#to get appetizers Cinder calm down

[scham-wcan]

Cinder at a gala alone for five (5) whole seconds

[mummacalavera]

Real Life Mom!Salem (2/5)

based on my fantasies about Salem raising Watts, Tyrian, and Cinder in our world, completely unfounded, self-indulgence for the win. Part One.

Cinder arrived sick, malnourished, still recovering from the last assault, and had many intellectual deficits. Salem took a week off from work to focus entirely on getting her settled, also to learn more about who the kid was and which need was more emergent. By the end of those seven days, she had learned that most of her needs were emergent and that her health had reached critical levels. The girl was in actual danger of dying. Her finances were rearranged for all the medical bills she would've come in her way, she also added a new therapist and reserved a selected amount for unforeseen expenses. There were a lot of exams and doctor visits for the rest of the month, which not only took a toll on her money but also on the kids who were getting stressed out. Cinder specifically was having a hard time having needles biting her arms constantly and strange adults, dressed in white, touching her sore body and keeping her in cold blue rooms.

Cinder's recovery was painfully slow. One of her main struggles was the pills she had a hard time swallowing. Salem came to a point she would mash the pills with a knife and mix it in the child's juice just to avoid the drama of getting her to choke that down.

Different from the boys, Cinder's diet had to be adapted to her poor nourishment. Almost everything Salem gave her during the first days ended up causing bad stomachaches and nausea, which caused bloodied vomiting and diarrhea. To get her more easily adapted to the new food, Salem would go out of her way to learn the best ways to make the food look appetizing and taste better. Little did she know Cinder would devour anything with joy, neverminding the appearance. Food was a luxury, anything she could get was good enough. Being fed three times a day was a dream come true.

Salem couldn't deny that among her three kids she seemed to be way more invested in Cinder. The way she furnished her bedroom and bought her clothes was unlike anything she had done before. The youngest got a canopy bed that looked like it came from a fairytale book, exclusive collections of porcelain dolls, tailor-made shoes, Barbie dolls of every kind, and accessories. It was a rags to riches classic story.

Watts didn't mind the toys or the bedroom so much, but he did miss his mom's attention. Tyrian on the other hand was having the time of his life playing with his sister and discovering his own love for dolls and "tea party". Cinder was happy to have him around and never hesitated on sharing her toys. This attitude helped to get Tyrian on her side since Watts wouldn't share anything with both of them. When Cinder grabbed his 3DS out of curiosity he freaked out and got both of his siblings kicked out of his room.

After Cinder was finally healthy again Salem had the time to pay attention to other things around the house. And she finally noticed Watts growing jealousy and resentment against his siblings, especially the youngest one. She took her time to work on that problem because he was soon going to college and she wished that they would not part ways with hard feelings.

Despite being happy to stay with Cinder, Tyrian was still a quite aggressive kid. When distracted and emotionally charged, the boy would lose consciousness of his own strength and behavior. Because of that, Salem had to keep an eye on them every time they were playing together, no matter what. The first time an accident happened she was trying to make dinner, finish a deal online, and watch the kids in the TV room. A pillow fight broke, she had to rush to save the food, and before getting back to the younglings, a miscommunication on the chat online stole her attention. It was Watts calling for her that got her out of the computer and into the TV room where her eldest son was dragging his limp sister from under the pillow where his brother had kept her for way too long, almost suffocating her. Up till that moment, Tyrian was laughing and teasing Cinder to fight him, completely unaware that she was barely conscious on the floor. Salem had to disarm herself of every stress-related work, stress-related food, and focus only on her children because she was about to lose it. Fortunately, Cinder recovered fast and well, Salem asked Watts to watch her while she talked to Tyrian who was beginning to realize something was wrong. She did not shout at him, she did not blame him, she first helped him calm down and hugged him into serenity so he could actually listen to her and understand what she had to say. In the end, Tyrian felt sorry for what he did and promised to be more careful next time. Cinder had no problems accepting his apologies and held no remorse against her brother. Salem was secretly shaking and never again allowed herself to be distracted when taking care of her children again.

[jtargaryen18]

Darkness on the Edge of Town

Masterlist

Pairings: Charles Blackwood/Reader

Word Count: 528

Warnings: Voyeurism, dark intentions

Summary: Charles Blackwood is waiting.

A/N: What happens when you get stuck in a scene on a series fic and your mind wanders...

“I can give you a ride home.”

Her pink painted lips curved into a nervous smile.

Do I make you nervous, honey?

The hem of her innocent, baby-blue dress just brushed the fender of his car. Her eyes were wide, the shiny curls of her hair just reached the soft, fuzzy sweater she wore. Her slender hands twisted in front of her in a ceaseless motion.

“Thank you, but I’m fine walking,” she told him politely. “Have a good evening, Mr. Blackwood.”

“It’s Charles,” he called, watching as she slowly turned and started walking away from him up the sidewalk. He could just make out the curve of her ass in the pleated skirt she wore, swaying gently as she moved.

She didn’t look back at him. No, she didn’t dare. And that was the best part.

Charles knew she was afraid of him. He wanted it that way.

Grinning, he made his way into the café, grabbed up the paper another patron left behind and seated himself at the counter. He’d let her make it home, calm down. She wouldn’t forget about him, no. But she’d relax.

Black coffee and a cigarette were bitter appetizers next to the sweetness she promised. He consumed them as he mindlessly scanned the shallow news printed on cheap paper. Charles’ mind wasn’t on it.

He thought about her, knowing she’d talk to her mother when she reached their quaint little house on the edge of town. She’d hug her little sister when she got in. She’d help with dinner – such a good girl – and the three of them would talk about their days around the table.

There was no man of the house. The father was gone. Just three pretty birds in their cottage singing their songs each day, flying on dutiful wings.

Did she think about him? Did she regret turning him down?

Again.

Paying his check, Charles grinned at the waitress who watched him with wary eyes. He understood. He’d been there well over an hour. 

Everywhere he felt suspicious eyes on him as he climbed into his car. They couldn’t wait for him to leave. That had him chuckling as he cranked up the engine and headed in her direction.

That was just fine. He couldn’t wait to get to her.

It was just a short walk from the woods where he hid the car to the edge of her modest garden. It was so cool, green, and sweet with the sun setting and the kiss of autumn in the air. How many evenings had he spent just like this? Him lurking in the shadows, watching as she walked out into the birth of another night?

She’d wander out, her eyes filled with stars and dreams until she reached the cracked stone fountain she kept filled with clean water. Next to it she’d sit, wishing for whatever pretty birds hoped for like Cinder-fucking-rella until night really began to bloom. Until the darkness grew.

But his pretty bird didn’t understand. She truly had nothing to fear from darkness itself.

It was what was in the darkness. Him.

Tonight, she wouldn’t be running back inside the safety of her nest.

Tonight, darkness came to claim her.

All Charles had to do was wait.

[carryoncrows-blog1]

Chapter 13 - “Plenty more where that came from”

I awaken to a tap on my door.

“Cooper?”  It’s Sammy’s deep baritone voice.  “Everybody’s already up out here, Cooper.”

Damn I hate this guy.  I flip over, making no attempt to get out of bed.

Sammy’s persistence is deplorable.  “Come on, Cooper, I need you to get up.”

I realise that this is only going to end one way and begrudgingly throw the covers off myself and swing my legs over the side of the bed.

Sammy must have heard my feet hit the ground because he sounds satisfied.  “Thank you, Cooper, see you out here.”

I hear his footsteps echo down the hall as I throw on the same clothes as yesterday and walk to the door.  I really hope I can get out of here today so that I don’t have to wear the same clothes for another day.  

Pushing through the door, I hear the sound of laughter and smell food.  Must be breakfast.

I walk down the hallway to the kitchen where neat little plastic-wrapped plates with scrambled eggs and sausage lay.  I take one and eye the kitchen clock which reads 9:22.  I want to be out of here by noon and weigh my options.  They’ll probably have me meet with a shrink at some point to assess me.  That’s probably my best way out.  I just gotta convince her that I’m not crazy.  Easy enough.  

I step through to the main room and make my way to the table the others are sitting around.

“Good morning, Coop.”  Jess says to me with a bright smile.

I return the greeting, but not the smile.  It’s too early for me to be that chipper.  Now that I think about it, everyone’s been a little too… sane for a mental hospital.  I wonder what kind of crazy they’re all hiding under their nice exteriors.

I sit down with my food and take off the plastic wrap.  I’m assaulted by the smell of fake-ass hospital eggs and lose my appetite.  

Ryan must have seen me grimace at the smell because he gives me an apologetic nod.  “Not too appetizing, huh?  You get used to it after a little while.”

“How long have you been here anyways?”  I try to keep my voice as non-threatening as possible.  I imagine it’s not something he likes talking about.

It seems I’m right because he doesn’t look at me as he responds.  “Two weeks tomorrow.  Man, has it really been that long?”  He exhales deeply.  

“Hey, I’m in the same boat.”  Jess jumps in somewhat enthusiastically.  “It’s not so bad.”

“I’m gonna step outside for a minute.”  Emily interjects and gets up from her chair.

I follow her with my eyes for a moment before asking, “hey, uh, do you mind if I join you?”

Emily seems surprised as though she had forgotten I existed.  “Oh.  Sure.”

I feel all the eyes in the room upon me as I follow Emily to the other end of the room where the door to the patio is.

“Hey, Sammy.”  Emily calls towards the kitchen.  “Can you open this door for us?”

Sammy appears after a moment and waddles to where we stand with a ring of about ten keys.  “Okay, but you know the rules.  You’ve got ten minutes-”

“Then we hurry back in.  Yea, I know.”  Emily finishes for him with a taste of disdain in her voice.

The two stare at each other for a long, tense moment.  Emily seems to dare him to take offense, but Sammy’s gaze remains impassive.  In this moment, Sammy seems like a true pro at his job, and my respect for him raises a considerable amount.

Without a word, Sammy picks a key from the ring and fits it into the lock.  “Okay ten minutes then, ‘hurry back in.’”  His voice has mockery in it, and I’m so surprised that I give a bit of a chuckle.  Emily makes me regret it when she looks at me with daggers in her eyes.

She pushes through the door with a good amount of force and for a moment I swear I see blue in the veins of her hands.  When I touch the door to follow her, it’s cold to the touch, and I have to supress my surprise.  I’m getting a bad feeling about this.  I ignore the instinct and grit my teeth a little as I push the frigid handle to join Emily outside.

She’s standing in the middle of the large patio with her arms folded, and she turns around when the door closes behind me.  The daggers in her eyes are still there, and it looks like she’s sharpened them.  “So, what do you want?”

I’m still a little shaken from the frost she used on the door, and so the confrontation in her tone really throws me off.  “What?  I just wanted to talk to you.”

“You want to know why I’m in the fucking hospital?  You want to know exactly how much I’m off my rocker?”  Emily’s seething now, and she’s talking loud enough that they can probably hear her inside.

“Em, calm the fuck down!”  I match here attitude, my own voice raising almost to a shout.

“Don’t you tell me what to do.”  Emily’s voice suddenly goes low and has a dark quality to it.  She raises her nad, and her fingers curl in towards her palm.  “I have enough fucking people in my life telling me what to do.”

I’m scared all of a sudden.  I realise that I’m out of my depth, and I really don’t know what Emily’s capable of.  I start backing towards the door slowly.  “Em, neither of us wants this.”

“What gives you the fucking right to call me Em?”  Her voice raises to the same seething tone as before.  Right as she yells the last word, Emily’s had bursts into bright yellow flame.  “And what makes you think that I don’t want to burn your pathetic little face to cinders right now?”

Things are looking bad.  I don’t want to fight, but it looks like I might not have a choice.  As Emily moves forward, matching my progress towards the door precisely, I lift my hand and pray to the powers that be that it lights.

I feel it in my gut that Emily will strike just before it happens.  Call it intuition, or call it plain luck.  Either way, my mind goes clear, and I return to the place miles away as Emily swings her arm and hurls a ball of yellow flame at me.  In an instant blue flame leaps to my palm, extends vertically to create a shaft of pale, blue flame, then extends horizontally to create a full-fledged wall of flame which protects my entire body.  I can feel when Emily’s fireball connects with my wall.  There’s a slight tingling which lasts for three beats of my racing heart then dissipates.  At that moment, my concentration breaks and the wall shatters into a million tiny bits of blue flame.  These bits of flame exist for another two racing heart beats before dissipating into nothingness.

My vision’s going blurry.  I bend at my waist and my blue-veined hands grab at my knees as i gasp for air.  Looking up from my vulnerable position, I expect Emily to be readying another fireball, but her face shows incredulous amazement.  In my exhausted state, I doubt I’ll remember that face, but I try and take a mental picture regardless.  Damn I feel tired.  I can tell I don’t have too much time left conscious, and so I try and make my last few seconds count.  I stand upright and speak with my most badass voice.  “Plenty more where that…”