#to our giant bear and sweetest boy in the world

[snoopykiiit]

💞 ー 黎焕⌇ʟɪʜᴜᴀɴ ᵐᵃʸˑ²⁰ˎˊ˗

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE SOFTEST BOY

[vidalinav]

Nessian Headcanon #12: Family Edition

Since I keep seeing baby headcanons I wanted to make a list of my own :D which I��ve briefly touched on in other posts but...

Cassian and Nesta have a boatload of children (5 at the end of it all I think). The others start joking that they’re building their own army. But what really happens is that they end up taking in many children over the years because they travel often with the work they do and they see so many conditions and there’s wars and all sorts of circumstances. It’s inevitable that kids don’t have homes but they have a giant house and unending resources and the House is like a big nanny itself so they think it’s fate. 

Nesta is actually the one who brings most of the children home. The first one is a 9 year old girl, who is the angriest kid alive. Has something to do with the plot of a story I’m writing, but Nesta is basically entrusted with this kid. She’s the grand niece of someone she ends up knowing and she’s pretty magically powerful so her family would have ate her alive, so she’s asked to keep her safe and whatnot. Her name is Magda but she goes by Maggie. She does not like Cassian whatsoever in the beginning, and she is horribly rude to Nesta. But Nesta does not care at all, she’s like okay get it out, say worse. Like she’s so chill, because she knows how it feels to be that angry. Maggie and Nesta end up being really close to the point where Maggie does not like being away from Nesta and gets very protective of her even to other members of the IC. She’ll fight first and ask questions later. Cassian and her form a bond actually not by fighting at all, but because Maggie does so many experiments that end up going awry. She’s a fae and has got magic up the wazoo and she’s a book nerd, and she’s kind of a trouble maker, and Cassian thrives. He loves her because she’s like a smaller more diabolical version of Nesta. The House is amused by their antics usually. 

Nesta ends up getting pregnant for their second child and this kid is the only one they actually have on their own. Her name is Lyra, and Maggie thinks that it’s hilarious that Cassian lives in a house with all girls. Maggie is about 12 when they have her, and Maggie at first does not take kindly to Lyra, because she starts feeling like they have their own family and she’s just the kid who eventually is going to have to go back to her other family (because that’s a plot too that I won’t go into to) but they try so much to include her, because Maggie is their child. No question. Nesta ends up telling Cassian that she’s pregnant by giving him an enchanted painting, which is the work of all three Archeron sisters. Elain for seeing what the child would look like, Feyre for painting, and Nesta for enchanting it so that if they have more children the picture will get bigger and there will be room for Feyre to paint the others. So one big family portrait. In that picture, Maggie is tucked in between the two with the baby/toddler. Dark hair, big blue eyes... maybe hazel. Maybe one of each (I’m really not sure). The best parts of both Nesta and Cassian though. She’s so gorgeous. Prettiest little girl. But yeah going back to Maggie, they ask her during this picture time (probably solstice present time) if Maggie wants to be an Archeron. (Another headcanon for another time, but Cassian marries Nesta too and becomes an Acheron). So, does she want to do this? Absolutely, and at this point she already start calling them mom and dad and just referring to them as such, so that’s their kiddos. 

Third and fourth are siblings. They’re from the continent. Maggie is 14, Lyra is close to 2. The siblings are brought by Nesta who is doing some thing that I cannot say because I have not made it up yet, but she finds them at the scene of a Massacre in hiding. The oldest is close to 6, the other is probably 1-ish. The oldest will not let them take the baby from her. The baby is a boy. They don’t speak the common tongue, which is any issue, but they hire a tutor to both talk to the little girl and then also to teach them ALL (everyone in their household) the language that the two siblings speak as well as teach them how to speak the common Prythrian language. So everyone ends up learning. The little girl is taken under the wing of Maggie, who is the perfect older sister/camp counselor as she likes to refer to herself after there’s more kids. They don’t know her name for the LONGEST time, because she won’t speak at all, but she ends up loving Cassian because he makes her laugh and he brings her a thousand stuffed bears because at one point she won’t stop crying and he brings them home and makes funny voices with them, and carries her on his shoulders, and she has the sweetest giggle. But eventually they end up naming her Ursella which she ends up going by Ella when she gets older, because her nickname with Cassian is little bear. They do ask her later when she talks if she remembers her old name and her birthday since they don’t know, but she doesn’t say that she does, which may be a lie, but Ella happily goes by Ella, and they give her a choice to choose one random day in the year to be her birthday, but she chooses to celebrate her birthday on the day they brought her in. She calls it her re-birthday.

The baby boy they name Nico. It’s actually a common Illyrian name and Cassian knows that the little boy is technically not Illyrian but it is his first son, and he really wants to give him that piece of him. Cassian does ask him when he’s about 10 if he’d prefer a name that’s based on his own culture, because they make sure that’s very integrated in their home life, because of course Cassian loves his culture and Nesta has that anthropological eye, so she knows and learns so much and they just love their children so much that they want all of them, every piece that they come with. But Nico likes his name, and he’s his dads through and through. But he LOVES Nesta. He’s a momma’s boy for sure, which I guess just makes him similar to Cassian. He does not like learning though, so Nesta usually has to teach him herself instead of having tutors, and she spends extra time with him going through his lessons. Lyra and him grow up together closer to age, so they pick on each other A LOT, but ultimately they grow up to have that relationship like I can pick on you but no one else can. They’re super close. If you want one, you find the other. They both will be together somewhere making a mess of things. Ella is the one who usually is like would you please be loud somewhere else. She ends up getting into music--playing instruments and so she generally prefers quietness to study and practice. Violin is her forte. 

The next boy comes about 4 yrs later. Maggie is 18, Lyra is 6, Nico is 5/6 ish. Ella is 10. The boy is about 12. He’s Illyrian and Cassian finds him this time and takes him to Nesta first, but Nesta is like why are you asking lol this is our new son. He’s a “bastard” unfortunately. I hate that word. But he has learned to fight, Cassian found him in the fighting pits in an Illyrian camp a couple hours away from Windhaven, and the situation was so much like his except this kid was never given a home like he was. So, he spent a good couple of weeks trying to get on his good side enough for him to trust him and to want to go someplace safer and warm. He hates Cassian a lot at first... while at the same time being like you’re the hero I’ve heard about. So admiration but also a touch of resentment and anger at the world. Cassian doesn’t know what to do with that, because still to the day he does not handle emotion like Nesta does. He understands it but he doesn’t know what to say, what to do, his go to is always training, but training is not what this child needs. So again, this is Nesta’s forte. Interestingly enough, she’s very gentle with kids. She’s empathetic, soft, but not condescending. She gives everyone the same respect so it helps a lot when he sees that and he’s never had a mom before who tucks him in or makes sure he’s feeling well. His name is Julian. I forgot that part and it turns out he’s HATES fighting. But he really likes plants. So he ends up spending a lot of time with Elain when she visits. He’s fascinated by them and ends up having his own garden. But because Nesta is magical in this headcanon (because she’s more witchy in my fics) he learns A LOT about poisons. Not because Nesta teaches him, but because he finds her books and reads them and starts growing them. This becomes a problem, because when Julian doesn’t like his tutors or teachers, he starts trying to poison them. Like not killing them, but he knows which will give stomach aches, which will give rashes. Nesta is both proud and reprimanding. 

I do feel like they might have more, but I don’t know for now I feel this is good for their set family. Five in total for their first gaggle of children lol. But all of them are asked if they want to be an Archeron. All of them say yes. All of them have each other’s back even if they have screaming matches on the daily. The house is mostly chaotic at all times but the House loves having people in it and laughing and being filled to the brim with stuffed animals and train sets and plants and music and family members coming in and out since Nyx visits often because he’s an only child for a very long time with Feyre taking more of a position in court rulings and Rhysand just being generally busy because you know High Lord/High Lady stuff. I don’t see Feyre being a stay at home mom but I also don’t see Rhys being a stay at home dad, but they’re also rulers so I peg them for both being working parents, which they feel guilty about A LOT at first, and it’s something that they struggle with in the confines of their own identities and their relationship, because they love Nyx and they know they’re parents but that’s not all they are, and without having the gender role of one parent staying home it’s very difficult for them to both rule, but Rhys does not want to stop being a high lord and Feyre is bored too often and she wants to rule and she knows she can, and she has that title for a reason and wants to utilize it. So it’s a hard time, with lots of arguments, but Nyx ends up mostly going with Cassian for a good amount of the day when he’s older and they have more kids in the house, and Nyx doesn’t really know that Feyre and Rhys had this problem, because he’d just prefer to be around the other kids and it ends up working really well. 

Cassian ends up being more of the stay at home parent. I don’t know why but I feel he just gives me that vibe where forget the courtier business, if there’s no war and if the armies are generally taken care of which he does, he wants to stay home and raise his kids, which is very surprising since he’s the one who doesn’t ever take vacations. He wants to be there for every moment no matter how awkward or loud. That’s his family and he’s waited so long for them, and it’s not even about him not having that family early on, it’s because he genuinely would rather be with his kids. He’s the one who as soon as they got the siblings was like I’m going to have to take a step back, because he saw his kids every day but he just didn’t want to be away for long periods of time, and at that point he’d already taken several steps back on working, so it became more of a done deal then. He still is the general, but he gives more responsibility to Devlon and to other people he’s trained over the years to step up. So generally, Cassian will work a couple of days a week for a couple of hours or just go quickly in the evenings, go over reports if the kids are in class with their teachers, and more during certain times of the year, but he’s generally more of a family man. 

Nesta in my fic/headcanon ends up being a queen as well as a leader of the witches and the founder/leader of the Valkyrie and she owns a shipping company and she’s the cauldron’s guardian which don’t ask me to explain, it’s in this fic I’ve barely written. But she’s a “I can bake the cake and eat it too” type of person to me, and because of her magic it is easy for her to do it all because it’s like a full time job. She goes home after a certain hour and she’s back with her kiddos, and most of her jobs have other people who have a handle on things as well. So she’s not an island, but she loves having the purpose and the drive, because as much as she did like being in the library and being in Velaris and having that day to day slice of life, she likes and yearns for adventure. She’s a go-getter and is not necessarily ambitious for power, but she’s got the whole world to discover and she can have anything she’s willing to work for. She wants to be and see it all. Cassian is endlessly proud of her and is like that’s my mate, my wife. My mate. My wife. And they both end up getting what they want without having to sacrifice their own ideals. Their marriage is a collaboration and it ends up working phenomenally for the two of them and their children. 

But ultimately it’s really the House that makes it possible. Because who cooks food and cleans and supplies every need and wish and whatnot? The House. Who baby proofs? The House. The House is like I’ve always wanted a big family and boy does it get a big family. 

[milkygcf]

UNDER THE MISTLETOE

Pairing | knj x gender-neutral reader

Genre | tooth-rotting fluff i think, established relationship

Warnings | just a tiny bit of cursing, the boys are a chaotic mess

Summary | ❝ Nothing can beat a holiday spent with Namjoon.❞

Word Count | 4.1k

Author’s Note | THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE MESS I’M SORRY 😭🙏 i rush wrote this so i could put up something for christmas. nonetheless, i hope whoever reads this enjoys it! also, big thanks to @youarejesting​ for the banner! i love it, it’s so cute :( another little side note is, this is also part of @btscreatorscorner​‘s Crystal Snow Event! make sure to take a look at all the other works :] happy holidays!

Christmas with Namjoon is always a wild ride. From hectic decoration shopping to disastrous baking, to actual decorating and singing Christmas songs together. However, it's not like you're complaining, because as rowdy as Christmas time can be with your significant other, nothing can beat a holiday spent with Namjoon.

Every year is an open door to new shenanigans, handmade gifts and memories that embed themselves warmly into your heart. This year isn't any different, except for the fact that the rest of the group were joining for dinner - along with the chaos they always brought along with them. As close as you are with your boyfriend, not even your connection could beat theirs. It's heart-warming - as much as they argue, nothing could possibly tear them apart. Nothing could bring you any more serotonin than the jovial smile that attacks Namjoon's handsome features whenever they're around.

Now, you’re all nearing your thirties - except for Jungkook, he was still bearing life without early back problems - and you suppose you all look the part as well. Unless it's Christmas season and the young man himself proposes they all compete in a Best Decorated House competition between themselves. The winner earns himself an extra present from every participant - which you find rather amusing because you're pretty sure they were willing to buy each other the world in a blink of an eye. The loser, however, gets to wash every dish used during dinner. Ouch.

"Deal!" Namjoon hollers, finger pointed up in agreement, his chest puffed out in pride. You know he's going to stress about it later on because as much as you love the man, he's absolute shit when it comes to decorating. If it weren't for you, his house would be a shit-show. Sorry, Namjoon.

"Can't wait to beat all of your sorry asses!" Seokjin yells even louder, an arm hooked around Yoongi's waist. The energy he radiates astonishes you because even if he's the eldest from the lot, he's always the energetic one. Seokjin might as well be your icon.

And that's how it all began - the calm before the storm. But then again, them proposing this very idea wasn't exactly calm.

You feel a shy tap on your shoulder while you're busy scanning through your fifth isle. Namjoon holds out a tiny Christmas tree to you, his eyes round and shiny. You already know you won't be able to refuse. "Can we get it? Please - my bonsai needs a new friend."

"I think your bonsai would be sad to know their friend is made out of plastic, Joon."

"Well, they wouldn't be sad if they didn't know, right?"

His grin is brimming with mirth. He knows what you're going to say - there was no need to even ask you in the first place because he knew you could never resist his puppy eyes. "Fine," you sigh softly, offering him your sweetest smile. "Make sure Mon doesn't swallow it whole. That dog is a menace."

"He has a restless soul. We'll buy him reindeer ears on our way home."

"Yes!" It elicits giggles from both of you - Namjoon had introduced you to Rapmon just two months into the relationship, claiming you must meet your competition because it's only fair. Frankly, you think the dog himself is competing with your boyfriend - the second you set sight on his silky fur you’ve vowed to never leave his side. Rapmon was an absolute gem. From then on, he was a big part of the events you celebrated together - the main character in your little shenanigans.

Once you've both paid whatever you needed for the day, heaving a ton of shopping bags, you step out of the shop in a fit of giggles. As sophisticated and stern as Namjoon may look, he's quite possibly the clumsiest giant you've ever met. Unfortunately for him, he had accidentally ripped one of the bags you had brought along and as he readied to lift it, all contents came tumbling out as he gawked in terror. Red instantly rushed to his cheeks and you found it hard not to burst out laughing in his face. He wouldn't want to become more flustered than he already felt.

"Every day I wake up to the face of embarrassment," he mumbles ashamedly, shaking his head in dismay. You could only continue to chortle before leaning in to place a tender kiss on his cheek. "It's okay dummy," his cheeks redden even more, "Would some hot chocolate fix your mood?" The second the words slip out of your lips, his face no longer holds a grim expression.

Getting hot chocolate from Pixie’s Magic! is like a tradition between you and Namjoon. Not only was it where you both had met, but it served the most delicious brews you’ve ever tasted. Nothing could possibly beat this little shop in the corner of the mall you were currently in. 

Although it was usually calm and quiet, it seemed to be bustling the day you both go out to buy Christmas decorations. There’s a myriad of people piling up in plan of buying themselves the warmest cup of cocoa - a cup of happiness that would complete their own Christmas. Within that queue of people were families, couples and even people who spend their time alone during the festive season. Pixie’s hot cocoa never failed to brighten days.

You scout through your newly bought items for anything that might pass time. Namjoon stands beside you with his phone in hand, thumb clumsily scrolling through whatever he’d missed from the boys’ usual spam session. “Hoseok’s already got most of his decorations up. Something tells me we’re not winning this so easily.” 

“We’re literally up against Seokjin and Jungkook.” 

He pulls his lips in a taut line - going up against those two was a one way stop to instant loss. Nothing, absolutely nothing could beat either one of them. The competition was and will always be between Seokjin and Jungkook because both were as dense as a brick and would stop at nothing to earn themselves a victory. Frankly, you found it entertaining, even if they were constantly at each other’s throats and threatening to burn each other down - jokingly, of course, you’d never condone violence. Brotherly love if you’ve ever seen it. 

“They’re out of the question. We’re up against the rest, those two idiots can eat an egg.” His bluntness makes you burst into fits of giggles, earning the clear attention of those either ahead of you or waiting (im)patiently behind. Namjoon always had a rather poetic way of saying things. ��An egg? You’d be doing them a favour.”

He doesn’t quite realise what you mean until a few seconds later when he breathes out a dejected sigh and massages his temple soothingly. “They’re a whole mess.” 

And he’s right, because when you’re back in the comfort of your humble abode with a warm cup of cocoa waiting for you in the living room, Namjoon’s phone keeps endlessly buzzing. 

“You can’t keep ignoring them forever, you know.”

Namjoon sometimes thinks about how difficult his life would be without you. Go figure that there was no way of avoiding them, right? If you hadn’t told him, he would’ve never guessed so.

The couch sinks underneath his weight as he plants himself beside you, placing a mushy kiss onto your cheek. He’s quick to hand you his beverage once Mon literally hops onto him, wagging his tail like the euphoric little rascal that he is. And there’s peace and quiet, the sound of the crackle of the fireplace, until Namjoon’s thumb slides over the tiny green button making his phone constantly vibrate.

“Namjoon! What took you so long?!”

Seokjin’s voice comes booming out of the device nestled in your boyfriend’s palm. You must admit - it startled you just a bit, but it’s not like you weren’t used to their rambunctious behaviour. “We thought you died. Almost worried us for a while there.”

“Actually,” Jimin so pridefully interrupts, “He was just about ready to forget about you. Don’t act like you didn’t see cloud nine when Tae suggested Joon backed out.” It was all fun and games, affectionate brotherly love between the lot until suddenly, it was a trademarked apocalypse. Truly mind-blowing. 

“You tattletale-!”

“Don’t worry Seokjin,” you snort, “He’s still up and running.” 

“You say that like it’s a bad thing!” Offence washes over Namjoon’s face - perhaps it really is him against the world. Kim Namjoon could trust no one. You could only poke your tongue out at him, earning yourself a blissful smile. “Not at all.”

“Ew. Stop flirting - this isn’t about you, this is about the progress you’re doing.” Seokjin scoffs, making the latter silently giggle to themselves. He has absolutely no filter - nothing could get in the way of the man’s priorities. “Tell that to Yoongi.” His boyfriend was sitting right beside him - and poor him, because Yoongi has to be the strongest man to ever set foot on earth. He’s been dealing with Seokjin’s shit for over a good year or so now. 

“Believe me, I might just knock him out.”

“No way - who’s going to peel your tangerines for work then? Ungrateful imp.” 

Their bickering continues to produce light laughter from the lot of you until you decide it's about time you update each other on your progress. Surprisingly enough, Hoseok was much farther ahead than you all anticipated, and it earned you another fifteen minutes worth of competitive yelling between the youngest and the eldest.

But that was nothing out of the ordinary.

"Move it a little bit to the left," you instructed stringently, hands planted firmly on your hips as your boyfriend does whatever he's told. The tree jiggles with every waking movement, making Namjoon groan at the heavyweight it settles upon him. "Is this alright?" He mumbles tiredly, eyeing you from the depths of its branches.

You could only nibble on your lip, your eyebrows furrowed in thought. "Maybe a bit to the right."

Even when he's exhausted, even when he's sick and tired of turning a piece of mere decoration to countless directions, he doesn't complain. Namjoon wasn't exactly fond of religious festivities, but spending Christmas with you is always something he looks forward to. Setting the deal aside, it was always enjoyable bringing a little life to the house with someone he adores and his heart beats for. "Perfect! Could you grab the baubles? I'll get the ornaments."

Teamwork makes the dream work. An idiom he liked to say on the daily - it always worked between the two of you. Six hours worth of work put into four and the mess that bested every nook and cranny of your house now lessened. You hang the last bauble and sigh in content. "Doesn't it look pretty? I think this is our best one yet."

"Well, technically speaking, I couldn't expect any less from you, bun." His tone of voice resembles that of a young boy in love, his eyes sparkling under the colourful Christmas lights nestled comfortably in the tree's branches as he looks at you with a bashful smile. It's moments like these when you're so caught up in the things you do together, these blissful moments that you realise just how grateful you are for Namjoon. You love him, you love him so much. Nothing could be a better present than spending time with him. He's your bundle of pure euphoria.

"The tree's feeling a little bland, don't you think?"

It takes you a moment to take notice of what he actually meant before you feel extra weight added on top of your head. He teasingly hangs the finishing piece away from you, puckering his lips in hopes he'd earn himself something sweet in return for the star. You could only roll your eyes, but nonetheless, nothing stops you from latching your lips onto his and giving him your love.

Without hesitation, Namjoon scoops you up onto his shoulders, he guides you towards the crest of the tree and watches with bright eyes as you ecstatically plant the finale to the first phase of your decorating. Monnie scratches at the latter's legs in pure joy, barking at you both to signal his presence as well. It elicits laughter, and as Namjoon gently sets you back down, you let your fingers ruffle his fur as he licks at your face.

However, your hours upon hours of decorating doesn't end there, the tinsel messily spread underneath you is a clear indication of this.

With an exhausted huff, you look at Namjoon with hopeful eyes. There's still much to be done.

---

Looks tend to be deceiving when it comes to Kim Namjoon. People tended to deem him as a friendly giant, however, when it came to snowball fights, he was far from that. Like a devil crawling out the pits of hell.

The day you decide to pamper the outdoors of your house, snow starts dribbling from the skies above you. A miracle, because it’s never really snowed so early in December. 

You’re busy setting up mistletoe in front of your front door until you’re barreling forward from the force of something wet on your back. It couldn’t have been Mon - he was sleeping soundlessly inside. But your boyfriend wasn’t - instead, he was childishly running around the front lawn bearing snowballs. 

“Namjoon!” You shriek in utter disbelief, turning around only to face a devious grin. Pure evil dripped from him - Namjoon was no longer the soft bear who insisted you play with his hair. He was now a foe. “You’re going to pay for that!” As quickly as you could, you bear your own weaponry to pay back his foolish actions. 

His giggles echoed across the small space you’re in and before you could even comprehend what was happening, he was already aiming another shot at you. Unfortunately, you were too slow against him. 

Splat!

Three points for Kim Namjoon!

At your absolute suffering, his laughter only gets louder over Mariah Carey’s gorgeous singing coming from inside. “You’ll pay for this, you evil man!” However, your threats are only drowned out by his boisterous laughter. “I’d like to see you try!” 

And you do. Because while he’s busy laughing his ass off at your misery, you earn yourself the rightful chance to aim a snowball right into his face. Three points? You just scored a whole seven. 

He’s baffled - completely, utterly speechless at what’s happened. Well, you definitely weren’t going to stand there and let him conquer victory, he knew that for a fact. He just didn’t think you’d be so blunt. Now you’ve earned him a pink nose. But was he going to let you get away with it? No, Namjoon’s a Virgo. 

He charges towards you like a clumsy child. You almost screech in surprise, instead, busting out in fits of laughter as you tumble and trip away from him. “Hey-! Get back here!” He cries out, almost face-planting into a hefty pile of snow. That would’ve been outright hilarious. 

“Just try and catch me, big man!”

It’s light-hearted, it’s all lively and pleasant. You were both adults, but nothing stopped you from feeding into the fruits of life and feeling youthful sometimes. You both did it for the hell of it because you knew that with each other, you could be anything. 

You’re too busy laughing to actually take notice of where your feet were taking you, feigning into the mess beneath you and tripping in your own feet. A loud thud leaves your descent, and with that, your boyfriend tumbling down on top of you because he was too clumsy for his own good. It was cute, really. Namjoon lets out a terrified shriek, his arms landing just beside your head - luckily because you’re pretty sure you would’ve earned yourself a long-surviving black-eye. 

“Got you,” he says rather flusteredly. There’s a hint of panic in his eyes that almost seems as if he’s seen God himself. Had the fall really taken the piss out of him? 

“No,” you state, shaking your head as best as you can. “Technically speaking, I got you.” You place a quick kiss on his pretty pink nose just for good measure, because in truth, you really did get him. He was on three points while you were on a steady seven. Namjoon pulls his lips in a taut line ever so shyly, hiding the growing smile planting itself on his face. No longer was he your arch-nemesis - your boyfriend was back to being your friendly neighbourhood giant. “Shouldn’t we get back to decorating? I thought you wanted to beat the others.” Perhaps it slipped through his mind because the second those words slip through yours, he’s already hoisting himself up and pulling you along with him. Kim Namjoon does not give up in the face of competition, that much is clear, even when he’d previously been working off a snowball fight.

“I couldn’t help myself!” He defends nonetheless, his palm scratching shyly at his mess of a mane. “But now that I think about it, we can have as many snowball fights as we want when we kick ass. A win-win situation, if I do say so myself.”

A win-win situation indeed. 

When the boys call later on in the evening, it becomes clear that Namjoon was second in lead - Jimin taking first place. While the rest were busy taking things easily, he’d effortlessly managed to get things done in only a short matter of time. He definitely wasn’t there to play. 

“No way. You’re cheating!” Taehyung accuses, astonishment evident from the little you could see of his face. His lighting was absolute crap. Despite his belief, Jimin easily shakes off his accusation with a mischievous grin. “I don’t know Taehyung, maybe if you hadn’t been slacking off at Taco Bell you would’ve been catching up.” 

“Wha-! What a heathen - I’d choose Taco Bell over this any day!”

“How dare you! This is Christmas decorating you red-headed scoundrel!”

“This isn’t about you Seokjin!”

“Might as well be,” Yoongi mumbles from beside him, lazily scrolling through his phone as a yawn escapes his lips. You might just think he’s aged by a couple of years because of this ordeal. “You’re all complete losers,” Jungkook comments, face completely mushed against his phone as he nibbles on whatever was in front of him. The kid feared absolutely nothing - the wrath of a butthurt Kim Seokjin wasn’t any different.

Namjoon squints at his phone. He clearly wasn’t wearing his glasses, nor his contact lenses, and you knew he’d face the consequences later on. You’ve spent countless days by his side tending to his colossal headache. “Are you… Are you eating raw pop tarts?”

“Yes.”

“Raw. Aren’t you supposed to toast them?” There’s confusion laced in his tone, and in between, intense fear. “That’s like, a felony.”

Jungkook lets out a scandalised gasp. “No way! I’m not letting this piece of divine heaven be tainted by modern technology! I don’t even have a toaster, and there’s no way in hell I’m touching the microwave.”

Hoseok snickers. “He thinks it’s going to explode.”

“Don’t test me! I know the evil that sits within that thing.” 

As complex at it was, you’ve come to the conclusion that there’s no explaining what these men are made out of. They’re simply built differently. In fact, you’ve grown out of trying to comprehend them, because you could be on your death-bed and they’d still be saying and doing things that would make you sigh and shake your head. 

---

Alas, the day has come, and so have the boys, who just wouldn’t stop rambunctiously banging on your door. You’re busy setting up the table, Mon at your feet wagging his tail excitedly. “Namjoon!” You call out, balancing a few plates on the palms of your hands. “Namjoon! Could you get the door?”

However, as much as you yell, Namjoon doesn’t respond. You suppose it’s because he hasn’t come back from wherever he had gone earlier during the day. Odd. 

Nonetheless, you set a few plates down on the dining table, hurriedly skipping over to your front door only to be trampled by none other than your special guests for the night. “Finally!” A rather over-dramatic Seokjin sighs, patting away the invisible sweat dripping down his forehead. “Waiting for you to open was like running a marathon. I swear!” 

You could only laugh as Jimin pulls you in for an embrace - it was in his habits to do so whenever he saw you. It’s not as if you mind, his hugs were by far the best you’ve felt. They were full of love and warmth, something that perfectly describes the man himself. “Don’t mind him,” he tells you, rolling his eyes at the dramatics his friend was making. “He really needed to piss.” 

“Sorry for taking so long - Namjoon hasn’t gotten back home from this morning.” 

“He hasn’t?” Yoongi neatly sets his shoes by the door, unwrapping a thick scarf from his neck, dangling it on your coat hanger. “That’s pretty unusual, he doesn’t like being out in cold weather.” 

“He probably got into some traffic,” you assume, “Hopefully he’ll be back soon. Until then, make yourselves at home. We’ll order take-out soon!”

All of you were like a proper family when it came to celebrating Christmas. Each year, sleepovers are taken in turns going from eldest to youngest. This year just so happens to be Namjoon’s turn - it’s not as if you mind, the house seems more lively when they’re around. They had that thing about them, that wherever they went they tended to make things brighter. Not once have you felt gloomy or perhaps left out. The seven of them all had qualities in contrast to one another, all showing you different ways of happiness. You’re lucky to say you have them in your life.

The wait for Namjoon continues. You all settle with playing board games, for the time being, the living room turning into a whole battleground because Yoongi can’t go by without cheating once in a while. He was really cunning, you could see Taehyung trying to pick up on his tricks. 

“Uno!” Jimin yells, shoving a proud middle finger in Seokjin’s face. The man could faint from the amount of disrespect he was receiving. “Try beating that, old man.” 

“I’ll tell you I’m more than an old man! I want a rematch. You’re all cheats, all of you.”

“You’re just a sore loser.” Jungkook was on thin ice. His nitpicking on Seokjin was getting him nowhere but pure, utter hell while he was sleeping. You admire his courage - he was fucking insane. “Sore losers don’t win, old man.” 

Seokjin almost gets up to throttle him for his constant bullying when the door swings open and you’re all met by layers upon layers of clothing stomping inside. He’s carrying a bunch of bags you can’t seem to decipher, and you could see his nose poking out from his scarf. 

Finally, Namjoon’s back home. 

“Hey __, I’m back. I’m sorry I took so-” 

“Joon, you idiot!” Before you could even bat an eye, Taehyung and Hoseok were on the man like hungry beasts. He was already eaten up by whatever garments he was wearing, the only pieces missing were the duo for him to finally disappear. “What took you so long? We were worried sick! Jimin can’t DJ for the life of him.” 

“Hey-!”

You hoist yourself up and dust off whatever remnants of gingerbread cookies were left on you. All the concern that had been building up over time of Namjoon not being home had now diminished. Sudden relief washes over you because you hadn’t really noticed how worried sick you’ve been until he’d stepped into the house. Namjoon can be really impulsive sometimes. 

“Joon,” He wraps his arms around your smaller figure and places a gentle kiss on your forehead. “Where have you been? Had me really worried for a second there.”

There’s this cheeky look in his face that makes you swoon. He’s so lovely, in all his ways, you just can’t help but be filled with so much love. You love him. 

“I kind of… I kind of forgot to pick your present up. Sorry - Didn’t want to worry you, just a clumsy move.” 

He’s all you’ve ever imagined. 

“Get over here you two - we’re ordering take-out!” Your little moment is easily interrupted by the guys hollering you over, to which you oblige because you wouldn’t want to waste another second. You could hear Namjoon’s stomach grumbling a bit. “Have I been out for that long?” He queries, looking at you with a raised eyebrow. “Dummy, it’s six in the afternoon. It’s already dark.” 

“Well, I’m finally back home now, right where I need to be.” 

You don’t notice it, but there’s a little mistletoe just above your heads. And Namjoon knows this because he points up towards it with mirth laced in his pretty eyes and a pretty smile. “Merry Christmas,” he tells you before he leans in and gives you what you rightfully deserve.

[weasleydream]

By the water

Hi! This is my second Bill imagine and I can offically say I’m fond of him (too)! Guess you don’t care about how I’ve had this idea but I’ll tell it anyways 😂 So it was a really sunny day and I was home feeling like I was going to explode, so I left and went to the harbor of my village, and seeing the water under the sun gave me this idea... All the first part of the imagine has been written back there. 

So, enough of my uninteresting blabla and enjoy!

Masterlist 

(photo is mine! this is the place that inspired me, it was taken the same day and look how beautiful it is!!)

The Hogwarts Lake was more than just a part of the landscape. Its surface, sometimes smooth, sometimes agitated, reflected the world around, giving a surreal image of it. When the sun was getting down, the body of water coloured in a crimson tint, and whoever looked at the lake could swear it was the entrance of a magical world like the ones imagined by the muggles. 

Some of its shores were hidden in the forbidden forest, mysterious places that appeared beautiful to the ones who dared face the forest dangers. The others were more reachable but as beautiful in their own way. From them, the view was incredible. The castle was behind, and the luxuriant nature stretched as far as the eye could see. When the sun was high in the sky, its light reflected on the water, and the stains so formed danced on the water, in the very same way glitters dance in the air when the wind blows. 

It wasn’t rare to see birds flying above the lake and disappearing behind the trees after a few flappings, nor was it rare to see a tentacle lazily grabbing a fish and dragging it in the depths of the lake. The giant squid emerging from the water was one of the reasons why the surface of the lake could be disturbed. Sometimes, it was only ripples who could soak the bottom of your pants if your feet were in the water, but other times, when the squid felt like doing its show, immense waves crashed onto the shore. 

Except these days, the lake was a peaceful place who had the chance to be preserved from the activities muggles usually put in place to exploit nature's richness. It was so peaceful that it was the students’ favourite place for their dates. 

I knew perfectly that as a Hogwarts student I had to respect the curfew, and that as a result, I shouldn’t be laying on a thin blanket on the shore of the lake whereas the sun burning the june sky was getting down. However, I was in the middle of a date with no one else than Bill Weasley, who had the little advantage of being the Head Boy. 

Bill had wrapped his arms around me, holding me tightly against his chest as I listened to his heartbeat. It was silent and so peaceful… 

“Look, love.” whispered Bill. 

He extended his arm and showed me a bright white point on the shore across the lake. It was a unicorn quietly grazing, its silver horn shining in the evening light. Something moved in the bushes and the purest creature I had ever seen appeared. The baby unicorn’s horn wasn’t here yet, and its golden colour was as bright as its mother’s white one. 

“They are beautiful…” I whispered in awe, so caught in the contemplations of the unicorns that I didn’t notice Bill’s gaze on me. 

“You know, my view is prettier than yours.” he murmured in my ear, which caused me to shiver, either because of his breath on my skin or the desire in his voice, I didn’t know. 

“Merlin, you can be so cheesy!” I laughed softly before leaning in and kissing the corner of his lips. 

A crystalline whinny disturbed the silent atmosphere for a brief moment and Bill and I simultaneously looked up to see a glimpse of silver disappearing between the trees. 

“Well done you noisy girl, you scared them!” exclaimed Bill. 

“That’s because of you!” I pretended to be vexed but I couldn’t contain my laughters when Bill chuckled. He grabbed my waist and pulled me once more all against him before murmuring in my ear.

“You’re so cute when you pout like that… I really am a lucky man.”

“I guess you are.”

“You were supposed to say you are the one who is lucky to be with me!” retaliated Bill while hitting playfully my arm. 

“You already know that, love.”

We kissed once more, our lips gently colliding in one of the sweetest moments Bill and I had ever shared. Usually, we went off in search of adventure and most of our dates were either in a forbidden place or at the Three Broomsticks. But soft moments like that were rare, and it was also very unusual for Bill to show his romantic side. I guess it didn’t fit with his adventurous reputation, though I had always loved when he was all cuddly like this. 

We made ourselves comfortable on the blanket, none of us wanting to go back to the common room yet. We watched in silence as the sky became dark and the first stars appeared. They reflected in the water of the lake, and the result was truly magical. 

“There’s a legend about this lake.” suddenly said Bill. “Do you know it?”

I shook my head and urged him to tell me. Bill was excellent in pretty much everything he tried, but the way he made stories live when he told them was a gift.

“The legend says that a very long time ago, fairies lived here. They weren’t like the fairies we know today; they were beautiful women and magnificent men. They were taller than us, you know, and they lived in the forest. They were friends with the unicorns and the centaurs, but they didn’t really get along with the other members of their people. They lived in clans, and arguments were frequent between them, but that didn’t prevent them from living quite peacefully for centuries.”

“What happened to them?” I asked quietly, already absorbed by the story. 

“One day, a girl, Melia, fell in love with a boy of a rival clan called Eric. They saw each other in secret, they never told anyone about their love story, but even then they knew it was doomed to failure. Their clans hated each other more than you could imagine, and a year after their first kiss, a terrible war broke out, a war that involved absolutely all the fairies.” Bill marked a pause and tightened his grip around me, probably not knowing that I had shivered not because of the cool air, but because I was imagining this devastating battle. “The fairies fought for two days and two nights. Eric had begged Melia to hide, he had told her he couldn’t bear to see her hurt or worse. When the noises of the fights ended, Melia joined what had been the heart of the battle and she found Eric’s body. All of her people were dead, destroyed by a deep hatred they had kept locked during centuries, and the boy she loved more than anything was gone. She was alone, and she cried for hours, desperately embracing Eric. Her tears were pure, so pure that a unicorn eventually came to comfort her. As soon as its horn touched the girl’s shoulder, Melia disappeared and with her all the fairies. Eric and Melia were eventually reunited, and Melia’s tears had formed a lake, the one right here.”

A long silence followed, during which I felt the urge to make sure Bill was still here, safe and sound in my arms. I only noticed the tears rolling down my cheeks when he gently wiped them away, and the trembling of my lips only stopped when he crashed on them. 

“I don’t understand why she did this…” I murmured. “Why she let him risk his life alone, why she didn’t insist on going with him. Waiting so long, not knowing if Eric was still alive, it must have been horrible…”

“I would have done the same,” said Bill. “Asking you to stay safe, I mean. It would have been the only way for me to be happy, knowing that whatever happened to me, you’d still be here to remember me, to remember us.”

“But I wouldn’t have stayed hidden.” 

“I know,” he sighed, “and that’s why I would have made sure nothing happened to you. I would have given my own life for you, love.”

“And I would have done the same for you.”

“Then we’re lucky this will never happen to us.” Bill smiled softly. 

If only...

[katsukis-sad-angel]

If You Got a Valentine From the MHA Boys, Here’s What It Would Say…

Pairings: Denki Kaminari x Reader, Katsuki Bakugou x Reader, Eijirou Kirishima x Reader, Izuku Midoriya x Reader, and Tenya Iida x Reader

Summary: The titLe

Warnings: Swearing, major uwu, mentions of sexual acts, angst?

AN: I finished this around noon, took a nap, finished AOT season 3, and I realize its 7:20 and I haven’t posted anything for v-day yet. Procrastination at it’s finest

---------------------------------------------------------

→ Denki Kaminari

Baby, you make my palms sweaty, knees weak, arms spaghetti

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Love,

Denki

~

He’d probably spell “valentine’s” and “spaghetti” wrong, and you would probably smack him after reading it, but he still showers you in love and affection all day. After he’s taken you out to eat and given you all the gifts he could afford, he’ll show you the new yellow and black lingerie he bought for you. 

He has quite a few hot yet adorable pictures on his phone now.

His love for you really shows up during this holiday, shining through his usual mask of stupidity.

~

why tf did kami call him ‘kacchan’? does he have a death wish or smth?

→ Katsuki Bakugou

Dear Angel,

Roses are red

Valentines always sucked

When you finish reading this

You’re gonna get fucked

Love you,

Katsuki

~

Despite the crude language on the glittery, handcrafted valentine, you bit your lip in anticipation as you pretended to continue reading. Katsuki stands in front of you, tapping his foot impatiently, red eyes alight and body tense and ready to pounce. There definitely wasn’t a raging boner tenting his sweatpants too. Finally, he snatches the red piece of paper from you, tosses it on your desk and grabs you, throwing you over one muscled shoulder to take you to his room.

Let’s just say it was a nice afternoon, a sweet evening, and a sore, yet pleasant morning.

Lots of chocolate.

And roses.

And a giant fluffy teddy bear with a ribbon around its neck you can buy a BJ’s for like $50

~

i would like to bring todoroki to your attention in the gif above

→ Eijirou Kirishima

To My Honeybun;

Y/n, you are the most amazing girlfriend in the world. Have I ever told you that? If I have, do I tell you enough? Every time I look at you, I swear the world stops. The breath catches in my throat, my heart skips a beat and I can’t help but remember how lucky I am to simply hold your hand when I walk you home from school. Your smile is like the sunrise, your eyes are like the falling stars we saw during the meteor shower, and your hair is softer than the finest silk. You know I could go on forever, right? I don’t tell you enough how much you mean to me, plus if words can’t describe how beautiful you are, then how can I tell you how much I love you? 

I love you.

I have lots of fun things planned today so as soon as you finish reading this, get dressed and come downstairs! This will be the best Valentine’s Day ever!

Your loving boyfriend,

Eiji

~

Honestly, I think his letter would be longer. He wouldn’t hesitate to outline in perfect detail exactly what about you and why he loves it and go on and on for at least 7 pages. 

Change my mind

If you’re dating Kirishima Eijirou, news flash; he loves you more that oxygen itself and he will show you that through many acts of kindness, toothy grins, endless gifts, and sensual evenings. He will put your needs and wants before his own, so please take care of him and show him QUADRUPLE the love he shows you. Because he needs it to stay our favorite unbreakable baby.

~

→ Izuku Midoriya

Dear Y/n,

I’ll do my best to keep this short, but knowing me, that’s probably not gonna happen.

First of all, Happy Valentine’s Day! But even without this holiday, you’ll always be my valentine. I don’t need a special day to celebrate your love in my life. Since today the world is celebrating anyway, I am here to tell you how much I love you. 

That sorta rhymes… right?

I guess that doesn’t really matter as long as I mean it, and I do! I can’t remember a day where your pretty smile didn’t light it up or when one of your hugs couldn’t make me warm. 

I have our whole day planned out so get dressed in something pretty (actually, wear whatever you want. You look beautiful in everything) and meet me by the door.

I love you so much!!!

Izuku

~

This would be WAAAAAAY longer if Izuku Midoriya actually wrote this. Like Kirishima, you’re gonna get a 5-page essay on why you’re perfect, a 17-page essay on his favorite things about you, 2 and a half page essay on your face, 5-page essay on how cute you look wearing his clothes, and on and on and on. If you haven’t noticed, HE. LOVES. YOU. With all the love in his big, heroic heart. And yes. Broccoli boy mcfreakin’ planned out every second of the day, so you better appreciate it and tell him so because the letter you just read sounded like, “You’re gonna be bulbasore tonight babe. Love, Izuku” to him.

~

→ Shouto Todoroki

Dear Y/n,

I got my dad’s credit card so why don’t we go on a little shopping spree? Then we can go to McDonaldTrump’s for lunch afterward. 

Meet you downstairs,

Sho

P.S. Oh, and Happy Valentine’s Day, beautiful!

~

It probably wouldn’t be a handwritten letter, most likely a text message, but you would still appreciate it a lot. Not only do you have a hot boyfriend, but he’s rich, he’s kind, and he loves you. Plus, you hate his dad so you were more than happy to drain a few thousand dollars from his bank account. Not that Endeavor would notice. The dude is literally rolling in cash. 

(In reality, Shouto saved up his money so he could spend it on you. He didn’t want you to feel guilty for spending his or be dependent on his father to keep his woman happy)

Since this was a special day for both of you, Sho makes sure you have a lot of fun and you’re sure to remind him how much you love him too.

Cuddling in the evening while eating premium caramel-filled milk chocolates.

New clothes and shoes still in bags and boxes in the corner.

Forehead kisses.

~

kami... bish u abt dumb as fock

→ Tenya Iida

Dear Y/n, 

I have a few things I want to say in my letter before we go out today so I guess I’ll start with this; you are as important in my life as a beat is to the heart, you know that? I can’t live without you anymore. When I think about the days before we started dating… well, I don’t remember them. I feel like I don’t deserve such a special and beautiful girl in my life. Someone perfect, and fun, and kind. Qualities I didn’t know could exist all in one person. 

Never forget that I love you with all my heart and our bond is strong and irreplaceable to me.

Happy Valentine’s Day, darling,

Tenya

~

Tenya would be so stupidly honest and pure in the letter, it brought you to tears.

When you finish reading, you’re crying your eyes out and run to his room and into his arms. When you crash into Tenya’s bed, he nearly has a heart attack when he sees you crying. Unfortunately, this beautiful man is surprised he even had a girlfriend and their relationship lasted this long. After explaining to him that the letter was the sweetest thing you’d ever read and that you loved him so so much, he let out a huge sigh of relief and pulled you close.

HUGS in those huge, muscular arms of his and head pats until you were smiling again.

*He feels so lucky to have you right then*

You get spoiled all freaking day.

The gifts never seem to stop.

Tenya’s true, calm, sweet, and  loving nature really shines through this holiday and you couldn’t feel more blessed when he takes his glasses off and smiles

[wind-of-vittra]

Absent

I hate waiting.

I remember the days growing up under the high boughs of home, cowering with my sister as we heard the sounds of Garlean ships flying overhead. Our mother would bid us to wait until she returned, hand already clutched white with her staff. She'd try to smile. It never really worked.

When I left the woods, I'd swear to myself I would never again. I won't hide. I won't run. Such confidence I had, barely an adult and not knowing any better. Stupid. Those days are long past now, and I'd tell myself that I do now. Know better. More than anyone.

Yet I would find myself aboard the Salemtaza's Voyage.

It wasn't more than day one when I was met with kids less than half my age, looking up at me and my bow in awe. They'd ask all the questions they could manage in their fluttery, hopeful little hearts. To me. To each other. To the world, if they were allowed to. I think one of them would have liked me teaching her how to sing. The other, maybe I can show him some tricks with a bow. Or a wrench, if he wanted to. I should have. But instead I grinned. Averted my eyes. Did naught more than listen before flicking my smoke and walking away.

One of them is dead, now. I couldn't bear to look at him when he was alive. It was harder when he was gone.

It didn't get any better. Not with the kit of an engineer at my heels with the same look. The same eyes, hoping and waiting. Most times it'd be happy. Some of it was sad; those were the hardest times. I'd think to myself 'best look away, kid. Best run to someone who can comfort you.' Search not for comfort in barren lands, I'd have said if I was wiser. More eloquent, like the one who watched over him. But instead I'd tell you in my mind; fuck off. Fuck you. None I would say for the simple reason that I couldn't. Would you have listened? You wouldn't have, not like how you did when I taught you how to fight. And you did, holding that old gun I fixed up like it was the greatest treasure in the world. And I'd be proud of you, cause I'm too stupid to listen to my damn self either.

There's the gladiator. Think himself so strong with his giant sword and twice its baggage upon his shoulders. It was easier with him; share a smoke in the middle of his patrols. Laugh at him whenever he looks stupid during test flights. I'd do my job, he'd do his, what more was there to think than that? And I would have kept to it too, had it not been the appreciation you'd show when I worked on something you wanted me to. When you'd share your findings that I wouldn't care less about, or pluck and sing whatever you've picked up during the expedition. When you'd nod to me for a job you know nothing about, just because I was the one to ask. Even when I didn't know how we were going to pull it off.

Wasn't the only person I'd share a smoke with, either. No, that's an understatement. My thoughts wouldn't be complete without you. Not when your eyes are mine when I need to know for sure what I've seen. Not when your hands would guide where I should be going next. Not when your voice was as good as mine, breaking the silence that had plagued me for years as if it was the easiest thing in the world. And most importantly, lest in embarrassment I turn away from even this, you saw my soul— didn't you? Prayed for it too, while you let me pray for yours. Laughed before my guilt caught up for not having done so for all those years. If I find myself a dreamer, it's your damn fault.

Then there's you. You. Dearest you. The warmth I had thought lost when men of steel gutted my comrades and tore my throat. The one thing of the past I let myself hold, for I trusted no one to keep it safer than myself. I would get drunk upon your memory, whenever things really cut too deeply for me to sleep at night. And I thought that was enough, you know? That it was all I had now; the only kindness I needed within me— until you proved me wrong as you always do. You would find me, and all it would take after was a smile and a touch. I think I prefer this, letting you pull me apart with soft hands until said kindness bursts through the seams. Letting myself be tender to you, just like the days gone by.

I could have been more. I should have been more. What use is it thinking 'I should have' now? Was it why I gathered who I could, scrambling with a rescue plan I was sure wouldn’t work in the midst of horrors older than I’d ever be? Why I would once again turn away from the heart of battle, adrenaline high and my anxiousness thrumming at my eardrums? Is it something they’d even want? A half-washed ex-terrorist as a makeshift lifeboat, trembling and small and alone in the cot of my own ship. Don’t make me laugh.

The funny thing? The fucking irony of it all? I was greeted with a smile you know, even as I was circling around the voyage in preparation to leave. You, shifting around on your chair to face me while I make you a new cup of tea, as if I’m more important than any of the complicated papers that litter your table. Speaking of simple things as if you already believe all of this is going to turn out okay, even if it would have been fine had you been trembling in your room. There’s nothing I can really give in return, save for well wishes through this overwhelming, confusing time. Maybe you’ll hold onto it. Maybe it’ll make you braver. I wish it made me braver right now.

Even now, I try to turn my thoughts away from the lost soldier boy with too much heart to hold in his hands. The same hands that try so hard to sign my name after a book I threw at him as a joke. E, S, K, E. The stubborn, bleeding-hearted fool. He best thank his god that my name is so short, otherwise he'd have been signing for half a day. And he would have too, with the same enthusiasm as he started, gentle smile and everything. I'd ask him how if I could, how he can let himself be so after all that's happened. All that's going to happen. Maybe I'd get angry for him. Cry for him. Or maybe I'll let myself hold his hands in return for once, still turned upwards towards anyone who'd need them. If he'd let me. Only if he'd let me.

And then his sister. His sweetest sister, like fire and levin— passion and good will all bundled into one. Would call my name, always with something new to show or say. It's a miracle how one can look to the future like that, all bright starry-eyed. How, for even a little glimpse, one can give herself and more for the cause without a second's hesitation. I'm still in awe of all things that you've done, even as I still feel the warmth of your little body that was cradled against my chest while we stood guard, tuckered out as you should be. I couldn't have done this without you. I couldn't do this without you. It's why I had to take you back, when pillar after pillar started crumbling around us amidst the sounds of battle. Future could use a miracle like you. I hope you can forgive me.

Part of me wishes I didn’t leave you, though. It’d be easier to wait together. It’s always easier together. Or I would have gone too, if I could. Be long traveled off the ship and on another job by now, smiling easy with a smoke wedged between my lips. Back when I knew better. If I had known better.

And I.

—But I really don’t. I know. I knew this, the moment I turned my ship around back to the same exact spot I had been earlier.

Fuck.

Come to think of it, all this mess started with him. Wasn’t anything new to run into someone in the Clouds. I thought myself lucky; it’s not often an opportunity comes with a, well, half a pretty face. Pick up the things I’ve lost, kick some Garlean ass and make some money along the way. It would have been the easiest job I’ve ever had to run. Guess at my surprise when I found out it was more complicated than that and that he was a prisoner. Hells.

So I did what I do best again; look away. Because I didn’t want to see how they treated you, and how I could too easily see myself in your shackles. Because it’d be easier to work that way, when I could laugh and flirt with my own mask of a smile with my back turned. Because it hurt my head whenever I thought about you too hard and how it wasn’t fair. And it wasn’t. It isn’t.

It never will be.

It’s why you should have gotten angry when I even told you the idea; the mad plan of your great escapade. Then I could have laughed along, waved my hand then went on my way. Convinced myself I did, in fact did all I could and leave it at that. Move on. Forget it all happened. But then you smiled, and with the softest and kindest voice I’ve heard from you, thanked me. It took all I had to smile, salute you then go back to my tent to cry. Cry with everything I could until I could pick myself up again to think of a plan that actually works. It felt like a redemption, you know? Like forgiveness. Like I was reborn.

That’s why; no more than an hour? Fuck you.

It’s like the sky itself is falling apart while I sit here, my hand on the wheel as tightly as my mother’s upon her staff and the engines still burning hot like a pyre. Here at the end of the world— at the end of it all. And I’m praying. Praying for them. Praying for me.

Praying for you.

And waiting.

[monsters-under-the-willowtree]

The Blueberry Trees: Part One

A fairytale that will set the stage for several upcoming Reader stories. Part One is purely fairytale, Part Two will be a Reader x Fae story

1700 words

The cool mists of Knot Knix Forest rolled over the nearby farmer’s fields in waves every morning, carrying dew and life with them. Farmers blessed by the fae-woods’ breath, who respected the ancient ways and left gifts of the first harvest fruits from every season at the edge of the fairy rings, were said to grow three times as much food as those beyond the reach of the forest.

It was this prosperity and fertility that drew greedy eyes and crooked men to buy up all the land surrounding the fae woods, eager to cash in on this seemingly free bounty unheard of outside of Knot Knix. The fairy rings were dug up and the rivers straightened as these new masters of the plow furrowed the ground right up to the edge of the wood. This broke the ancient root systems of those heralds at the edge of the forest and trees began to die. They were clear-cut and hauled away, the farmlands expanded beyond their original borders to fill in the new, open ground left behind.

As trees died and fairy rings disappeared, so too dried up the life-bearing mists and the babbling brooks that flowed outwards from Knot Knix. There were no first fruits that year, nor the year after. Three years of the ground turning dry and desolate convinced these new masters that the ground had simply been used up. That newer, better ground was to be had in the woods. So, they began to chop. And hack. Mulch and chip and till and bulldoze with machines that belched smog into the cool, clean air. Down fell the mighty trees of Knot Knix as acres and acres of stumps were uprooted to make way for the expanding farms.

This insult did not go unnoticed by the true masters of the wood; The Fae. None of the insults had gone unnoticed. But the catastrophic loss of so many of their trees was the final straw. Every machine that dared roll towards what remained of the woods was cursed to break no matter how many mechanics came to fix them. Every worker who stepped foot beyond the old line where the forest once had ended went home so sick with fever that they could not rise from their bed for a week. And every seed that was sown, every bush and tree planted, every seedling pressed into that stolen ground withered and died before morning.

Finally, the crooked men who had purchased the farm came down from their office buildings to see what the trouble could be. And they were greeted by a youth with eyes too bright and teeth too sharp, ears too long and clothes too old. These men shouted for the youth to get out of the road so they could drive their shining cars to their worksite, but the youth would not budge.

“Return the land to whom it belongs,” they were warned. But the men did not listen, and they drove around the child.

“Who do they think they are?” The men asked themselves. “Don’t they know we paid a lot of money for this terrible investment?”

When they arrived at the broken machines and the half-completed work they were greeted by the same small youth. Seeing the child again, one of the men opened his lunch pail and handed the boy a small baggie of blueberries. He patted them on the head and told the child to run along back home.

“How can I go back home when you and your farm are hurting the land? Everybody is starving because of you!” The child stamped their foot, making the men groan and shoo the youth along.

“This is our land, we can do what we want with it. If you’re so hungry, stick those berries in the ground and grow some more. Now scat!”

The boy ripped open the bag, scattering blueberries on the ground, and snarled at the men with their sharp teeth. “You want me to feed the world with blueberries? Fine. I will feed the world with blueberries.”

The men scoffed and walked away to survey the damages, walking around the farm and then walking back to their shiny cars. Or, at least, the place where the shining cars had been.

In their place were massive trees, laden so heavily with blueberries that their branches brushed the ground. Shocked and amazed, they rushed forward and tasted the fruits. They were the sweetest and juiciest they had ever tasted. So much so that they immediately called their businesses and requested meetings with investors.

While they were on the phone, the businessmen kept eating. And once they started eating, they could not stop. They ate even as their teeth and ears grew longer. They ate even as their skin grew fuzzier. They ate even as their bodies became smaller. They ate and ate until they had eaten themselves into cottontail rabbits, and the sound of a car driving down the dusty road terrified them into running away into the woods where they were never seen again.

But that is not the end of the story. No. These scattered blueberries that had been grown into trees by fae magic stood tall against the barren backdrop and attracted the gaze of the local farmers. These were wise old men and women, leathery from sun and wind and hard work who knew better than to mess with the old fae woods. They came to these strange, unnatural trees, and were greeted by a youth with eyes too bright and teeth too sharp and they tipped their hats in respect to the fae child.

“Return the forest to whom it belongs,” the fae told them, standing in the center of this new faerie ring made by these unnatural trees. The farmers removed their hats entirely and tipped their heads forward, replying that their own farms had been taken from them too. Bought up by the men who had purchased the land around the forest. They did not own the land anymore, so it was up to the owners to give.

“They will bother you no longer. Your land is yours once again. What will you do with it?”

Shocked, but grateful, the farmers each pledged to plant trees to restore the destroyed forest, and then some. That the forest would be grander and mightier than it had been before, by their efforts.

This pleased the fae child, who plucked a handful of berries from the trees and offered them to the farmers.

“Take these, then. But do not eat them. Treat them as seeds, and plant them to restore the forest. They are full of magic, and will grow quickly. Come back when you run out and pick more. Plant every berry from these trees, and the bounty you knew before will be returned.”

And so they did. Every farmer received deeds to their original lands in the mail and all set to work picking berries from the trees, planting them to replenish the forest. They rented cranes and lifts to reach the berries at the top, paying lithe young boys and girls to scour the trees for anything that had been left behind. As baskets and bushels of berries were carried home, new hardwood trees sprouted where the seeds were planted. Seemingly overnight they would shoot from the ground, growing dozens of feet each week until they brushed the sky.

It was easy to replace the old woods. The ground where the old trees had once stood was dark and loamy, even after the abuse it had endured. These trees were planted quickly, even considering the immense scale of the Knot Knix. Berries were sent to farmers on all sides and all sides, for a hundred miles, worked together to replenish the forest. But when the trees were still covered with berries even after the old forest had been replaced, there came resistance. Some did not believe it was their responsibility to repay the old woods when they too had been wronged by the situation. Some simply could not afford another small harvest, they needed to plant their old land in full to have enough food and money to feed their families.

Heated debates and town hall meetings on all sides of Knot Knix broke out. But as summer wore on and the area affected by the desolation only grew, eventually the warning left by the fae won out over all. Through the winter months trees were planted all around the forest and friends and family dug through snow drifts to find the last of the berries left on the blueberry trees. These were all divided equally, and each farmer added more and more trees to their property in the hopes that the fae would keep their promise once the forest was restored.

Finally, a year and a day after the first seed was planted, the last seed was placed in the soft earth amid a grand festival. The ground trembled and shook just before the last tree sprang to life, unfurling into a giant ash tree before the eyes of all who had gathered for the event. And then… all was still. All was quiet.

And then… bird song. Birds that hadn’t been heard for years broke into song and cheering broke out throughout the festival. There were some sniffles among the cheers, as many of these families had lost so much in these recent years, but there was loss felt by all. And therefore, the hopeful joy at finally having planted the last seed was also felt by all.

The festivities continued, which was why it was almost missed when the mists arrived once again. Pouring from between the newly planted trees like a fog bank, Knot Knix unfurled it’s magic once again. Fruit trees spontaneously bloomed. Sprouts pushed through the ground. And a little fae child with eyes too bright and ears too long watched from up the hill, at the faerie ring, as a truly joyful, raucous cheer rose from the farming families below. A smile tugged at their lips, and as the faerie disappeared into the trees, the blueberry trees waved in the wind, beginning to blossom once again as well.

[espship18]

Seventeen reacting to you saying ‘I love you’ | Seventeen AU

Hello my darlings! Soooooo, I’ve been working on this since March..2020, am I right? lol 

S. Coups: To be honest, it would be difficult to keep your love a secret from Coups with 12 crack heads running around 24/7. You learned very quick that word spreads like wild fire around the dorms, but you got caught when you were talking to the youngins about where you saw you and Coups. You got blushy when the word “love” was dropped, and they all freaked out, leaving you dead because they ran to Coups saying that you loved him. Of course, the youngins were right- and Coups of course loved you back!

Jeonghan: Okay, this is adorable. You two would cook and bake together, it would be a big stress reliever. One evening while Han would be at work, you decided to bake a cake to try out your piping skills. When you got the cake baked, you couldn’t decide how to decorate it-when you remembered your bubbling feeling for your boyfriend. You piped I love you on the cake, and when Jeonghan came home, he was so ecstatic and showering you in kisses. It was also the first cake that never got ate- Jeonghan admired it as long as he could. 

Joshua: The first time you said I love you would be around the five month mark in your relationship. You’d be over at his place(be the dorm or his own little apartment, use your imagination) and you two would be playing the switch on the TV. You two are quite the competitive couple when it comes to the switch. So after a particular close match/race, you’d say the magic words after a giggle fit. It would take him by surprise no doubt, but he would kiss you like nobody’s business!

Hoshi: Omg, he would be the happiest and most smiley baby in the world! I think it would be super cute if the first time you said “I love you” to Hoshi would be at a carnival/fair. Totally cheesy, but you would gawk over the giant teddy bear and Hosh would make it his LEGACY to get you that bear. After legit eleven times at the game, he won the bear and you’d hug him in excitement and say “I love you!”

Jun: Okay, so we have another anniversary scenario! You and Jun would have a cute little game to where you would show each other how much you pay attention to one another. This game becomes very important around your first anniversary because you’re competitive and you wanna win. You decide to bring Jun his favorite food for lunch with a little card that would say, “I love you more than you love (insert food item).” And as you guessed it, you won the game! 

Wonwoo: Okay, a little dorky and a sprinkle of angsty, but a happy ending trust me! As you’re learning things about one another, you both are adjusting to how you handle stress while around each other. When work get’s stressful for you, you shut down and it effects your mood goes downhill fast. Wonwoo of course wants to be there for you, so when you don’t open up, he gets a little defensive and you tell him that you love him in a screaming fit, but all becomes quiet when you said it, except for his I love you back. 

Woozi: Okay so you can tell how much Jihoon loves you by the amount of time he allows you to pull him out of his studio. You convince him to leave the studio for a night for a self-care night, and not only does Jihoon give you no objections, he does every suggestion you have! Such as some essential oil therapy, a cute little mask- whatever you want. Then as if the puzzle was complete, you’d tell Jihoon that you loved him and it was the sweetest moment ever!

Dokyeom: You two would be so nervous about saying I love you to each other, six months into the relationship, no one had said anything! You both would be super paranoid, but Seokie would be more paranoid than you. He would be really scared that he wasn’t being good enough for you, so he would start acting different and not himself. You eventually broke his case and when he confessed, you replied with “of course I love you, you silly boy.” 

Mingyu: You two would be friends for a while with sparks flying since day one. As you realized that you loved Gyu, you decided to take the reins like a bad ass and show Mingyu how you felt(go you!). You decided to recreate the scene where you both met- the place where you fell in love with him. Gyu would love the idea of going to the place where you first met, but once you explained why you’re doing it, Gyu would be hit with this truck of emotions and he would say I love you back with a passionate kiss to follow~

Minghao: Okay so a moment of content and relaxation would produce the golden moment. As you and Minghao would be laying together listening to the birds out the window, you’d give his chest the most tender kiss, waiting a few seconds later to say I love you. Silence would fall and you almost freaked out, but Minghao didn’t say anything at first. But he wrapped his arms around you extra tight, gave you a tender kiss on the head with a quiet, “I love you too.” 

Seungkwan: Sometimes insecurities get the best of us- you and your boyfriend are guilty of that. Sometimes your boyfriend would be worried that his sometimes flamboyant and extroverted personality and he’d kinda shut down. Of course, when he needs you most, you’re right there to give him the pep talk he needs. AS you would be giving him a pep talk he really needed, you would slip out the phrase, “those are the things I love about you.” Needless to say, Seungkwan never had an insecurity like that ever again. (: 

Vernon: Okay so, I think you two would take more of a creative approach to saying I love you rather than actually saying it. It wouldn’t be until your one year anniversary that you would drop the actual I love you bomb. When it came time to be your one year, you made a whole set up of different things you love about Hansol, even bringing tears to his eyes. It’s super sweet, and the whole surprise ends with the simple teary-eyed and smiley, “I love you.” 

Dino: Last but not least, our little Chan! To be honest, I think a good old fashioned walk home would do it. You both lived in the city, and Chan is such a gentleman that he would never let you walk home alone after a date. Which btw, Chan walks you to your door, not just to the building. When you reach your door and Chan has given you the 100th compliment of the night, you giggle and slip out that you love him and how he makes you feel. He’d be such a deer in the headlights, but he would stay over that night and you’d cuddle all night with movies. 

`~STA

[starkerforlife6969]

Tony Stark’s Home for Wayward Monsters

irondad and spiderson fluff

Tony’s life isn’t normal. He’s always known that. Hell, he’s Ironman. He’s been to outer space. Seen planets, defeated monsters, and when his own little boy gets bitten by a radioactive spider, honestly-

It’s all part and parcel of his life.

Peter Stark is the cutest little six year old in the world, as far as Tony and the other avengers are concerned. He’s so tiny, with the chubbiest cheeks and angelic chestnut curls and he bounces around and climbs up ceilings and makes little web-hammocks in the corner of rooms and often scares the life out of his old man by poking his little head down from the ceiling and Tony jumps so hard he nearly breaks his leg.

Peter is also the sweetest thing in the world. He’s such a good kid. Kind to a fault, and Tony would destroy everyone if Peter so much as grazed his knee.

Peter eats all his vegetables and gets excited by homework and is patient and adoring when watching Tony in lab- all big deer eyes and enthusiastically asking if he can have a go with the radioactive goo now, please daddy?

Natasha strolls in after picking Peter up from kindergarten one sunny afternoon, and Tony sips his coffee, frowning at the look on her face. She looks happy. That’s never a great sign-

And then Peter walks in-

He’s got a gigantic husky in his arms. The dog is bigger than him, seriously- but Peter’s strength- Christ- and that dog is all teeth and scabbed fur and-

“Daddy! Daddy! Look, Auntie Nat and I found a puppy!” says the big ball of fur with legs.

Tony stands, immediately wanting to yank Peter away from the dangerous canine, but the husky is apparently very content to be petted as Peter sets him down and then throws his arms around him in a bear hug.

The husky hooks its giant head over Peter’s shoulder- surrounding the boy- and bares his teeth as if Peter’s his young and Tony is the threat when-

Natasha takes pity on him, and hoists Peter easily out of the dog’s hold, and into Tony’s arms.

Peter giggles delightedly- dog fur all over his clothes. “Can we, daddy? Please! Please, please! I’ll look after him, I promise!” And his eyes are so wide and so earnest and-

Tony can’t say no.

***

But he taught his son a lesson that day. He taught his son that scared things, with too many teeth and not enough love, are to be brought up to the penthouse for their new home.

Peter, not two weeks later, comes in with Bruce (who was on pick up duty today, not like it’s a chore, though) and a man smeared with dirt and one very shiny metal arm.

“Daddy!” Peter announces proudly, “this is Bucky!”, and he tugs ‘Bucky’ (who looks so terrifyingly like an assassin that Tony briefly considers suiting up) into the penthouse.

Bruce looks utterly dazed.

Bucky looks frightened.

Ginger- the ferocious, but in actuality adorable, husky, rushes over to lick Peter’s face, and then nuzzle like a cat between Bucky’s legs.

Bucky relaxes, just a little, and pets the dog’s head.

“He was lost, daddy! And he doesn’t have a home!” His little face looks utterly-heart broken, and Tony stares in disbelief.

“I…” Bucky shakes his head, and tries to gently extract his fingers from Peter’s little hands, and looks very confused when the grip doesn’t come away. “I…He found me- I was- in an alley, and he said- something about-“

“A feeling,” Tony sighs. Peter’s ‘spider-sense’. A sort of extra-sense that tells him when something wrong is happening close by. “Listen, Peter- I’m sure Bucky here has-“

“Nowhere to go.” Peter pouts firmly, looking up at Tony with wide-eyes that glimmer with betrayal. “We’re gonna…he’s staying, right daddy?” He whispers, and Tony looks down at his little boy and-

Gives Bucky a guest room.

Just for the night.

***

Three weeks later, Bucky - the winter soldier- is firmly a part of the family. He takes Ginger for walks and has nightmares which make him stay up late at night with Tony in the lab, talking in hushed tones about Hydra, and giving information that’s vital- incredibly vital- to tracking down the last remnants of them.

Steve had taken one look at him and Tony had groaned.

Steve’s eyes had gone immensely blue and his jaw had dropped and Bucky had blushed and-

Tony had pinched the bridge of his nose and poured more coffee, before making Peter another blueberry pancake.

*** Peter is a few days before his seventh birthday, when he comes home with an astounded Clint, and a man with long black hair and angry-defiance in his eyes.

Peter is also dragging a huge hammer in his free hand.

It’s leaving a dent in the floor.

Tony stares.

And then sighs.

So Loki is a god, who Peter and Clint had stumbled across on their way home (maybe Tony should switch Peter’s school) and found Loki crying and trying to lift this hammer.

Peter had thought he’d needed help- and lifted it in one easy motion and now-

His seven year old is heir to the throne of a planet he’s never heard of.

“Cool,” Clint grins, ruffling Peter’s curls as Loki sulks in the corner, “make me a Duke or something, yeah, Petey?”

Peter shakes his head solemnly. “That would be abusing my powers.”

Tony can’t help it- he laughs. But he waggles a stern finger at Loki. “We are not keeping him.”

Loki gapes indignantly. Peter scrunches up his tiny nose in confusion. “But he’s hurt- and we…we help people when they’re sad and lost, don’t we, daddy?”

Bucky doesn’t meet Tony’s eyes, and Tony sighs.

*** It turns out though, Loki only stays for a few months.

And it’s a shame, really, because- goddamnit, the snooty prince was starting to grow on Tony.

Loki could conjure allusions- beautiful and intricate- and had spent a great many hours showing Peter little stories in the air- looking pleased at Peter’s effusive praise over Loki’s talents.

Loki could shape-shift- into anything- but mostly a pretty pony that Peter would ride around the penthouse.

Although, Loki sometimes stared at Tony’s arc-reactor for a touch too long, like he wanted to steal it and its power-

But then Peter would ask for some hot chocolate and tug on the end of Loki’s green robes and-

The god would settle back down.

But then in a hail of thunder and lighting, there’s another god landing in his living room- yelling with joy over having found his brother and his hammer and the new heir to the throne-

And Tony finds himself with the newest member of the avengers.

*** Bucky’s packing to move in with Steve when Peter’s eleven.

Tony muses over how different the penthouse will be without him-

And that’s when Peter comes home with a homeless man.

“He’s not homeless, dad,” Peter rolls his eyes, dragging in the sweaty wreck of a human being in behind him, “he’s got a symbiote.”

“It’s a parasite!” The man chokes desperately, looking like he’d love to run out, but his limbs keep jerkily propelling him forward. “A parasite!”

“Don’t call Venom that!” Peter scolds, reaching out his hand to pat some black goo on Eddie’s arm. “He’s much more than a parasite.”

“Yes, little spider,” croons a hissing voice that Tony- Tony cannot be dealing with this shit right now. “The spider understands. The spider would make a good host. But not better than you, our dearest Eddie-“

Tony hoists Peter up into his arms, settling him on his hip and shaking his head at Eddie (who he’s starting to recognise as that reporter who went missing) and saying firmly: “Ground rule: No using my son as a host.”

Eddie scrubs his face deliriously, and Venom asks for chocolate.

***

On Halloween night, Eddie comes back complaining about the taste of blood in the back of his throat, but his arms are cradled protectively around Peter who’s cuddled into his chest- supported by a tangled mass of black lines.

Tony looks up from his work and jerks to his feet- rushing over to his son.

“Some dude- tried to grab him.” Eddie whispers, and Peter is still crying a little, and Tony holds him tight- heart pounding. “We- I- We- we ate him.” Eddie mumbles. “Sorry.”

Tony decides right then and there, that Eddie might be his favourite... monster?Stray?

Tony spends the whole night eating chocolate with his son, praising him, telling him how kind and good and amazingly brave he is, and Ginger snuffles into Peter’s neck until the boy starts smiling again- wobbly and cautious.

Thor and Loki visit as soon as they realise what’s happened.

They bring a ship full of Asgardian gold.

Bucky comes too- and tells Peter about nightmares and how to make them go away.

Tony thinks there might be a thing to having a home for Wayward….monsters? Strays? Alien-people?

*** When Peter’s sixteen, he brings home a stray in the form of a boyfriend, and Tony is saying no before they’re even introduced.

“Dad,” Peter grins, rocking on his heels excitedly. “This is Wade-“

“No.” Tony says, but he has a horrifying feeling he’s already lost, because Wade is smiling like he won the lottery and- “No.” Tony says again, horrified.

Maybe he will send Peter to be the Asgardian King after all.

At least there won’t be any Wade Wilsons in space.

(Tony says yes, 6 years later, when Wade asks for permission for Peter’s hand. He also blasts him right in the chest with his gauntlet and Wade lets out a little ‘oof’. “You treat him right.” Tony says, though he’s said it before, and Wade has never ever treated Peter wrong. “It’s not just me who’ll destroy you- there are-“

“I get it, I get it. A whole universe of people on Pete’s side. Damn, your son’s really good at making alliances. You know he met some woman the other day? We were walking along and he got this feeling, so we went over to an old blockbusters and this woman named Carol was-“

“No.” Tony says, walking away. “No.”)

[remys-lucky-franc]

Return to Coney Island - An Astoria Fic - Cerberus x MC (Grace)

I got a request for some Cerberus x MC Date Fluff from the lovely @mcbatty​ :)  Thank you so much for requesting and I really, really hope you enjoy this!

Cerberus is just the sweetest, most joyous boy and I just want wrap him up in a big hug!!  (I've only read his first season!) I am a huuuuuge sucker for soft boys with sad stories.

I've written this with my MC's name (Grace) but if you'd prefer to read it with a different name, let me know and I'd be more than happy to edit it in for you.  

Word count ~1800  //  Image Credit:  http://nyc2way.blogspot.com/

No triggers or warnings on this wee fic, it's just fluffy and feel-good! <3

---

"Grace, do you need help?  What are you doing?"

Cerberus pokes his head around the door-frame, muscled arms folded  across his broad chest as he shakes his head smiling at his girl; she's packing food into a tote bag on the counter.

"You know they have places we can eat on Coney Island, right?"

Grace zips the bag up and stretches up on her toes to place a kiss on his cheek as she scoots past him towards the bedroom, calling behind her,

"I know, but I thought it would be nice to take some snacks for a beach picnic, then we can get something else later?  Plus, I'm sure you'll manage!"

Cerberus chuckles as Grace reappears in a cute cap and a pair of shades,

"I won't let the picnic go to waste, I promise.  Ready?"

Grace hands him their bag of munchies and links her arm through his as they head out of the door and towards the station.  

---

Cerberus is bouncing on his toes as the Q train arrives, energy radiating from him,

"This was a great idea, Grace!  Really cool way to spend our day off!"

Finding a seat on the busy carriage, their knees bump as the train starts to move.  Cerberus intertwines his fingers with Grace's as she murmurs,

"I thought it would be nice to go back and just have a good time?  When we went before we were on the look out for...  You know..."

Cerberus looks stoic for a few moments, finally commenting,

"We weren't even 'together' yet, last time when we came here."

Grace nods happily as she squeezes his hand,

"But we are now."

The train speeds through Brooklyn towards their destination as Cerberus helps himself to the club sandwiches that Grace packed, laughing as she rolls her eyes, telling him that they were supposed to be for the beach.

Time flies as they chat about work, ideas for vacation and future dates.  Before they know it, an hour has passed and they're ready to disembark at Stillwell Avenue.  Heading out of the station, Cerberus wraps an arm around Grace's waist, planting a soft kiss on the top of her denim hat as he squeezes her close for a few steps, his arms remaining draped around her as they walk.  Grace feels a blush colouring her cheeks at the casual intimacy of his touch: she loves the way he wants to be close to her always, how affectionate he is.

Reaching the beach at the east side of Luna Park, Cerberus lays down a round beach blanket printed to look like a pepperoni pizza, placing their picnic bag down at the end before plopping himself in the middle.  Beaming up at Grace as she pulls a bottle of sunscreen out of her purse, waggling it in his direction, he stretches, pulling the dark grey t-shirt over his head, laughing and taking the bottle from his girl.     Grace stealthily admires his frame from  behind the camouflage of her sunglasses, taking the bottle back, applying some to her arms and sprawling down on the giant pizza beside him.  Grace delves into the bag, tossing a bag of potato chips to Cerberus who catches them effortlessly.  Grace sets up a little speaker on the blanket and connects the 'Day at the Beach' playlist she created especially for today while Cerberus happily tosses chips into his mouth, tapping his foot to the beat, watching  the world go by.  They lie there people-watching, watching the shapes of the clouds in the sky change, soaking in the atmosphere and the sunshine for a while before Grace spots a vendor selling watermelon.  She grabs her purse, ruffling Cerberus' shaggy brown hair then jumping to her feet,

"Wait here!  I'll be right back!"  

Cerberus shakes his head and fixes the hair that Grace mussed up as he watches her jog effortlessly across the sand, his heart  swelling as he watches her.  As she disappears from his line of sight, he takes out his phone and checks the group chat he has with his brothers, waiting for her to return.  Before he's realised, she's back, carrying two watermelons with neon straws in them!  A peal of laughter rings out of Cerberus as he looks at the giddy grin on her face,

"What did you get?!"

Grace giggles as she hands him one, sitting down cross-legged opposite him,

"Try it!!"

Cerberus cocks his head to the side, watching her bright eyes dance with mischief, before taking a big slurp through the straw, blinking hard as he swallows and lets out a small cough,

"That's...  Pretty strong stuff, Grace..."

She beams at him as she takes a dainty sip,

"They scoop out all the watermelon, then blend it with ice and vodka and put it back inside!"

He takes another sip, acknowledging,

"It pack a punch but it's really tasty!  Hey, come here, let's send Orthrus and Nemean a selfie?"

Grace shifts herself so that her back is  against Cerberus' chest as he stretches his arm out, making sure both of them, and their tropical-looking vodka watermelons are in the shot,

"Say, 'Watermelon!'..."

Cerberus laughs heartily as he presses his cheek against hers, snapping the shot as they mouth in unison,

"Watermelon!"

He grins, wide and white, as he sends it, then sets it as his lock screen wallpaper.

---

After having enough sunbathing, Cerberus and Grace gather their belongings, strolling hand in hand along the bustling boardwalk, feeling slightly tipsy from the spiked slushie.  Cerberus pulls Grace towards the carnival games, a flash of excitement in his eyes, spotting the Strongman Game, and the variety of stuffed animals hanging up for the winner...  Grace wraps her arms around him from behind as he stops in front of the game, grinning at the attendant.  He pays the fee and accepts the mallet, staring at the bell, twenty feet in the air.  Graces stands back as he effortlessly swings the mallet in a perfect arc, clean and high, landing squarely on the lever.  The puck flies up the tower striking the bell hard!  Cerberus drops the mallet with a ‘woop’, gathering Grace in his arms and spinning her around and around in the air as she squeals and giggles.  He kisses her as he places her back on the ground, gesturing toward the prizes,

"Which is your favourite, Grace?"

She shrugs her shoulders, scrunching her nose as she answers, sounding almost shy,

"You're my favourite. You choose?"

Cerberus' mouth opens like he's about to say something, but he just winks at her instead, turning towards the attendant, reappearing moments later with the biggest, fluffiest, plush bear Grace has ever seen!  The bear is so large, that he's almost obscured behind it, his head poking around from behind it, cracking up with laughter,

"Did I pick well??  Do you like him??"

Grace wraps her arms around the bear and her boyfriend, laughing so hard there are tears in her eyes,

"Like him?!  I love him!!  And I love you!!"

Cerberus beams as he tries to manoeuver the bear out of the way, with somewhat limited success, to kiss Grace,

"What shall we call him??"

Grace, running her fingers through the bears soft fur, winks at Cerberus as she speaks,

"He's big and soft and snuggly,  just like you.  How about Bear-berus?"

Cerberus disintegrates into hysterics,

"Bear-berus it is!"

---

After playing various other funfair games, Grace smirks at a blushing Cerberus when his stomach growls loudly,

"You wanna get some food?"

He nods quickly as Grace catches his fingers in hers, dancing across the boardwalk towards Nathan's.  The diner is jam-packed and loud with a jukebox playing and patrons laughing and joking, enjoying their day at the beach.  Cerberus, Bear-berus and Grace squeeze into a booth together, ordering a couple of their famous Chilli Dogs with fries and a large chocolate milkshake to share.  She smiles softly as she watches Cerberus tuck into the food:  she loves being with him.  Everything about his is so genuine, so honest.  He makes her feel like she can do anything when they're together.  She feels so lucky to have him.  

Grace has barely touched hers by the time his is gone, and he's ordering a second portion of fries.  His face colours as she tries to hold back a chuckle,

"I knew a portion to share wouldn't be enough!"

Cerberus drains at least a quarter of the milkshake before grinning at her up at her,

"I think Bear-berus ate most of them when we weren't looking...  You know, we should come back here next time Orthrus, Nemean and I all have the day off:  they'd love this."

Grace laughs,

"We may have to call in advance to make sure they have enough food!"

---

Leaving Nathan's, the couple call into the hall of mirrors on their way to the Ferris wheel, giggling and pulling faces at each other in the distorted glass.  Tears roll down Grace's cheeks as they stop in front of one particular mirror that makes her look tall and broad and Cerberus short and skinny, crushed under the weight of the giant fluffy bear; she pulls out her cellphone, snapping a photo of their hilarious reflection and sending it to May.  

Finally arriving at the Ferris wheel, they join the slowly moving queue.  Cerberus toys with Grace's ponytail,

"Last time when we got to the top we never got to enjoy the view, we were so busy looking for Thanatos."

She nods,

"You're right.  But this time, we can really enjoy it properly!"

Bending down, Cerberus kisses Grace gently,

"I enjoy everything when we're together, Grace.  Even the stuff that shouldn't be fun, like queueing."

Grace pulls his lips back to hers,

"Same."

When they reach the front of the queue, Cerberus jokes with the attendant that he needs three tickets:  one for him, one for Grace and one for the bear.  The attendant smiles, telling him that anyone that cute gets on for free.  He beams joyously as he quips,

"Hey Grace, you're so cute you get to ride for free, we only need to pay for me and Bear-berus!"  

Tugging Grace's hand they find their seat and are secured in place by the attendant before they soar into the sky.  Cerberus swings his dangling legs as they near the top, breathing in the fresh air as he turns to Grace,

"This has been a perfect day!"

Grace's head lolls against his shoulder as she sighs contentedly,

"Mmmh-hmmm..."

Cerberus' bright eyes smile as he tips her chin up to look at him, his thumb rubbing over her knuckles,

"You're the best thing that ever happened to me."

Grace reaches up stroking his cheek tenderly , her eyes flitting between his amber eyes and the warm curve of his lips,  

"I love you."

Cerberus closes the distance between them, whispering against Grace's lips,

"I love you too."

They settle there, happy and comfortable with each other, enjoying the view as they sail through the sky together:  a perfect end to a perfect date.

[couldnt-think-of-a-funny-name]

Reasons To Love Jason Grace, in no particular order

was literally raised by wolves and yet still managed to be The Most Polite Boy In The World

hadn’t formally met Apollo but knew they were technically brothers so he still stuck his neck out for him

lost his glasses on the top of his head all the time

when he was trying to relay information to the group but kept getting distracted by how hot his girlfriend was to the point he had trouble forming sentences 

when he grew his hair out and started tugging at it whenever he got stressed so it was always sticking up in a million directions

when he was reading that informational pamphlet on Hercules’ island and was so interested in it that he walked straight into a tree

got stabbed through the gut and the literal first words out of his mouth after were ‘I finally stayed conscious for a whole battle’

when he was fighting with the werewolves and he knew his sword wasn’t gonna work so he deadass got on all fours and started growling like he was literally about to go head-to-head teeth-to-teeth with those wolves omfg

when he got caught in that net trap the dwarves set up and he’s hanging upside down and Leo goes forward to cut him out and he was literally like ‘no, Leo, go on with out me, I’m done, do not cut me out of this net, I genuinely want you to leave me here to die, please leave, I really just need a moment alone right now’ asdfghjkl

when he was too busy having A Moment(tm) with a batch of brownies and a jar of homemade peach jam to focus on the merpeople’s warning 

when he was getting attacked by his former Camp Jupiter friends and every time he shocked or hit one of them he personally apologized 

“I’m breathing Dylan?!?!”

when he didn’t remember that he could fly but instinctively threw himself over the railing at the grand canyon to save Piper anyway and as he was falling he was like ‘well at least this is probably noble and cool or whatever’

his definition of teenage rebellion was stargazing on the roof of his own cabin 

when he got so close to telling Zeus to go fuck himself that even Percy was like ‘w h a t a r e y o u d o i n g’

he knew Leo so well that by simply looking at what Leo was drinking he was able to figure out the boy was upset about something 

he knew Piper was upset that her memory of their first kiss wasn’t real so he tried to recreate it for her

when everyone told him not to join his legion bc it was the worst and he was like ‘then I’ll make it the best’ 

he and Reyna used to geek out over history together and had a whole future itinerary written up

when he somehow had enough patience to deal with that wind god for like 2 weeks without once trying to strangle him...icon

“Thank you, General Eisenhower!” the snark....

canonically had to hug people whenever he got excited 

the stapler incident(tm)

the fact that he never really wanted to be a leader but always took the job without complaint because he knew that’s what people wanted from him

when he made the MOST dramatic entrance of all time in that tower- lightning, flying, winds, yelling, the whole shebang- only to discover Leo had already defeated the dwarves and he was like. oh. 

swore to never drink alcohol after Thalia told him about their mother

briefly thought turning into a tree was somehow a puberty thing for children of Zeus and was terrified 

the whole scene with Nico and Cupid

when he made that huge lightning bolt to kill all the guards attacking them and Apollo was like ‘well there goes the element of surprise’ and he was just like ‘sorry I got a little over excited’ asdfgb

when Percy got out of Tartarus and Jason just yelled out a relieved and emotional ‘DUDE!’ and gave him a bear hug 

he didn’t know when his own birthday was for sixteen years someone please hold me

the fact that people at Camp Jupiter apparently made ‘Our Saving Grace(tm)’ jokes often enough that he was annoyed by it even when he had amnesia 

when Piper fell asleep on him during their first quest and he just looked at Leo like ‘Are you seeing this??? This is happening???? What do I Do???’ 

all the head injuries.....we love a clumsy bitch

his first appearance in the series he had amnesia and his last words was ‘Remember!’....the absolute drama.....

didn’t he wear like fucking dress shoes or something into the big battle with all the giants at the Parthenon 

the action figures

searched for Leo for months before Chiron literally made him stop and enroll in school

his favorite color was purple

that little speech he always did when he wanted to intimidate someone like remember he’d use the winds to make him taller than whoever he was fighting and got all ‘I TOPPLED THE BLACK THRONE OF KRONOS AND FUCKED KRIOS UP REAL BAD AND THAT SEA MONSTER WAS A PUNK BITCH-’ like remember

trusted Nico enough to drink poison 

made Frank praetor 

was so incredibly dedicated to getting recognition for all the gods so history wouldn’t repeat itself 

he made a fucking diorama guys it was so cute 

was completely respectful of Piper’s decision to break up even though he didn’t have any second thoughts in the relationship and a love god literally told him they were soul mates

when he had an identity crisis over the Roman camp or the Greek camp but decided he could be both(tm)

listen Jason Grace was the sweetest, most dramatic nerd of a hero out there and I.....miss......him......

[mactuna]

𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔒𝔫𝔢 ~ 𝔍𝔞𝔢𝔪𝔦𝔫

Word Count: 1.87 K

Genre: fluff

Summary: jaemin finally settles for the one <3

"nA jAeMiN, they are not just old ladies!"

Jaemin was driving the two of you to the nursing home that was like, three blocks away from the SME building that you two worked at. If he hadn't been the one driving, you would've most likely thrown a chicken bone at his adorablely cute face. Without any regrets.

"You'll see when we get there."

By the time you arrived, the head nurse had already gotten out all of the porcelain plates that you would be decorating today.

"Y/N!! Is that the boyfriend you've been telling us about???”

"He is so handsome!!"

"I think he is a good match for our dear Y/N, right?"

Your face was literally the equivalent of the surface of a tomato and you desperately hid your face in Jaemin's shirt while he just laughed at you.

"Oh? She talks about me? What does she say about me?"

"Darling, she's head over heels for you! You two are so cute together!!"

"Stay like that and I'll take a picture for your wedding day!!"

By then, you couldn't even bear to move your head away from him because it was so embarrassingly red and you knew that frickin' Jaemin would be slightly pink at best with his classic cheesy smile.

"ARE YOU GOING TO GET MARRIED?!!!!!"

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"

These old ladies were no longer old ladies, but old-looking high schoolers now. And this had their full attention.

"Did you get her a ring?!!"

"Are you going to get married abroad?!!"

"Oh no, do the fans know?!!"

"It must be so hard to date an idol..."

Finally, you mustered up the courage to break away and held up your hands in surrender.

"OKAY WE WILL BE PAINTING THE PLATES NOW!!!"

And thankfully, these halmeonis were very easily distracted, but one sat in her wheelchair staring at the boy.

I could've sworn I saw him at the jewelry shop yesterday when I was shopping with Chaeyoung....?

The two of you busied yourselves with getting them situated at the giant table with their little porcelain plates, paint, and cups of water.

"Y/N-ah!! Can you help me paint a cherry blossom tree please?"

It took every ounce of you to not groan out loud. Ms. Taemi had been a real pain in the butt since the very beginning and nothing you did ever seemed to make her happy. And today wasn't an exception.

"AISH WHAT IS THAT?!!"

Her yelling took you by surprise, nearly causing you to drop the plate.

"Ms. Taemi? What's wrong?"

"You! You painted this completely wrong and it looks so ugly! I'll just do it myself, hmph!"

All you could was bow and hand her the plate back.

"I'm sorry Ms. Taemi, I promise I'll try harder next time."

"If I have my way, there won't be a next time!"

This whole time, Jaemin had been helping Ms. Hyemin, who was literally an angel. But the two of them were staring in awe at you. The look of annoyance on your face was so obvious, but yet, you spoke so softly.

Wow.... what did I do to deserve her?

To say he was proud was a severe understatement. It was just such a proud papa moment, even though he was your boyfriend. Everyone who knew you back in high school knew how hard you'd had it, shaping you into the cold-hearted princess of the school. But when you met Jaemin? Your shell completely melted and your bitchy self became one of the sweetest girls anyone had ever met.

Still smiling, he watched as you just went to help someone else. But all the other halmeonies were just not having it. Whatsoever.

"Yah, how can you speak to our Y/N like that?!"

"She tried so hard but you are so ungrateful!!”

"That flower is absolutely beautiful!"

"How does she even deal with you?!!"

Ms. Taemi just hmph!ed and wheeled her way over to the snack table. That's when Jaemin felt the tug on his arm and found Ms. Hyemin beaming at him with that all-knowing granny look.

"You really love her, don't you? Just look at your smile.."

He was usually the cool one who acted so nonchalant about these things, but now he was an absolutely nervous trainwreck.

"I do, I really really do."

"And you know how lucky you are to have her?"

"Yes ma'am."

This was basically the equivalent of meeting the parents, because Y/N had basically been raised in this nursing home after being the sole survivor of a car crash with her parents and little brother. Meaning, Jaemin was literally about to have a heart attack.

"Aigoo... the look in your eyes... the love that you have for her is so obvious I want to cry! You better take good care of her Jaemin-ah or this entire nursing home will come after you."

"I will!"

And that was just the beginning of the interrogation.

"What if she gets sick? Will you be able to cook and take care of her?"

"What if she gets pregnant? Will you love the child unconditionally?"

"What if she gets in a car accident? Will you still tell her she's beautiful?"

"What if someone else hit on her? What would you do?"

"How far are you willing to go to protect her?”

By then, you had left the room to prep their rooms for naptime. Which basically meant that you left Jaemin to suffer his interrogation alone. Clearing his throat nervously, he answered the question with obvious love and admiration for you in his shining eyes.

"I will do anything for her, even if it hurts me."

Squealing, Ms. Hyemin wheeled herself over to the gaggle of halmeonis, whispering excitedly. And just like that, everyone exploded.

"AHHHH!! YOU TWO ARE SOO ADORABLE!!"

"You two remind me of me and my husband!!"

"When are you getting married? Can I please come??"

"Are you planning to have kids?"

"AIGOO THEIR KIDS WILL BE SO CUTE JUST LIKE THEIR MOM AND DAD!!"

"You're right!! They both have good looks and cute personalities!"

"DAEBAK!! MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN!"

"Jaemin-ah, kiss her before you leave please!!"

By then, you had walked out in utter confusion to find the poor blushing boy amongst the snoopy halmeonis who could not help but be so excited for their adopted granddaughter.

"Y/N-ah!! COME HERE!! It's good luck for your elders to bless you before getting married!!"

What the heck is going on?

You looked at Jaemin, who just shrugged his shoulders at you. As if to say,

I don't know what they're talking about either, babe

But let's be real here. The sneaky halmeonis have absolutely no idea if the whole good luck thing was true. They just knew that the two of you were the sweetest couple ever and it was like watching a drama when you two kissed. Why? Jaemin made it as dramatic and princely as he could.

Putting his hands on your waist, you couldn't do anything as you just stared at the floor in embarrassment.

Why can't his face be as red as mine, dammit?!! With an angelic touch of his finger, he gently tilted your chin up to look him in the eyes.

"Embarrassed... are we?"

"Just... just shut up!!"

He just giggled a bit, loving how he was able to melt you into this bubbly, hot mess in a matter of seconds. Then again, he knew he was absolutely whipped for you, so... But of course.... cue in the halmeonis.

"OH JUST KISS ALREADY!!"

"SHUT UP IT WAS GETTING GOOD!"

"SO CUTE!! JUST LIKE A DRAMA!!"

"JUST KISS HER JAEMINIE!!"

"YAH!! Let the poor boy live!!"

This whole time you kept staring at the floor, thoroughly annoyed with Jaemin being completely unaffected by the halmeonis' endless teasing. But you knew that he was totally whipped for you too.

So why not use it to your advantage for once?

Sticking out your bottom lip, you wrapped your arms around his neck with the saddest puppy look you could manage. Needless to say, this was not your thing so whenever you did it, Jaemin literally went into cardiac arrest every time.

"Nana~ why won't you kiss me~?"

"OMG I'M GONNA CRY!!"

"THIS IS TOO DAMN CUTE!!"

"I LOVE PET NAMES!!"

But Jaemin was largely unaffected on the outside, just a tad pink. Why? He was a total flirt with the NCTzens and when one of them decided to be a little feisty... he knew how to use fire against fire.

"Angel, you never need to ask if you want me to kiss you~"

Of course he knew how much you hated how unaffected he appeared with your little quips. But on the inside. Oh honey, it's a wholeass zoo in there. Smiling at you, he pressed his lips gently to yours, lingering there for a hot second before pulling away to smile at you. Frowning, you gently forced his chin down to kiss you again.

"OH MY GOD I COULD DIE HAPPY RIGHT NOW!!"

His lips moved smoothly against yours, nipping ever so gently at ypur lips, but couldn't do anymore since y'all had a combusting audience behind you.

"Ok, time to go home!!"

Giggling and semi-unaware of how tickled pink you were, he opened the door for you, bowing.

"M'lady?”

"My prince?"

But as soon as you were clear of the door, he picked you up bridal-style and ran all the way to the cover. Giggling the whole time.

"nA jAeMiN!! Put me down!!"

Smirking, he sat you down in the passenger seat, pulling the seatbelt over you before placing a sweet kiss on your forehead.

"I love you angel~"

"And I love you nana~"

All giddy and tingly, he skipped his way to the driver's seat and y'all drove home, with the old ladies hooting and cheering for you. Before it was reduced to fits of heaving coughs and sneezes. Damn allergies.

By the time y'all got back to the SME building, you were dead asleep with your hair slightly messy from the open window. Yet you were the most beautiful being that Na Jaemin had ever set eyes on.

"Angel, I can't wait until I can ask you to marry me~"

Knowing that almost nothing else would wake you up, he stuck his head through the car window and placed his lips on yours. Although still sleepy, you returned the kiss, cupping his face with your tiny hands.

"YOU GET HIM GIRLFRIEND!!"

"NO PDA IN THE DAMN PARKING LOT YOU TWO!!"

Embarrassed as hell, you clambered out of the car but if anything? Jaemin was the proudest guy in the world to show you off. Especially to his friends. Picking you up bridal-style, he pecked your lips again.

And the last that was ever heard of Jisung or Chenle again was a whole lot of high-pitched screaming.

"AHHHH I NEED TO BLEACH MY EYES OUT!!!!"

"HYUNGGGGG~~~!! WHY~~~?!!!!"

Laughing, Mark, Renjun, Haechan, and Jeno clapped and hollered.

"JUST GET MARRIED ALREADY JEEZ!!"

Done with your humiliation for today, you playfully slapped his chest.

"Why do you keep embarrassing me~~?!!"

"I'll stop being embarrassing when you stop being so cute~!"

"stOOPP~!!"

Jaemin, 4 vs Y/N, 0. Dammit.

Anyway, this was Jaemin on the inside....

[ladyloveandjustice]

Summer 2018 Anime Overview: Planet With

What a strange, unexpected little gem this show is.

Planet With follows an amnesiac young boy named Soya Kuroi who lives with strange roommates- an upbeat but mysterious girl named Ginko and giant cat monster ...thing. One day, a strange alien spaceship arrives where Soya lives and a squad of superheroes valiantly battle to protect the town from this threat. Ginko shows up and tells Soya he needs to jump in this giant cat robot and fight. No, not fight the invading aliens. He has to fight the superheroes.

Planet With starts out being jam-packed with plot and unabashedly weird and stays that way. The show moves at an absolutely breakneck pace. It stuffs 50 episodes worth of robot anime into twelve, and contains like three different climactic battles. There’s even a time skip. But the weird thing is...it works. Planet With is downright inspirational in its storytelling efficiency. It packs in so many characters and SO much happens, yet somehow it manages to use its time wisely enough that I ended up caring about pretty much all of its many characters and their development felt natural rather than forced. And despite the intensity and volume of events, the plot remained coherent and entertaining. 

There were a couple parts that did feel rushed, and since it was so much at once I feel like I need to rewatch to fully grasp the series, but most of all, I’m impressed by the way this show somehow distilled The Full Wacky Space Battle Anime Experience (tm) into a short time frame. And the animation is good! It is bold and action packed and works well for the show. 

And the quickness of how Planet With handled things made it downright refreshing (and hilarious) at times. I’ll give an example: Soya’s civilian friend (and obvious love interest), Nozomi, catches on extremely quickly to the fact he’s doing robot battles, basically guesses his entire backstory based off his weird behavior and just as quickly starts questioning him about it. Soya’s reaction to this is to freak out and run away- at which point Nozomi football tackles him and basically yells “NO ITS OKAY YOU CAN TRUST ME!” and he quickly gives in, explains his weird situation to her, and is like “uh. so. not sure if that sounds at all believable but. you asked.”

Not only is the honest communication nice to see, not only does it genuinely sell that Nozomi s the smart cookie the narrative has set her up to be, but its charming as hell and feels so natural to who these characters are. The fact Soya’s first reaction to being exposed is to just stammer and BOLT DOWN THE STREET reminds you that, yes, this is a teenager, and Nozomi’s refusal to let him get away and how she throws all dignity out the window to make her point is just....it gives me so much affection for them both. They’re kids and they’re ridiculous and I love them. Having Nozomi let in the loop so quickly is refreshing, it makes their relationship feel genuinely trusting and equal, there’s just a lot going on in just that one scene that I love.

Let’s talk about character a little more, because Planet With has a very vibrant cast. Soya comes off as a typical hotheaded shonen protagonist, and well, he is, but as you learn more about him and the situation he’s facing, you realize he’s trying his best to cope with some huge stuff. He has a good arc and matures a lot. What especially struck me is this moment where Soya realizes he has no reason to fight anymore, he’s just a kid who’s not involved, he shouldn’t be asked to do this, and though he’s been channeling his grief into fighting, he just can’t anymore, he’s tired and overwhelmed and sad. It’s nice to see the show touching on how unfair it is to ask a child to fight, and actually having the other characters react to this with understanding rather than trying to force him to continue is....really nice to see.

Each character has their own fears and insecurity to grapple with,which is especially apparent in the scenes where the spaceship messes with their minds and gives them the dream world they desire- a couple of those scenes are genuinely heartbreaking and striking.

Even the antagonists are given layers and its shown why they think what they’re doing is right. The show centers thematically on how to suppress and respond to violence and it explores various sides of that debate. Can humanity be trusted with power? Is extreme pacifism or extreme force the way to deal with problems? What is the value of revenge? Is freedom or safety more important? Can we forgive and move past horrible wrongs? You may not end up agreeing with the show’s conclusion on all this, but the fact it confronts these questions so directly and really gives them some thought is nice. You can see WHY this is a conflict, and where both sides are coming from.

The show also has a pretty good-sized and solid cast of female characters and doesn’t treat them like garbage! it actually gives a lot of them solid arcs where they develop and go through all kinds of different emotions, always a plus! 

Ginko may give a slight impression of being a airhead catgirlmaid cliche at first, but she soon shows herself to have wisdom and depth- her role in the narrative was one of the most pleasant surprises. She was way more involved in the fight than I thought she’d be and the found family she formed with Soya is one of the sweetest things about the show. 

Nozomi’s character development is largely tied up in her relationship to Soya, so I kinda wish she had stuff going on besides being his supporter, but I do adore how she was treated with respect by the narrative, bought in on things as a civilian, and how brave and smart and loyal she is. She’s inspiring to Soya with her kindness and inspiring in general. And their relationship is genuinely sweet.

There’s an entire mini-arc focusing on the bond between two of the superhero girls- Miu and Harumi- and it is very dramatic and very gay and very about ladies inspiring and connecting with and saving each other, y’know, all the stuff i’m here for. We also had Benika, a badass lady is a suit (always gets a thumbs up from me) who had her own arc, and a woman who was on the semi-antagonist side. The women are all treated as competent and capable in combat. 

The show is relatively mild on fanservice for a shonen-mech show and doesn’t get too gross or over-the top- probably the most noticeable scene is a conversation in a hot-tub, and even that doesn’t have ridiculous camera angles or anything. Mostly anything fanservice-y is goofy and tongue in cheek, rather than humiliating or non-consensual. The show actually has the honor of containing the only anime boob joke that’s actually made me laugh in recent memory (the over-the-top narration was on point). (There is one questionable element to warn for, namely an adult{?) woman briefly disguises herself as a high schooler and acts pretty flirtatiously with minors- thankfully it doesn’t go too far, but its something to watch out for.)

Planet With’s sense of humor and fun is just great in general. It deals with some serious and emotional topics, but never loses that whimsical, weird edge. It was clear from the beginning, when the super-threatening alien spaceship was some weird happy bear thing marked “peas”, that the show had a wonderfully bizarre and goofy atmosphere and it never loses that. Soya being endlessly foiled in his quest to eat some meat, the bizarre anthropomorphic animals, our heroes aggressively meowing as a battle cry- the show is so unapologetic in its weirdness and not afraid to embrace all the wonderful, colorful silliness inherent in its genre. 

Basically, if you like giant-robot shows or action shows or even weird cat and dog monsters, I really recommend this show. Its a fast-paced wild ride full of fun characters and colorful storytelling. It’s occasionally cheesy, often bizarre, a little dizzying and sometimes genuinely emotional- but it’s always an experience and I had a good time watching it.

[pinkettepoet]

In Which They Go To The Beach

Summary: You and the Avengers go to the beach for a well deserved break. What could go wrong?

Warning(s): Avengers x Fem!Reader, Swearing.

Note: I am so happy to see that many enjoyed the last imagine. I used some prompts here, maybe I should make a list of prompts. I hope many more will enjoy this one!

There was nothing you’d like more than to sleep for the rest of the year. After a week long mission, you had aches and bruises all over your body. Plopping yourself headfirst onto the mattress, you swore to yourself that you’d never move another muscle again.

Just when you thought that sleep was near, the lights turn on and suddenly there were voices in your room. You open your eyes to see the Avengers piling onto your room one by one, they all dived onto your bed until there was no more space.

“Oi! What the hell is happening?” You exclaimed, demanding to know why giants decided to pile on top of each other in your room.

Natasha grumbled words into the pillow beside you, it was a miracle you understood, “Steven called a family meeting.”

“And you all came to my room, why?” You asked, eyelids becoming heavier. The taste of heavenly sleep was right there, yet it was so far away as you struggled to breathe. Being cuddled by Thor became a little hassle when he forgot the extent of his strength.

“You have the softest bed, everyone knows that you’re Tony’s favorite.” Pietro sped inside, only to jump on top of his sister’s back. In result, he ended up being flung to the side of the wall.

You told yourself that sleep was more important than trying to push everyone out of your safe haven. Slowly, as your eyelids fluttered shut, you almost succumbed to the void of darkness.

The door to your room came banging open. You tried to jump up on instinct but a certain God kept his arms around you. Suddenly, you realize that the new intruder was no other than Steve Rogers himself, clad in the colors of America.

“Avengers, assemble.” He said with the corner of his mouth tipped up in a smile. “We’re going to the beach.”

A series of exaggerated groans came flying around the room. As much as the idea was tempting, the comforts of your room was way better. Plus, you always found the way of being the designated babysitter.

“Steve, come here.” Natasha sat up straight from her spot on the bed, her arms wide open for Steve.

“Why?” Steve didn’t move a muscle. And if you didn’t know any better, you’d say that was fear is his eyes.

“Just come here.” Natasha had a sweet smile plastered on her face, contrasted by the tiny glare she sent Steve.

“No, you’ll punch me.” With that, Steve turned around to flee for his life but Tony ended up blocking his way out.

“Hello, creatures!” Tony exclaimed. “Hi, Y/N, the sweetest angel of my life. Steve, how did the meeting go?”

“I want to stab everyone!” You said before Steve could say anything else. Sleep was the only thing you wanted.

“Oh, you’re so adorable.” Tony came up to you, squeezing your cheeks as if you were a child. Luckily, Thor swatted his hands away. “But no murder before dinner.”

“I think the beach would be a good place for a vacation.” Steve said, nervously shifting his weight from one leg to the other.

“Silence, you uneducated dorito!” Clint threw a pillow of yours at Steve, missing his head by a long shot.

• • •

It felt like a vacation. For once, everything was going smoothly. Sam and Peter managed to fry eggs on Bucky’s metal arm. Clint was swimming with a shark fin on his head, scaring away most of the visitors. Natasha and Wanda were trying to teach Vision and Steve about beach volleyball. Tony and Bruce were off collecting seashells. Thor and Loki were failing miserably at surfing. You didn’t know where Pietro was.

Everything was perfect. You laid down on the chair, basking in the warmth of the sun. The view of the ocean right in front of you was enchanting. The thought of getting a tan seemed amazing to you. You and your coconut drink were an unstoppable duo.

Until you weren’t.

Peter ran up to you, his head down and eyes cast solemnly to the sand. “Y/N, Sam burnt me.”

And so it started, you thought. It was bound to happen. Even if ignoring everyone seemed like an amazing option, you knew there was no way that you could not help. Hence why you were the babysitter of the group.

Before you could say anything, Sam came running to you with sweat dripping down his bare chest. “Y/N! Peter is lying! He’s a little devil, I tell you. He put sand in my fried egg! Sand!”

“I did not!” Peter objected. After a few seconds, he nodded shyly. “Okay, maybe I did.”

“Why, you little gremlin.” Sam immediately lunged for Peter.

“Only because Wade told me it would be a cool idea!” Peter dodged Sam’s attack and ran away. The two soon were caught up in a chasing game.

You reminded yourself that they were both fully grown Avengers, they could handle themselves. It was a vacation, you told yourself, a vacation that you absolutely needed to enjoy. After minutes of squirming in your seat, you finally decided that you would go after them.

In five minutes.

For five minutes, you were determined to relax as much as possible. You were successful in being able to pretend that you didn’t have responsibilities for about three minutes until you heard Clint screeching your name. So much for five minutes.

You turned your head to find an angry looking woman with Clint pouting by her side. The hellish tone in her next words was definitely noted, “Is this man your brother?”

“Of some sorts,” You mentioned hesitantly.

“Well, then,” The lady’s voice raised an octave higher, effectively making you wince. “Tell your brother to stop scaring my children with his shark suit!”

The woman made her point with a few more harsh sentences. Then, she turned her heel and trekked to the other direction. Leaving a flustered Clint.

“I gotta say, Clint,” You started, snatching his attention instantly. “I have to agree. If you wanna swim some more, take off the shark suit.”

Clint’s expression turned downcast. “But my shark suit,” He whined, pulling on your heartstrings.

“I’m sorry, Clint, but we’re here to rest. Not inflict terror on the children.” You sympathized. “Go change.”

Barton was silent for a few moments. He stood frozen in front of you, opening and closing his mouth like a fish. It honestly looked hilarious with his head engulfed by a large shark head.

“Clint? What’s up?” You asked, giving in to your curiosity as to why Clint was suddenly speechless.

“I don’t have my clothes anymore.”

“What?” You sat up in alarm. Granted, it was a typical thing of Clint to do but it was still shocking. “What do you mean you don’t have your clothes anymore?”

“I ripped them all off when I put the shark suit on.”

“Why on earth would you do that, Clint?” You exclaimed, flailing your arms around.

“I don’t know!” He shrugged. “I just wanted to feel manly, I think, the adrenaline was just rushing through me. I didn’t know what to do.”

“Jesus, Clint.” You palmed your forehead exasperatedly. “Find Tony and go ask for money and buy yourself some clothes.”

“Fine.” He huffed. On his way to find Stark, he began to mumble some things. You could see him kicking the sand with a flipper. “Fuck off, sand.”

Your attention was diverted to Sam chasing Peter with a stick by the shore. As you saw the amount of people watching them with incredulous stares, you were reminded of the very reason why you pushed yourself to get up.

Just as you began to stand up, you heard a set of familiar booming voices. The bickering of the God of Thunder and the God of Mischief began to sound awfully closer by the minute.

“Lady Y/N, will you aid us in our quest of hunting a great white shark?” Thor beamed at you when the siblings reached you. “My brother and I have heard talk of this creature lurking around by these waters, we shall obliterate it at once.”

“I’m not your brother, you fool.” Loki hissed. His lips lifted to a smile when he faced you. “But yes, we will be on the hunt of this animal that brings the screams of agony to the mortals.”

“Boys, no!” You sighed. “Clint is inside that shark—”

“Say nothing more, Lady Y/N. Sir Barton will be rescued from it’s evil clutches.”

As Thor and Loki sped away to find Clint, you couldn’t help the groan that escaped your lips. Oh well, you had to deal with one thing at a time. Setting course once more for Peter and Sam, you walked towards their direction.

You halted in your steps as you heard a people chanting your name. You shifted your behind to look for the source of the sound. Sure enough, you saw Wanda and Vision glowing with happiness, while Natasha was sulking with Steve behind her.

“Y/N, how lovely to see that there are still some good in this world.” Natasha ran to you and started clinging on to you like a koala bear.

“What happened?” You’ve been asking a lot of questions this morning, you noticed that for sure.

“Wanda’s been using her power to win our volleyball tournament.” Natasha glared at Wanda, who was laughing uncontrollably.

Wanda’s giggles subsided after a moment. “You just don’t know how to play.”

“Wanda, honey, I’d die for you, I’d kill for you. But if you distract Steve again by tricking him that Sharon’s here, I’ll just plain kill you.” Natasha growled, still pouting by your side.

“Y/N! Y/N! I have made the greatest invention yet!”

You turned around to see Tony jogging to you with a puppy-sized crab in his hold. You immediately flung your hand to stop him, “Tony, no! Put the crab down!”

“Y/N, you don’t understand. This is Bruce.” He smiled at you as if that wasn’t the most ridiculous thing that ever came out of his mouth. “I have achieved the greatest prize in life. I successfully turned Dr. Banner into a crab.”

Before you could reply, Bucky came up to you, patting your shoulder softly. Then he showed you numerous cooked eggs on his metal arm, “Want some, Y/N?”

You shook your head softly, sinking into the sand as you did so. The Avengers bent down, asking if you were okay, you replied with a mere smile.

“When this is all over, I want my sanity back.”

(tag list: @not-jk-rowling)

[anytaintedcreature]

Once Upon A Dream (2/?)

Honored Luminary. Last Prince of Dundrasil. Rowan has many names, and doesn’t feel he’s lived up to any of them, what with the hole in the sky where the World Tree once bloomed, and a victory that feels hollow in the aftermath. When he’s offered a chance to do it all over again, he doesn’t have much of a choice. He’s the Luminary, and his life isn’t his own to live, and he’s about to learn just how much is lost when one loses time.

Canon Divergence AU: Yggdrasil never returns to life after Mordegon’s fall, and the Luminary returns to a former place in time with an interesting new ability that might prove to be more of a curse than a blessing.

Rating: T

AO3 & Tumblr (P)

***

Chapter 1: Au Revoir

 Today I'm not myself And you, you're someone else And all these rules don't fit And all that starts can quit What a peculiar state, we're in

**

Before

 Erik broke the surface of the water with a gasp. Water ran in rivulets from his hair down his cheeks, and when he felt the sunlight soak his skin for the first time in months, a grin pulled up the corners of his mouth, slightly manic in its intensity.

He’d been in the dark a long time.

He took a deep breath and held it in, staring up at the sun for a moment until his eyes burned before letting it out. “That was something, Luminary. What, I don’t know, but - shit,” he broke off, catching sight of the boy in question, face down in the water not too far off to his side.

“No, come on,” Erik splashed over to him as quickly as the water would allow and took hold of his shoulders, flipping him upright. “Don’t do this to me,” he begged, anxiety spiking into a very real fear.

He couldn't take care of anyone.

Erik towed the boy to shore, careful to keep his head lolling above water even as he swallowed mouthfuls of it himself. He tugged him up onto the bank and pressed his ear to the still boy’s lips, and cursed before pounding a fist against his chest.

“No, no, breathe, damn it! Please.”

With another desperate smack, the Luminary gasped and choked, his eyes flying wide open.

Erik breathed with him. He helped turn him over, running his palm up the other boy’s back as he coughed and spat river water out of his lungs.

“There, that’s better,” he soothed. His voice was shakier than he’d like, but as he slumped back to sit in the sand, his hand between his companion’s shoulder blades and counting his heartbeats, he couldn’t quite summon up the will to care.

“I can’t decide if you’re lucky or just the opposite, Luminary,” Erik said, once his heart had slowed from a merciless drum beat to something more manageable, and the roaring in his ears died away.

The boy rested his forehead on his knees, taking deep, shuddering breaths. Erik realized he was still rubbing slow strokes up and down his spine, and yanked his hand back.

Beside him, his companion muttered something.

“Didn’t catch that,” Erik replied, turning his face up to the sun and letting his eyes fall closed for a moment.

He glanced back over as the Luminary slumped backward with a thud. “Rowan,” he murmured, his lips barely moving to shape the word. “It’s Rowan.” His eyes slid shut, and he fell silent once more.

Erik felt the corner of his mouth twitch upwards into a smile. “Rowan, then,” he said softly, trying it out. When he didn’t get a reply, Erik looked down at his companion, hesitating only a moment before leaning in close.

Out like a light, he decided, but still breathing.

Erik heaved a sigh before clambering to his feet. He reached down and slipped an arm around Rowan’s waist, and gingerly pulled the boy to his feet. He was soaking wet and absolute dead weight, but his skin was warm where it touched Erik’s, and he figured he could bear his weight, for a little while. He’d carried heavier burdens before, after all.

“Put your faith in the Luminary,” Erik echoed on a grunt as he took a step forward, and Rowan’s head rolled to press against his neck. “I’d say we’re off to a swell start.”

***

When Rowan opened his eyes, for a moment all he saw was blue.

A cloud rolled slowly across the sky, and a cool breeze played over his face, ruffling through his hair. He sat up and looked around, and felt his stomach turn over.

He was in a field, right outside the gates of Arboria, with the Sword of Shadows lying in the grass alongside his legs. Most telling of all was Yggdrasil, high overhead and standing tall and proud, and alive.

For a moment, he was dumbfounded. He’d actually done it.

He’d gone back in time. He wasn’t lost to the void, his soul doomed to haunt shadows in a broken world. He’d arrived where he was meant to, and the thought had him staggering to his feet, pulling the giant dark sword up with him.

If Yggdrasil was back, that meant someone else was, too.

Rowan took the steps three at a time, his breath coming in short pants by the time he’d reached the fountain in the town’s heart. He was drawing some puzzled stares, he knew, but the onlookers didn’t stop him as he mounted the rest of the stairs leading up to the Cathedral. Palms planted on the door, he drew in a breath and held it as he shoved the doors open, his heart pounding hard against the cage of his ribs.

He looked around the room so frantically he almost missed her, down on her knees in the center of the marble, red-clad head bent low.

Goddess above, but there she was.

“Oh Serenica, blessed ancestor. The time has come at last for us to fulfill our destiny,” Veronica was speaking, her voice soft but clearly audible in the silence of the temple, and he could barely feel his legs as he came to a stop several feet behind her,

She was alive, close enough that it would only take him scant steps to reach her and pull her in, and hold on tight. The urge to do so was nearly smothering.

She’d almost certainly hit him if he did so, he was sure, and he stuffed his fist against his mouth to cover the small, slightly hysterical sound that had managed to break free.

Veronica lept to her feet, arms spread wide, and for a moment he thought she’d realized his presence. She tipped her face up to the light and continued her prayer, and for the first time, it occurred to Rowan that he might be intruding on a private moment.

“But no matter what happens, I swear I won’t let the Luminary come to harm!” She continued on, unaware of her audience, and Rowan felt his heart lurch.

You didn't, he thought, not caring a whit for the stinging tears that blurred his vision.

“He’s our light and our hope, and he’ll rid our world of darkness. I know he will!”

He didn’t feel like he deserved her faith, before or now, but as he scrubbed his hands over his eyes and swiped stubborn streaks away he swore he’d do his best to earn it.

“Oi!”

Rowan looked up to find Veronica with a hand on her hip, the other thrusting a finger at him.

“What are you doing here? Wait, you weren’t listening, were you?” she demanded, and he bit down on his lower lip to hide a smile and try to keep further tears at bay.

He was an absolute mess.

“Sorry,” he started, sheepish, as she continued to let him have it. He had missed her, but he hadn’t realized just how viscerally until that moment, while his heart swelled as she shouted at him. He couldn’t start crying again. He had to do better. In this timeline, his friends had no idea anything had gone wrong the first time. But as Veronica sauntered up to him, blonde eyebrows drawn low, he found himself bending down to his knee.

“Can I just…” Rowan had reached out before he realized and hesitated.

Veronica tipped her head to one side, and before he could force words out, her expression softened as though, somehow, she understood what he needed. “You - oh, whatever. Alright then, you idiot.” Her arms went around his neck and Rowan let out a great, shuddering breath, before wrapping his arms around her in turn and pulling her in.

“Look, it’s alright to be frightened,” she started, giving his back a couple of pats, “but pull yourself together, okay? The old man already frets like a mother hen, we can’t have you losing it on us, too-”

“Well, isn’t this just the sweetest?” Sylvando’s voice rang out behind him, and he felt Veronica shove him away without ceremony. “Why have I never gotten a quick snuggle?”

Rowan smiled a little to himself, before turning around. Sylvando he could handle.

When he spun around to face the door, he felt his heart stop, before picking up a bruising rhythm. The smile slid from his face. The entertainer wasn’t alone.

Erik had his arms crossed over his chest, one eyebrow arched high. If he’d looked concerned before, his expression was nothing short of bewildered now, and Rowan could easily imagine why.

He felt like he’d seen a ghost, and probably looked the part - and Erik especially could probably tell that he’d been crying.

Do better. Turn to stone.

Sylvando continued on, unbothered. “We’ve been looking for you everywhere, honey. Come on, then, the Father will be waiting!” With a wave of his hand, he spun around on his heel and waltzed out. Veronica cast Rowan one more odd, considering look before trailing out after him.

Rowan took a step to follow but froze in his tracks when Erik pressed a hand to his chest. He could feel the warmth of the touch through his tunic. He wasn’t blushing, at least.

“Are you alright?” Erik started, a small frown curving his mouth. “And uh, what’s with that sword? You’re supposed to be the good guy, remember?”

His teasing fell flat when Rowan didn’t smile. He’d completely forgotten about the Sword of Shadows strapped to his back. “Oh. Well, one of Father Benedictus’s aids gave it to me. It’s supposed to, um, help.”

Utterly brilliant.

“Doesn’t look like it’s meant to help much of anything,” he mused, letting his hand fall away. Rowan had to suppress the urge to reach for it with his own. “And you look-”

“Just don’t worry about it, okay?” Rowan interrupted, harsher than he’d meant, and he could see the flash of surprise in the other boy’s eyes before his expression went blank.

“Whatever floats your boat, I guess,” Erik said, cooler than before. “Let’s just get going, yeah?”

Guilt settled in and curled around his heart like a fist, and Rowan bit back a sigh. “Yeah. Let’s do that.”

 ** 

Rowan was not off to a great start.

As they trekked through the First Forest, he stayed silent and hung back. One by one, his friends would drop back to chat with him, to try to draw him out.

“What’s that look on yer face, laddie? You look like yer about to toss your biscuits -”

“Darling, you’re looking very down today. You should get more beauty sleep.”

Veronica watched him more than any of them, brows furrowed low as though he were a puzzle she wanted to sort out. Jade even tried to nudge him into a game of who could find the most sparkly sap, but the closer they got to the altar, the more his anxiety bloomed, white hot in the center of his chest, and the more he resisted their efforts.

He felt disconnected, disjointed - they were the same people he loved so fiercely, but in that moment they felt more like shadows. Where they were all excited to reach the World Tree, all he felt was an ill sense of foreboding. They didn’t know the horror that came next. He had all the weight of the world riding on him as he tried to prepare to prevent it.

He’d had to pretend before, certainly - that he wasn’t almost constantly afraid of failing, that he wasn’t overburdened by guilt - but this was a new level of awareness. He had to school every expression, every gesture, for anything he did could change the course time would take, and he could not mess it up again.

On top of it, he wasn’t used to having to pretend in front of Erik. At least, in the past - or, the future - he’d always been able to let his weakness show in front of one person, who’d always been more than happy to hold him up when he might falter.

Rowan pushed aside the frond of a fern and kept walking, and once again felt aware of a different pair of eyes on him. His skin prickled with it, as he felt as though he walked along a thin razor wire and teetered too close to both edges.

He could have sworn it took much longer the second time, for his grandfather to hunch forward and request they take a break, but he still felt the rush of relief for just one more moment to breathe before it was time to rewrite history.

 *

After they finished setting camp, Rowan sank down in front of the fire, and watched the light cast shadows in the rapidly gathering darkness. He felt someone settle down at his side and didn’t have to look to know who it was.

“Calm down,” Erik murmured, and Rowan felt the tension in his shoulders release, as though all he’d needed was permission. “You’ve been so on edge all day, it’s making me nervous. It’ll be alright. We’ve all got your back, you know?”

“I do know.” Rowan agreed, his voice low. He turned to face him and wasn’t quite prepared for it to hurt.

Firelight flickered across Erik’s face as he offered a small, tentative smile, and everything about him was familiar. But this Erik wasn’t his, not yet, and he couldn’t relax in his presence and bask in his warmth, not completely.

Turning to stone wasn’t quite as easy as he’d wished.

The soft notes of Serena’s harp filled the air, a melody he’d found quite sweet, before. Now it hollowed him out, because he knew not everything beautiful could stay untainted forever.

Erik’s hand came to rest on his shoulder, and Rowan let his eyes fall closed when he squeezed.

“Get some sleep,” the thief told him, and Rowan nodded before sinking back onto his bedroll behind him. He fell asleep to a song that reminded him of grief, while trying to remember the exact way he’d felt in that moment, the first time he’d lived it.

Hope.

***

Rowan opened his eyes.

He could still hear the harp, a repeating rise and fall as it joined the chorus of cricket song and the whisper of the breeze through the trees. The entire forest looked to be glowing, in time with the music.

He sat up, his confusion mounting as he noticed their camp was gone completely, without even the remnants of the fire left behind, and Rowan scrambled to his feet with one quick, sharp shout.

“Shh.”

He spun around to see Serena, sitting down in the grass with her eyes closed. Her expression was a peaceful one, and that calmed him, if only a little.

“You’ll wake them.” Serena continued, gently chastising in her soft voice.

“Wake who?” Rowan asked, stepping over to sit down beside her.

She smoothed a hand over her skirt. “The leaves, of course. Everyone’s trying to get some rest.”

Rowan frowned, but let the comment go. “Where is everyone else?”

Serena opened her eyes and blinked, offering him a slightly puzzled smile. “Why, I just told you, silly.”

The truth came to him with a sudden clarity, the click of a key turning in a lock. “This isn’t real.”

Serena tilted her head to one side. “Who’s to say? I think we might just be lost.” She hummed along to the harp for a moment. “Are you worried about tomorrow, Rowan?”

“More than you know,” he blew out a breath. “Why are you dreaming about the Yggdrasil leaves, Serena?”

“I asked Veronica before we slept if she thought our leaves would fall at the same time,” she started, looking up at the tree overhead. “She said she hoped so.” Serena turned to face him, biting down on her lower lip. “She told me that if something happened to her, I’d have to see this through on my own. But I don’t think I could, you know? Veronica’s always been the quicker one, the cleverer one. She’s so brave, nothing scares her. I think she would be just fine on her own, without me. But...I couldn’t, if I lost her.”

Rowan felt his mouth twist into a sad smile. He reached out and took her hand in his. “You’re braver than you think, Serena.”

“That’s kind of you to say, but-”

“No, I mean it. Listen,” Rowan shifted in the grass, giving her hand a light tug to hold her attention. “I can’t promise nothing at all will go wrong tomorrow, because as much as I hate it, I know better than that. But..I’m going to do my best for you guys, okay? It’s going to be different, this time around.”

He noticed the slip up too late, but Serena didn’t seem confused by his words. “I know you will, Rowan. We all believe in you, you know. Maybe you should try it.”

The soft laugh surprised him, as it bubbled loose from his chest. “Yeah, maybe I should.” He looked up to the glowing leaves. “I know you’d be alright without her, Serena. You’re strong enough for that. But I’m going to try and make sure you don’t have to be.”

Serena tipped her head to one side, resting it against his shoulder with a quiet sigh. “Thanks for coming to talk with me, I...I feel a bit better, truly. Would you mind terribly if we stayed like this awhile?”

“Take as long as you need,” Rowan murmured, “we’ve got time now.”

[hearthymns]

@seahymns​​  sent:   it’s the most wonderful time of the year, the most magical day of the year, and jack can’t believe he’s actually getting to celebrate it with the love of his life. they’ve been struggling lately, trying to make ends meet and figure their feelings out, but it’s christmas. their  very first  christmas. perhaps they’re not doing what most couples do on a day like this, they’re not spending it with each other’s families, sipping eggnog by a roaring fireplace, but the blue-eyed boy still hopes to make it count. turning the key in the rusty lock, he stomps the snow off his boots and gently pushes the door open. the apples of his cheeks are rosy from the cold, but his heart is pounding faster than ever. ❝ rose? i’m home! you won’t believe what happened. i saw santa on my way here and he gave me this, said he had something very special for the most special girl in the world. ❞ in reality, there was a man out on the streets, trying to sell a dozen of wailing puppies. their frail bodies shaking in the cold weather, but their tails were still wagging as jack kneeled beside them and reached out to pet them. he wanted to pick all of them up and bring them home, but he could only get one. he opened his coat and let the tiniest of the creatures crawl under it to keep it warm. now, there’s a little black nose and a pair of brown eyes, something looking more like a bear cub than a dog, peeking out between the buttonholes of his coat. ❝ don’t worry, buddy. i’ve already told you, remember? she’s the sweetest girl i know. she’ll love you, ❞ he softly reassures the puppy, gently rubbing its back.

hearing  the  door  open,  rose  doesn’t  react  like  she  usually  does  and  comes  flying  to  him  with  a  greeting  most  significant  others  would  die  for.  some  days  she  tries  again  and  then  some  days  after  she’s  already  worked  long  hours  like  this  christmas  morning,  cooked  christmas  dinner  supplied  with  the  groceries  from  the  owner  at  the  restaurants  she  waitresses  at--  thank  god  for  him--  and  now  onto  collecting  things  to  take  to  the  laundromat  she  just  doesn’t  have  any  energy  left  to  try  to  get  jack  to  come  out  of  his  funk.  but  all  his  ruckus  eventually  coaxes  her  to  emerge,  coming  around  the  corner  still  in  her  waitress  uniform.  it’s  definitely  weird  and  new  still,  going  from  tight  corsets,  expensive  jewelry,  finer  shoes  and  itchy  high  priced  dresses  to  this. 

 “what  are  you  going  on  about...”  and  he’s  being  so  nice  finally,  maybe  just  because  it’s  christmas.  coming  through  the  room,  laundry  basket  still  in  her  arms.  first  she  stalls,  head  tilting  some  to  see  what  in  the  world  is  peeping  out  of  his  jacket  that  her  eyes  are  automatically  drawn  to,  her  first  thoughts  are  a  stuffed  animal  but  that  stuffed  animal  is...MOVING.  arms  drop  the  basket,  going  thud  in  the  floor  before  she  practically  jumps  out  of  her  skin  with  a  squeak.  “you  got  us  a  puppy?!  santa  DID  come,”  immediately  giggling,  her  cheeks  hurt  already  smiling  this  wide,  rose  running  over  to  cup  it’s  furry  face  between  her  dainty  hands.  “oh,  i  can’t  BELIEVE  this!  is  it  really  ours?!  i’ve  wanted  a  puppy  my  whole  life!”  eyes  lit  up  brighter  than  the  moon,  pearly  whites  show  with  her  giant  grin,  endorphins  are  running  erratic  right  now,  “and  such  a  pretty  girl  or  boy  you  are!  aren’t  you?!”  getting  licked  in  the  face,  the  puppy  trying  to  squirm  out  in  excitement  to  the  girl’s  high  pitched  voice.  rose  grabs  his  or  hers  big  golden  paws  and  giggles  like  crazy.  she  hasn’t  laughed  liked  this  in  awhile.  squeezing  her  eyes  shut,  she  just  lets  the  puppy  tongue  lick  her  face  just  because  she  knows  her  mother  would  have  a  cow  right  now  if  she  saw  her  letting  an  animal  get  so close  to  her  face.  “yes,  she  knows  she  is!”