, if they’re needed. Your mother should be part of that because she has such an influence over the household.”

That wrinkled his nose. “I’ll…think about it.”

“Then, that is all I can ask.”

  -

Isabela gently kept her foot down on the treadle, the wheel spinning and the cotton fluff in between her finger tightened into yarn. Simple, yarn than anything fine like a thread. The motion was predictable and soothing and the sound of the wheel echoed in the silence of her room.

Her heart ached but there was little she could do. Her mind mulling on one thing

No one had seen Mateo since yesterday morning when Luisa had returned him home.

Abuelita had said she had gone to ask for him but… she came back worried. This meant the real possibility he was left to heal if he was still alive, but… Abuelita had no authority to demand entry to see him. Dolores hadn’t raised an alarm either which was… another concern. She wouldn’t notice one less person missing from the town. She could have slept through what happened to him easily.

A part of her itched to go to Casita; for her Tio. If he could see his future and where he was or…if there was no future to be found. She should do that.

But she couldn’t bring herself to leave her home.

Who knew if Camilo had told the town? Was going out really the risk she was willing to take?

Trying to seek out Mateo herself was another thought. But…confronting his sister would be worse if she found out about the baby. It…would be worse to…put herself and risk the child too. She couldn’t do that. Mateo wouldn't want that; for her or for it.

“Isa,” Abuelito’s voice echoed behind her door. “Someone is here to see you.”

Isa kept going. “I’m busy.”

“Isa.”

Her hands paused as she heard Luisa’s voice, the plants in range turning sharp and prickly before a cactus popped up close by. She heard the door open but she didn’t turn to face it so instead, she stopped her bobbin and reset to start on making sewing thread.

“Abuelito, can you remove Luisa? I have no interest to talk to her, regardless of what she has to say.” Isabela asked, forcing her tone to be polite.

“Isa—“

“Shut up, Luisa.”

“No,” Abuelito stepped forwards calmly, "Angry as you are, you speak with respect in this house.”

Isabela turned from her wheel to his stern face. “Sorry, Abuelito.” She didn’t give her middle sister a second glance as she picked up her near-empty basket of cotton, though this time began to reform small puffs between her fingers and dropped them into the bottom. “I don’t want an apology. I don’t want you in my room, Luisa and unless you’re willing to locate the father of my child, I do not want you to talk to me. Please leave.”

“Child?” the echo of confusion was soft but thankfully, she heard Abuelito speak softly and their doorway steps echoed before the familiar clip signaling that her door shut.

  -

Mirabel looked up as she saw Luisa return to Casita, her shoulders slumped, and looking very pink in the face like she was about to cry. Mirabel’s hands tightened on her bag of sewing supplies she had though she already had a sinking feeling that tonight's festivities weren’t going to go well.

She knew that Luisa had wanted to go down and apologize, to hopefully bring Isa up to Casita to the party but… clearly something went wrong. Back far too quickly and Isabela-less.

“Did it not go well?” Mirabel asked, drifting from the steps.

Luisa shook her head, her eyes welling up. “She wouldn’t even talk to me. Or look at me.” Luisa swallowed thickly.

“Ah.” Mirabel reached forwards and gently hugged her. “Give it a few days, we both know Isa hangs onto grudges.” Harmless grudges but grudges nonetheless. “At least Abuelito let you try.”

“Yeah…”

Mirabel tugged Luisa to the kitchen, where her mother was working diligently by the stove, talking quietly with their father though…he was doing more of the talking. The creases in his face suggested concern but Mirabel led her older sister to prep the house for festivities.

“Let’s not dwell on that tonight,” Mirabel decided. “Let’s put up the decorations and see about distracting Camilo before he eats all the food.” It would be a good thing and be done by the time the food and party start.

“I...suppose but  she said something and I…can’t stop thinking about it.” She plucked up the huge stack of plates, leaving behind Isa’s one on the shelves.

“Oh?”

The table was set up outside on the patio and lanterns was already up, or being put up by Tio Felix and Antonio. Parce was lounging on the floor, chewing an animal’s leg from a recent hunt.

“She…mentioned that… she has a child?”

Mirabel almost dropped the bowl she was carrying. “What?”

Luisa looked around, clearly being careful. “She’s…probably lying but she mentioned a child and the fact I should locate the father as the means for me to actually have a conversation with her.” She set the stack down. “I know she’s upset but…”

“She’s not lying.” Dolores seemed to appear out of nowhere, looking in better spirits. “She’s pregnant and surprisingly far along but Abuela’s not yet to know. So keep this from Antonio and Camilo if you can help it.”

Mirabel stared at her cousin for a long moment though she felt almost winded at the news.

Isabela. Pregnant.

Oh.

Oh.

Now she could see why Isabela was so pissed at Luisa. She herself knew nothing of…the father or anything but if Luisa had interfered somehow… then it affected this…baby too…

“Wait, when did you find out?”

“I’ve heard the heartbeat for months.” Dolores shrugged, “but… it’s only recently she’s known. She had Marquez around to tell him the news.”

Luisa groaned softly, sinking her face into her hands. “That was what I was seeing?”

“Yes.” Dolores’s tone was cooler. “You’re not going to earn back any favors with Isa any time, Luisa. She’s furious.”

Luisa’s head rose, “I can wait…. I just…” She huffed out and walked away back through the door.

Mirabel and Dolores watched her for a long moment before she saw Dolores step to face her, hesitating to touch her arm for a moment. “Sorry for dropping the news on you.”

“I can keep a secret.” God forbid, she had learned from the last time when Isa was involved. “Is…Isa okay with you telling?”

“She expects the family to know at some point but… not for Abuela yet. Your Abuelita’s concerned about how much stress she’s under. The child won’t survive if it’s born too early because of that.”

“What are you two talking about?” Camilo’s voice echoed as he carried a stack of wine glasses, “plotting a prank?”

“No, we’re not you.” Dolores quipped playfully. “We were talking about…Luisa’s mishap with Isabela.” The lie was not too far from the truth, though it made her wince but she’d go along with her story. For Isa’s sake here.

Camilo scoffed, rolling her eyes. “She needs to get over herself.”

“She thinks you spilled to the town about it.” Dolores pointed out, “Lay off her, Camilo.”

“Look, if she's going to screw around then she shouldn’t be upset that she got found out. Luisa did her a favor.” Camilo shrugged, “She shouldn’t be so mad at her.”

Mirabel exhaled out, hating how close to home that phrase was. “She had justification for her anger, Camilo. Stop prodding the cactus.”

Camilo scowled lightly. “So do you, Mirabel. Why are you sticking up for her?”

“Because I want to.” Mirabel snapped, her voice rising to her own surprise which only grew as she felt the hot flush of anger rise to the surface. “Stop going back to that day, Camilo. I am angry. I am downright furious at my sister for what she did. I won’t let my anger get the best of me. I am not ready to shout at her more than she is ready to bare it. There is a time and a place for that. Not now and certainly not any time soon. All I want is to talk to her, be alone with her and actually bond with her.”

“The risks—“

“I’m not done talking.” Mirabel snapped over Camilo sharply, very aware of the eyes on her. “I want to actually move on. I don’t want your weight of concern to keep holding me back so let me decide when I am ready to talk to her. I don’t want any more hand-holding and I don’t want to be spied on to make sure I’m safe. It’s exhausting trying to find privacy and I’m sick of it.” She turned and stormed back inside, not even noticing Abuela through the window

[lesbiankoby]

6, 34, 36 for an OC of your choice

Doing this for “Spriggan Euryt”, my warrior of light!

If they were badly injured, and for whatever reason couldn't go to a hospital, who would they go to for help?

Assuming she’s closer to him then an Adventurer’s Guild outpost and can’t heal herself for whatever reason— limp into G’raha Tia’s apartment and look suitably pathetic while he fusses. She would rather DIE RIGHT THERE then do this with Alphinaud or Alisaie. And G’raha is less likely to make fun of her then Y’shtola, which she feels frankly disgruntled by.

How well do they deal with grief?

Poorly, historically. Also, by throwing herself harder into her own self-imposed duties— with the twins after Louisoix died, the Scions (and the twins even harder) when Moenbryda died, and— well, ARR through Heavensward was rough for her. She started actually articulating and working through some of it in Bahamut raids and then more openly about the everything else in Stormblood.

Frankly, talking to Fran again was also extremely necessary to do. Her long-suppressed issues with outliving her loved ones when she allows herself to have loved ones are certainly everpresent.

Would they ever kill someone? Have they already?

Well her body count is certainly um well it certainly is, up there. She dislikes killing people over Grand Company territorial disputes and with the exception of Primal summonings which threaten everyone avoids taking those jobs (especially since the Grand Companies are basically always flagrantly in the wrong in a way that a former inhabitant of the Golmore Jungle would, uh, be familiar with, however long ago that was) but uh the Imperial body count alone is quite extensive. She’s not always good at keeping the thrashing non-lethal if some idiot attacks her first, as well. And so on.

…she doesn’t really enjoy being a weapon, and doesn’t like the idea that this is what she’s known for now… but also… she can’t deny… that fighting, and being good at fighting… can be quite fun.

It’s complicated.

[follow-the-loser]

Chapter 2: The Agonizing Stalker

Slowly getting up to walk to the door, Kietta reflected on her days before today. School was already taking its toll on her well being as she had been continuously picked on by her peers. Ever since the day Kietta awoke to the news of mom and dad’s passing from that car accident, both her and Yonah became under immediate foster care. Though the abuse both girls faced, left Kietta grew muted and aloof.

Too much of the pain to bear and already unsure of how to process her own feelings. The day she stepped foot on Woodland middle School grounds, things just didn’t fit quite right for Kietta. In the beginning of her entry to the 6th grade, Kietta began having social problems. From having urine poured on her by a ruthless street thug, to getting slapped from a boy just for trying to stand up for herself. Then just a few days ago, Klara felt her safety was on the line.

Though her sharp intuition hit her right after school. Walking up the big sandy hill to get back home, was an everyday challenge for her. Looking down at her school report card, surprisingly Kietta did well despite all the social shunning. Even her grades were of passing status. Even on the days she was ill coming to school.

It was during this time of hour Kietta only felt any peace, until that very day.

It started with a hunch like a strong sense picking up every fiber of hair behind her back.

As Kietta went atop of the hill. Her keen ears and heightened senses began to make her heart beat faster.

There were footsteps behind her, dragging across the sand closer to her. Kietta quickly turned around to meet a disgruntled Sher.

Sher, a classmate of Kietta, who was always known for being to herself, suddenly wanted to see Kietta and came closer. “Oh-uh hey…” Kietta hesitated nervously.

“I need to talk to you...right now.” Sher said sternly at a slow pace..

“What's up? Is everything okay” Kietta grew concerned.

“Just follow me and I will tell you but it's important.”, Sher responded softly. Though something didn’t seem right.

Kietta rarely ever spoke to Sher. She rarely had made any friends besides her own neighbor Tia. Tia on the other hand was a very old lady who took any outcasted pre teens into the after school church program that Yonah volunteered at.

Before Sher said anything, Kietta looked around and there was no one else except them. It felt peaceful yet odd. The atmosphere suddenly started turning a yellow hue aura. Kietta finally felt she was trapped.

“Lets continue walking.” Sher said.

As the girls continued to walk up the sandy hill,

Kietta wanted to say something but before she could, Sher exclaimed,

“YOU’RE GOING TO GET JUMPED.”

When Kietta heard those words, her heart sank as if her soul died. She was afraid for this very day. It was coming to school and holding on to this very fear that made Kietta aloof… especially since she has social anxiety as it already isn’t bad enough with this threat.

“What did I-” Before Kietta could finish her sentence, Sher punched her on the shoulder, “You know what you did!!!”

Klara's tears streamed down her face as she tried to comprehend the situation.

The pain from Sher's punch radiated through her body, but it was the emotional turmoil that hurt the most.

She had hoped that school would be a safe haven, a place where she could escape the depression of the death of her parents. But now, even within those walls, she found herself a target of aggression and confusion.

Gathering her courage, Kietta managed to muster up through tears to speak through her sobs, "I don't understand, Sher. What did I do to deserve this? ….Why are you even saying these things?"

Sher's face contorted with anger and resentment. She clenched her fists tightly, struggling to find the words to express her frustration.

Apparently during school, rumors that were spreading left and right about Kietta came to Sher’s attention. And during the walk, Sher began to coerced and blackmail Kietta to walk with her every day after school and listen to everything she says or Kietta will get jumped. This caused so much confusion and anger that left Kietta in a deep trance like state of developing psychosis.

It started with Sher telling Kietta she’ll never be a successful adult growing up. The agony of hearing so many dark and derogatory remarks Sher had to say to her, made Kietta more muted.

The most creepy thing to hear was a telepathic look a like of Kietta was lurking around and she had the unfortunate uncanny feeling to believe such superstition.

The walk ended with a strange hypnosis where Kietta suddenly found herself home. Almost not remembering much of the walk or talk with Sher.

Though the psychological scar? It remains.

Kietta felt different. Like a gray dark cloud hovering over her head every day. And every day that passes, that gray cloud grows stronger. Depression and voices began its journey inside her mind. Slowly her days weren't becoming more black and white. Her world was turning very gray.

This morning seeing the clouds wasn't of any help.

Kietta felt her stomach turn as she got into the car with Yonah on the way to school.

[expectiations]

took a few pictures of me going to my cousin's place

no pictures at all (myself or scenery stuff) going back to my place

[ainyan]

An Introduction

Name: Kal’istae Miurani (Kali)

Race: Au Ra (Xaela)

Gender: Female (She/Her)

Age: 24 (1.0)

         24/29 (2.0) (Do you age in the Rift?)

         27/32 (6.0) (Headcanon of 3 years passed since 2.0)

(More below the split - mild spoilers, lots of rambling. Read at your own risk (of boredom XD))

Notable features: Indigo skin, obsidian scales, violet eyes with lavender limbal rings, pale lavender freckles on nose and cheeks (limbal rings and freckles glow slightly)

Background: Kal’istae does not remember anything before the moment that she reappeared in Ul’dah approximately five years after the Seventh Umbral Calamity. Standing on that cliff overlooking the Jewel of the Desert, she remembered little of her past beyond a name that might or might not have been her own. Driven by a burning desire to do, she approached the city. When Wymond asked if she was a new adventurer, his question resonated deep in her soul, and the rest was fate.

Although others have come to recognize her as one of the heroes saved by Archon Louisoix at the Battle of Carteneau, neither they nor she remembers much else, nor has any clan or family come forward to claim her as their own. She did discover that the Miurani were one of those Xaela clans unfortunate enough to make first contact with the Ishgardians during their flight from the Garleans - meaning that if Miurani is her clan, it was unlikely that many, if any, had survived.

Personality: Kal’istae Miurani is outwardly a cheerful, pleasant woman with a positive outlook on life, filled with hope and confidence.

Inside, nothing could be further from the truth. Her lack of past weighs heavily on her and she often feels cast adrift and disconnected from everyone else in her life. The fact that so many rely upon her strength of arms and magic only increases the sensation of being alone, as few seem to care for her as a person, but only as a tool. The revelations on the First and later in Elpis have only widened this gulf. As a result, despite her willingness to sacrifice everything to help those in need, only a very select few have ever won past her outward emotional shields to see the morass of self-doubt and unhappiness that lurks within and understand the cost of what they ask.

Of those few who have seen the true Kal’istae, foremost are the Scions, although it took until their travails in the First for them to be fully aware of the true nature of their companion. Nanamo, too, has gotten a heavy glimpse of the Kali within, as well as Lord Edmont Fortemps and Lucia Junius. Ryne, Gaia, and Feo Ul are fully aware of Kali’s struggles, while Yugiri Mistwalker and Severian Lyctor have more than some suspicions. The Seedseers know that she hides much of herself from them thanks to the Elementals, but they are unaware of how deep the rabbit hole goes.

Kal’istae has a deep sense of loyalty that drives her to hold fast to her roles of Champion of Eorzea and Savior of the Star, although she feels little connection to the former other than the fierce convictions of those she holds most dear. It is for them that she drives herself to the brink of breaking again and again to preserve the people for whom they would sacrifice in turn, as well as for those tenuous connections she has forged amongst the peoples of the star.

Relationships: Though Kal’istae keeps most everyone at arm’s length, some few have made it closer:

Thancred is most notable for having stolen her heart; she loves him to what she considers a frightening degree and she struggles to believe he truly loves her in return. 

She also loves G’raha Tia, although her affection for him is more mutable and less consuming. He is her best friend, and he and she and Thancred have begun nibbling at the edges of making it something more. 

Y’shtola has become an older sister to her, while Urianger fills the role of younger brother, irrespective of their actual ages. Both Alisaie and Alphinaud also hit on that younger-sibling scale - much to Alisaie’s disgruntlement.

F’lhaminn has taken on an aunt/mother-role; she recognizes that Kal’istae desperately needs a mother-figure in her life, and after everything Kali had done for her in regards to Minfilia and Niellefresne, she wants nothing more than to see Kali happy and secure, with Thancred if possible. Ameliance has also started to take an active interest in seeing that Kal’istae has the female support she needs.

Gaia and Ryne are like her much younger sisters; she refuses to consider them daughters, but they look up to her as an older-sister/mother figure and she is fierce in her desire to protect and nurture them.

Her work as Severian’s assistant/apprentice earned her his respect; her quiet, steadfast support following his failure to resurrect his lost love and her efforts on behalf of F’lhaminn have earned her his trust. He fills the niche of uncle/older-brother for her and keeps a close eye on her and Thancred.

Until Thancred managed to convince her to try an exclusive relationship, Kal’istae entertained a FWB relationship with Jacke and Brithael and occasionally with Lorens. Though she’s withdrawn from their beds, they still remain close friends. Jacke in particular keeps a close eye on her; he loves Thancred like a brother and is grateful to her for bringing the ex-wharf rat back into his life.

She is quite friendly with the Alliance leaders, although she saves her deepest affections for Nanamo, having enjoyed a much closer relationship with the Ul’dahn Sultana than any of the others. She is also close to Aymeric due to their time together in Ishgard, but she tries to keep him at a distance ever since Thancred suggested that the affections of the Lord Commander might be a bit more than just platonic.

She doesn’t know what to make of Magnai or Sadu; both Xaela seem to expect her to understand more about her own people, and that expectation emphasizes just how much she lost in the Rift. So she spends an inordinate amount of time avoiding them.

It took her a long time to warm to Gaius Baelsar - and it took him an equally long time to warm to her. They were the ultimate nemeses for so long - it was hard for each of them to grasp that he was only ever a pawn in Lahabrea’s hand. Her help with the Weapon Project helped to ease them towards acceptance; his devotion to his family softened her heart towards him and now they are tentatively taking steps towards friendship.

Her feelings about Emet-Selch are incredibly tangled; she knows, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that who she once was was special to him, special in the way that she is special to Thancred, to G’raha Tia. She’s seen him through Hythlodaeus’s eyes, seen him through her own eyes, and it’s hard to reconcile the noble, fierce advocate of the well-being of the Star with the arrogant, broken creature she fought on the First. But in the end, she cannot deny - what he did, he did for love - love of the Star, love of Hythlodaeus, love of Azem. And that is a motivation she understands too well. So she hopes that he will remain happy and whole with his Hythlodaeus, and that they both will be reborn together someday. And she is grateful to have known him.

There are others who are slowly gravitating towards her inner circle: Scholarch Montichaigne, Adius and Mab (OCs from Garlemald), Estinien, Vrtra, and Krile.

Motivations: First and foremost, Kal’istae is motivated by adventure and learning. She wants to go, she wants to do, she wants to know, and it’s not always in that order. She also has an incredibly strong sense of her own martial power and understands instinctively that her incredible strength and skill mean that she has a responsibility to protect those who cannot protect themselves, especially from threats that only she can face. Like the Ancients, she too is driven by the concept of Duty, and her duty is not only that of the Warder, but the Wanderer.

Dreams: Kal’istae dreams of being admitted to the Studium in Sharlayan. More than anywhere else in the world that she has traveled, it is here that she has felt most at home. Thancred has thoughts in that direction - spurred by the knowledge that his own master would be delighted to have such a powerful protege in his hand. She also dreams of bridging the gap between worlds and making it possible for Thancred and G’raha Tia to visit those they love on the First. Her final dream is to free Garlemald from the vestiges of war and help its citizens determine the path of their own future, free from the tyranny of the Ascians and the Galvus dynasty.

Hobbies: Kal’istae makes plushes, and specializes in plushes of people she knows and minions and mounts she’s collected. Her plushes are highly prized among her friends; she gives them away only rarely, and they almost always indicate a special regard from her. She’s particularly proud of her Scion plushes and sleeps with the Thancred plush she made after he returned to them in Ishgard. Thancred still hasn’t managed to convince her to make him a Kali plush to sleep with in return; he’s trying, though.

OOC Notes: Kal’istae is not my original Legacy character; that character has long been abandoned. She is my main RP alt, and so ICly has done everything that my main play character has done (so, everything).

[daintyduck99]

"You're family." + Ray and Reggie (You know I gotta!)

Julie answers the door with a radiant grin that makes Reggie’s cheeks burn.

“Reggie!” 

She throws her arms around him and reels him into the house, kicking the door shut behind them. She holds him tight, and he has no qualms about hugging her back just as fiercely. She’d be offended if he didn’t, and she fits in his arms perfectly. He rests his chin on her head. 

The Molinas give the best hugs, warm and undeniably welcoming, infused with a sort of stubborn affection that instantly relaxes Reggie. Luke and Alex like to rib him for being so eager to ditch the studio to see them, but sometimes he just needs the pick-me-up. 

Julie’s still beaming as they unravel from the hug, and his stomach flutters as she takes his hand, guiding him deeper into the house. 

Okay, so maybe he also has a tiny crush on their lead singer. It’s fine, he’s handling it. 

“What brings you here on a Sunday? Did Luke drag you out here to workshop the intro of that new song some more?” 

“Oh,” he stammers, highly aware that his cheeks are still on fire and that it’s worsening by the second under her bemused gaze, helpless to her gap-toothed grin. “No, I’m not he’s—me’s not here—I mean, it’s just me but—” 

She giggles, and he chews his lip to keep any more nonsense from falling out of his mouth. 

Great job, Reginald. You’re really handling it, Alex snarks in the back of Reggie’s head.

Julie squeezes his hand. “You’re just in time for brunch! We’re making pancakes.” 

“Oh, I just wanted to say hi since I was—I couldn’t impose—” 

He’s interrupted by Carlos, who tackles him around the middle as soon as they set foot in the kitchen. Julie’s hand slips out of Reggie’s, but not before Ray spots them, and he ducks his head to hide his flush at least a little as he goes to return Carlos’ hug.

“You have to help me make a spaceship out of pancakes!” Carlos insists excitedly, slightly muffled by Reggie’s shirt since he’s got his face mashed into his stomach. Reggie smiles. 

“Sure thing, little dude. So long as it’s cool with Ray.” 

Ray points his spatula at them. “How many times do I have to tell you? You’re always welcome here, Reggie. That goes for all of you boys. After all that you’ve done for Julie? You’re family.” 

“I didn’t—” Reggie starts automatically, only to swallow as Julie and Ray both frown at him and Carlos clings to him tighter, shaking his head. 

“You help me with my math homework and play games with me! You’re a really cool brother!” 

Julie plops a bowl of blueberries by Ray’s elbow and flies across the kitchen, ignoring Carlos’ disgruntled sound when he gets sandwiched in her bear hug. She rests her head on Reggie’s chest and whispers to his heart.

“You helped me find my voice again, Reggie. Not just my music. Myself. You really are the coolest. I’ll never be able to thank you enough. We love you.” 

She didn’t call him a brother, some delusional part of him notes, but he shoves that away.

“I love you guys too, of course I do, but that was Luke—” 

She thumps her forehead against his chest. “No, it was all of you! And you’re the one who chooses to spend time with my family. They’ve already claimed you. The best thing you can do is give in before Tia tries to make us get married, or something.” 

“Okay, this is getting way too mushy now,” Carlos complains, wriggling out of the embrace.

Ray clears his throat. “Julie, why don’t you help Carlos find the whisk? It’s buried in the pantry.”

Reggie shoots her a panicked look, but she just rolls her eyes, though her ears are tipped red. 

“Sure thing, dad.” Julie ushers Carlos into the walk-in pantry. She throws one last look over her shoulder and mouths, “It’ll be fine.” 

His nerves are still telling him that it’s anything but fine. He appreciates the effort, though. 

Reggie sidles over to Ray, heart bobbing in his throat, and accepts the spatula from him. He keeps his eyes glued to the pancake that’s already sizzling cheerfully in the skillet, blissfully unaware of his inner turmoil. Ray clasps his shoulder. 

“Reggie, you aren’t in trouble. You can stop staring at that pancake like this is its funeral.” 

A nervous laugh crawls out of his throat. “Right, right. You’re sure it’s not mine?” 

Ray coughs. Reggie’s 99% sure that it’s to cover a laugh. He releases Reggie’s shoulder. 

“Positive. I meant what I said, mijo. I’d adopt you if you weren’t in love with my daughter.” 

Reggie drops the spatula. This poor pancake is going to be as fried as his brain. 

“What?” he squeaks, scrambling to retrieve the spatula from the floor and hide his flaming face. “No, I mean, Julie’s wonderful and beautiful and a guy could get lost in her eyes forever but—” 

“Reggie.” Ray calmly flips the pancake with another spatula that he produced from who knows where. His mouth ticks up. “Breathe. I don’t need to give you a shovel talk. It’s clear that you give yourself enough of those. It’s okay.” 

He huffs. It technically counts as breathing. The pancake bubbles back at him. 

“It’s not! Isn’t it weird? I mean, I’ve sort of already wormed my way into her family and I don’t want her to feel like she owes me her love or anything—” 

“She thinks more highly of you than you realize. Than you do. You talk about yourself like you’re a vampire, mijo, and you aren’t. We love you. We like having you around. You’re the only kid in this house who actually listens to me when I ramble about photography. You carry things to the car for Victoria and never miss Carlos’ baseball games and I know you’re the reason that both of my kids are passing math. How is up to you and Julie, but you’re a part of this family.”

Reggie swallows. His eyes are burning, now, and he lets Ray fold him into a hug. He kisses the crown of Reggie’s head, something he’s seen him do to Julie and Carlos a million times, and Reggie’s powerless to prevent the tears from falling as Ray continues in a soft voice. 

“You’re so busy looking at Julie like she hung the moon that you never see the way she looks at you. Believe me, I was that boy once. You’d better tell her how you feel before she gets jealous and dumps a milkshake on the next girl who makes the mistake of flirting with you.” 

The anecdote startles a laugh out of him. Reggie sniffs. “Did Rose really do that?” 

“Oh, absolutely. Ask Victoria if you don’t believe me.” 

They do scorch that first pancake a little bit, but Reggie can’t bring himself to care, not when he feels so at home in all of these hugs. Julie stumbles out of the pantry with stars in her eyes, clutching the whisk and then Reggie to her chest. Carlos squints at them, but all Reggie can do is laugh and swing her around.

The Molinas really do give the very best hugs. 

They still need to have that talk, but the way Julie holds his hand under the table is pretty great, too. 

[imaginepirates]

PotC Terror AU

An Arctic expedition sets out in 1845 to sail the Northwest Passage. Terrors await their aptly named ship along the way.

In which James Norrington is Francis Crozier, the disgruntled second in command partial to alcohol; Jack Sparrow is James Fitzjames, Norrington's charming but infuriating third who knows exactly how gorgeous he is; William Turner is Thomas Jopson, Norrington's steward that Norrington may secretly think of as the son he'll never have; Elizabeth Swann is Sofia Cracroft, who has rejected a marriage proposal from Norrington on no less than two occasions; and Tia Dalma / Calypso is Silna, the only person native to the area who knows that colonizing people is a dumbass idea and has to deal with supernatural bullshit. Bonus: the Kraken is Tuunbaq as the supernatural bullshit.

I've been obsessing over The Terror lately, so this is what you get. I may expand on this later. And seriously, if you love period pieces, do yourself a favor. Go watch the Terror (season 1) here . (Shout-out to @undomestication for making the link, btw).

@anklesalltheway

[allthingsdarkanddirty]

She's facing an apocalyptic choice...Preorder your copy of Son of the Soul by Brenda Trim and Tia Didmon now!! Universal: https://geni.us/SonOTS

A disgruntled demigod. A lost city. A sacred alliance.

When Alex is abducted by our newest foe, I have the entire nation searching for him. But Miletus has a plan and it includes my fae lover.

In our quest to return him, we form an uneasy alliance with the Atlanteans and search for a way to save a forsaken people. We learn we must retrieve a rare artifact, but that too comes at a price.

With the fate of a species hanging in the balance, do I save the Shrouded Nation or the man I love?

Find out what lurks in the shadows of Ravenholde by reading Son of the Soul, the new Paranormal Women's Fiction series readers are comparing to Shannon Mayer, K.F. Breene, and Victoria Dannan.

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About The Authors

A USA Today bestselling author, Brenda loves everything paranormal. She has co-authored over twenty-five books in the best-selling Dark Warrior Alliance series, as well as the Hollow Rock Shifters series. She also has best-selling solo titles readers are raving about. Brenda created worlds that feature dangerously handsome heroes and feisty heroines. With the help of popcorn and candy, she takes dragons, fairies, witches, vampires, and so much more and brings them to life. She lives in Texas with her husband and three kids who fuel not only her heart but her life. If she's not writing, she's reading, traveling, or knee-deep in projects with her husband and five sisters. She encourages readers to Dream Big. If your dreams don't terrify and electrify you then they aren't big enough!  

Tia Didmon is a USA Today bestselling author of provocative paranormal romance. When Tia isn't busy writing about sexy shifters and dreamy demons, she spends her time binge watching The Order and reruns of The Vampire Diaries, cooking with her daughter, and serving her cat. Her love of writing stems from a self-diagnosed book addiction.  Subscribe to Tia's newsletter at tiadidmon.com for a free book and start your journey through Tia's supernatural world today!  Find Them Both Online! https://www.brendatrim.com https://tiadidmon.com