#we are house hunting so we will hopefully be out soon and it wouldn't be ideal to split our attention with moving temporarily

[echoofawind]

Goodness I did not appreciate the former management at my apartment complex. The manager and nearly all the staff left and now we have people who aren't taking care and aren't being kind. I have lived here for years. My partner and I pay nearly $2000 USD a month to live here. It's our home. It's literally management's job to help care for our home.

Post brought to you by the memo of pending eviction notice we got because the apartment complex's system cancelled our rent auto pay. Previously, management worked hard with reminders and emails and calls to make sure no one in the complex got a late fee, let alone to this stage. When my partner went to talk to management, there was no compassion, simply, and I quote 'It's the law." And "I didn't know our system worked that way." (ITS LITERALLY YOUR JOB TO KNOW! THATS WHAT WE ARE PAYING YOU TO KNOW.) He was still courteous and even toned in his speech. I had to walk away because I was livid.

[mama2bears]

Starting Over Again Chapter 7

Warnings: few swear words, injury, nightmares, bed sharing. Some Fluff. I didn't get into too much detail. 18+ .

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Tyler Owens sat at your bedside for 8 hours, comforting you when you were awake, asking questions when the doctors or nurses came in to check on you, and watching you sleep while thanking the gods above that you were going to be okay. The team came by and offered to sit with you while he went back to the hotel to rest, but he refused. He wasn't leaving your side. He felt guilty for not being there to protect you from Lee. He knew how broken and afraid you was when you first arrived. He knew there was still fear and pain...and he wasn't there when you had to face that fear.

“What you thinking about?” you ask, opening your eyes and seeing him sitting there. He looked tired, eyes heavy with sleep, lines of worry and pain etched in his face.

“Oh, hey Darling,” he smiled softly. “Just thinking how I always say you don't face your fears...you ride them. I don't know if I can do that this time.”

“What are you worried about?” you ask, squeezing his hand softly.

“What if something happens to you and I can't protect you.” his lips formed a thin line. “I know Lee is around here. I also know a guy like him isn't going to leave and give up.” he feels you shudder and he holds your hand tighter. “It scares me to think that if he came in here right now, I wouldn't be able to hold him off. I would fight to the death for you, Y/N. But I know, right now, it would be a fight I would lose and that scares me to death. It's not that I am scared about what will happen to me, I am scared what will happen to you if I am no longer able to protect you. That's why I thought maybe a week or two at the beach...but I don't want you to think I am running. Trust me, I don't run from my fears. I am gonna hunt that bastard down and kill him myself.” Tyler fumed.

“Shh..” you sooth him, seeing how upset he was getting, seeing the fear in his eyes. “First of all. I don't want you hunting him down. Not now. Not ever.” you remove your hand from his and touch his face softly, “However, if he does come back around I can promise you that you won't be fighting him alone. I am done running from him and being afraid. I have something worth fighting for now...you. If we have to face Lee, now or any other time, I will be right by your side.”

“No, Y/N...you can't. You're hurt. Please baby, if he does show up, please promise me you will get away and just go for help. I'll hold him off as long as I can, but I want you to get away. Please.”

“And leave you? Never.” you whisper.

Your conversation was interrupted by a doctor coming in. “Hey there Ms. Y/LN. How are you feeling?”

“Much better.” You offer your best smile.

“Well, everything is looking good. I'll go ahead and get your discharge papers ready and get you out of here. It might be a hour or so, but we will get it done.”

“Great. Thank you so much, doctor.” you smile and look over at Tyler squeezing his hand.

“Does this mean we are on our way to the beach?” he asked hopefully. “Tony is a old rodeo friend of mine. He said we are free to stay at his beach house as long as needed. He uses it as an AirBnB, but it's empty right now. He said he could even get it stocked with some food for us for a few days.”

“I would love to go to the beach, but can you make a trip that long?” you asked. “How long of a drive is it?

“The team and I were talking about it.” Tyler said. “It's about a nine hour drive. Boone would drive my truck and they were going to fix up the backseat for us. We'll have pillows and I'll be able to stretch my leg out on the center console. Lily, Dani and Dexter would follow us down.”

You smile, taking his hand and squeezing it, “There's nothing I would like more then some time away with you.”

“I'll let the team know. We can leave soon as they release you. We'll drive though the night and be there tomorrow morning.” Tyler sighs in relief. He would feel much better once they were on the road to the beach. It was private and secluded. No fans would be there taking pictures. No one would know they were there. They would be safe, until he was healed enough to confront Lee once and for all.

* * * * *

Lee sat in the parking lot of the hotel, watching the team coming and going, make notes of the vehicles and tag numbers. He would find out where each and every one of them lived. They would pay, but no one was going to pay as much as Y/N and Tyler. “How dare you leave me for some boy toy. If I can't have you, no one will.” he seethed.

He took interest when all three of the Tornado Wrangler vehicles left at the same time. This was new. This hadn't happened before.

He fired up his truck and started to follow them. They stopped for gas and he pulled into the parking lot, pulling his phone out and videoing them.

Lee uploaded the video to a Tornado Wranglers fan site with a comment, “Hey guys! Just saw the wranglers fueling up! Anyone know where they are off to now?”

He smiled. The millions of Tyler Owens fans would now be helping him keep an eye on the team...and not even know it.

The trio left and Lee fell in behind, taking note that they were heading to the hospital. He sat across the street watching and videoing as the team helped Tyler and Y/N into the red Dodge and headed towards the highway.

Lee decided not to follow them. He didn't need to right now. He had a large group of fans that would do that for him. He opened up the Wranglers fan page and added the newest video and a comment, “Great news! Tyler and the new girl are out of the hospital! Team is heading south. Y'all keep your eyes out for them!”

* * * * *

“Road Trip!” Boone cheered, turning onto the Interstate.

Tyler smiled, leaning back in the seat. He had choose to sit in the middle where he could prop his leg up on the console. The team had set up boxes of shirts and piled pillows up to the right side of him, so he had a place to lean against. You sat on his left side so you could keep a pillow against your side where the stitches were. Tyler wrapped his arm around you and pulled you towards him, where you could lean against his shoulder.

“Get us there safely, Boone.” Tyler muttered, giving into sleep. You were safe by his side, they were heading to a safe place where you both could rest and relax. Now...he could get some much needed rest.

Boone glanced in the mirror then picked up the radio, “And they are out.” he grinned.

“Bout time those two got some rest. Tomorrow is a new day..” Lily signed off and settled in for the drive.

* * * * *

Tyler was awaken by Boone, “Hey...Ty. We're here. The team and I will get everything unloaded that we need, but lets get you and Y/N in there and settled.”

“What time is it?” he muttered. It had seemed like he had just went to sleep. Could it have already been 9 hours of driving?

“It's about 4am.” Boone said.

Tyler rubbed the sleep from his eyes and looked around. “Yeah, alright, lets go get settled.” he turned to you and gently shook you, “Hey Darling. We're here.”

“What? Already?” You rubbed the sleep from your eyes and stretched. The smell of the salt in the air confirmed, you were at the ocean. Other then that, it was nothing but darkness of night and twinkling of the stars above. Boone helped you from the truck and you looked up the sky and swore you could see every star shining brightly.

“Beautiful, isn't it?” Tyler smiled as he carefully climbed down from the truck and stood next to you. The wind rustled though the palm trees. You couldn't see the water, but you could hear the gentle rhythm of the ocean as the waves rolled in.

“It sure is. I haven't been to the beach in forever. We used to take a trip every summer, but then my mom got sick and we just never went back. I've missed this.” you whispered.

“My mom always told me that the ocean was good for your body and soul. It will heal you from the inside out.” Tyler picked up your bag and his, and placing a hand gently on your back, he lead you to the front door.

“Where's the key?” Boone asked.

“Tony said it would be above the right window.” Tyler called to him.

“Got it!” Boone opened the doors and got the lights on. “Wow...nice place!” he whistled.

The house was a light blue on the outside with gray trim,, matching the colors of the ocean and sky Inside, the first room you entered was the living room, the walls were a teal that seemed to change colors from blue to a sea green depending on how you looked at them. The floors were a dark oak. Their was a big screen TV, game system, white living room suite with a light wood coffee and end tables. There were ocean themed pillows and throws neatly placed on the sofa and chairs.

Though the living room was the kitchen, yellow walls, shining white cabinets and stainless steel appliances. There was a island in middle of the kitchen with a cook top. Off to the left side of the kitchen was a pantry door and then a walkway into the dining room. The dining room was a deep orange red color, which reminded you of coral. There was a long dark wood table with chairs for 10.

“Tyler, this is beautiful.” you agreed as you slowly walked though the house.

“There's a master bed and bath downstairs.” Tyler said. “There's two baths and four more bedrooms upstairs.”

“So we each get our own room?” Lily grinned.

“Yep,” Tyler smiled. His team needed this as much as you and him. He turned to you, “I know before all this happened we were going to go with different beds. That seems like ages ago now.” he paused, “I know there's only one queen bed in each room. If you aren't comfortable...” he paused as you took his hands in yours.

“I think we have kinda established that we are in love.” you smiled, “I trust you more then I have ever trusted anyone else, and to be honest, I wouldn't want to be anywhere other then next to you.”

He leaned down and kissed your lips softly to the giggles of the team, “Get a room! Actually, just GO TO YOUR ROOM!” Boone laughed.

“Will do!” Tyler flashed a grin, taking your hand and turning to the team. “Tony said he had the rental agent stock us up on food for a few days, until we got settled and healed. Make yourselves at home.” With that, he lead you to the master bedroom, closing the door behind him.

The bedroom was huge. It had a patio with sliding glass doors that over looked what you assumed was the ocean. You would have to wait until the sun came up to see what laid just beyond the patio. White lace curtains covered the window above the four poster bed. The walls were a light teal color. One the far wall was a door that lead to a master bath with a stone shower in one corner and a large jet tub next to it. The bathroom was a mixture of tan and dark browns.

Tyler smiled, standing behind you and wrapping his arms gently around you.

“Thank you for this. For everything.” you turn around in his arms so you can face him.

“There's nothing I wouldn't do for you, Y/N.” he whisperers, “nothing.” He kisses you softly and picks up the bags again, laying them next to the dresser. You notice how badly he was limping, he held on arm across his chest and pain was etched in his face.

“Tyler? You okay?” you asked, rushing to his side and helping him to sit on the bed.

“Yeah, I am fine. Just tired and sore.” he leaned back against the pillows and closed his eyes against the pain.

“Didn't they give you medicines to take?” you ask, taking his shoes off and helping him pull back the covers.

“Yeah, they did. It's in my bag somewhere. There's pain medicine and a cream for my leg.” he muttered.

You cross the room and search though his bag, finding the medicine, “When did you last take either of these?” you ask.

“Sometime before we left the hospital.” he answered, “Come here and lay down and rest. You're hurt too and you need rest. Don't be fussing over me. I'll get up here in a minute and take them.”

You scan the medicines in your hand, “Tyler Owens! You're suppose to take the pain medicine every four hours as needed and the cream on your leg is to help prevent infection. That should be done every six hours. You're telling me you haven't taken either of these in over ten hours?”

“Sorry..I had other things on my mind.” muttered, already drifting off to sleep.

“Well, we are getting this taken care of right now. I am going to the kitchen and getting you some water. While I am gone, get your pants down and let me see that leg.”

“You want me to take my pants off for you, huh?” Tyler opened one eye and looked at you with a devilish grin, making you blush.

He watched you as you walked out the door and wondered how he had gotten so lucky. Carefully, he stood up again and slipped his pants off, going down to his boxers before laying back down, doing his best to hide the pain he was feeling as you came back into the room.

“I am ready for you, nurse Y/N.” he grinned at you/

“Just be a good patient and take your medicine.” you mutter, handing him the pain pill and cup of water before turning to his leg.

The cut was deep and bruised, running from his hip almost to his knee. You carefully spread the cream over the cut. Your soft warm touch on his leg, your hand running from his hip down his leg was enough to drive him crazy. Tyler hissed and you pulled your hand away, “Sorry...I am trying not to hurt you, I just need to get this cream in.”

“It's okay, you weren't hurting me.” he answered taking slow deep breathes, trying to control the fire you sent racing though his veins.

“Oh...” you suddenly realize that it wasn't pain causing Tyler's quicken breathing or the hiss that escaped his lips. It was your touch on his leg. “Sorry,” you mutter, sliding the covers back up.

“Oh don't be sorry, Darling.” Tyler winked, “we will finish what you started...when you're ready.” he smiled, letting you know he was ready and willing when you were, but he wasn't pushing you in any way.

You lean over and kiss him softly with a devilish smile. You weren't going to tell him you were more then ready now, but you also knew now was not the time.

Tyler turned out the lamp beside the bed as you slide under the covers and curled up against his chest. He wraps his arms tightly around you and lays his head against yours quickly giving in to sleep.

It was dark and rain was pouring down. Tyler's heart raced in his chest, pain ran though his chest and his leg, but there he stood, facing down his greatest fear. A man stood there and he knew Y/N was behind him. “I am going to kill her!” the man yelled. “Over my dead body!” Tyler yelled back. He turned towards Y/N and yelled, “RUN! Go get help. I'll hold him off as long as I can.” And with that he dove into the man, tackling him to the ground. They fought and Tyler was getting in some good punches, then he felt a knife jab in his side. He could hear Y/N yelling his name as he rolled off of the man. In an instant, the man was kicking his chest and suddenly he couldn't breath. Tyler gasped, tried to yell at Y/N to run but he couldn't get any air in his lungs. He felt the fire of pain raging though him and he could see the man grabbing Y/N and throwing her to the ground.

Tyler sat up in bed yelling your name, tears streaming down his face, a cold sweat covering his body, pain raging though his chest from the sudden movement. His breathes were coming in deep gasps. Slowly he realized it was a nightmare and he turned to reach for you, but found the bed empty next to him.

“Y/N?” he yelled again, this time, real fear filling him.

“Tyler? What's wrong?” you come rushing in, sitting next to him and wrapping your arms around him. “What happened?” you asked concerned.

He held you tightly to him, his body was shaking. He buried his face into your neck and just sat there holding you. “Terrible nightmare.” he said, “Then I woke up and you weren't here and I didn't know what had happened.”

Tyler began to calm down feeling you next to him and realizing everyone was safe. It was just a nightmare.

“I couldn't sleep and thought I would make breakfast for everyone.”

“Everyone else is already in the dining room eating. You want me to bring your plate in here?”

“No, I'll get dressed and be out there in a minute.” he answered, “can we just cuddle here for a little bit first?” he asked.

You smile against his chest as he pulls you closer, “That, Mr. Owens, is something I will never refuse.”

* * * *

Chapter 8

* * * *

Tag List

@itsdesiree86 @sarah-bear706318 @darksparklesficrecs @forpunishers @notanordinaryprincess95 @luvivey @zedis2007@maverickdesperado@love2write2626

@drewvgue@nbee-baguette@emma8895eb@elisabethbathgate@zedis2007

@samanddeaninatrenchcoat@rebelatbay@snackthatsmilesbackchlldren@anjalireji95@everwhovian @turtleshavesoulmates@lizzyreads15 @cevans-winchester

@i-heart-marvel @itsdesiree86 @sarah-bear706318 @darksparklesficrecs @forpunishers @notanordinaryprincess95 @luvivey @zedis2007@maverickdesperado

@love2write2626@drewvgue@nbee-baguette@emma8895eb@elisabethbathgate

@zedis2007@samanddeaninatrenchcoat@rebelatbay@snackthatsmilesbackchlldren

@anjalireji95@everwhovian @turtleshavesoulmates@lizzyreads15 @cevans-winchester

@i-heart-marvel @djs8891 @thedonswife13 @velyssaraptor @jrenn10 @new-author3 @smoothdogsgirl

[yumeka-sxf]

I was surprised we got another Yuri-focused chapter so soon, considering we just finished the Mole Hunt arc...but it was a good chapter nonetheless!

Chloe is a great character to help with Yuri's development, the reason being because she not only knows his true identity, but she also has known him for many years, as this chapter reveals. Unlike his superiors, Yuri seems more comfortable with Chloe, probably because she doesn't have authority over him, but she's also not afraid to point out his flaws. So yeah, I'm glad she's becoming a reoccurring character. Yuri really needs someone he can talk to with whom he doesn't have to hide anything from, but who also sticks with him despite knowing how cringe his personality is. I do hope we'll see more of Chloe bringing out Yuri's relatable side in the future.

Speaking of which, Twilight has Franky (and Sylvia somewhat) who fills this role for him - someone he can talk freely with who knows his true identity, but they also sense the goodness in him that he tries to hide. Yor, however, doesn't have anyone like this, at least not yet. Olka filled that role well during the cruise arc, but it's very unlikely we'll see her again. While McMahon and Shopkeeper know Yor's true identity, their relationship with her has been very business-like, not casual like Twilight/Franky and Chloe/Yuri. It almost seems like Melinda could fill that role for Yor, except for the important detail that she doesn't know Yor's true identity...OR DOES SHE???

Anyway, back to today's chapter, we find out that Yuri can also withstand getting hit by vehicles, and both siblings can smell/sense the other's presence!? And yet, a slap from Chloe hurt Yuri more than getting hit by a truck?! I would say that's too much, but I guess it's not that unusual for characters in shonen series 😅But I have to agree with Chloe on this line...

I also find it a bit sad that Yuri thinks Yor wouldn't like the idea of him having a girlfriend. I wish they discussed more about this, but it just goes to show that, as close as Yuri and Yor are, there are some very obvious things about each other that they don't know. Of course we as well as Chloe know that Yor would be happy if Yuri is happy with a girlfriend, or any friend really. But to Yuri, it seems like having an intimate relationship equates to not being diligent enough at his job, maybe? Or maybe he thinks Yor would see it as a betrayal of his dedication to her? Either way, he's flat-out wrong about that obviously. Hopefully he'll realize it someday.

I cracked up when we got the glimpse of all the Yor photos in Yuri's house 😂 I hope Anya visits his home one day...would love to see her expression about this! (also he names his attacks after Yor too, I can't 🤣)

Even though Yuri misunderstood what Chloe meant when she told him not to be so reckless, by the end of the chapter he did have a thought on his own about how getting rid of Loid would make Yor sad. Of course he tries to deny that by bringing up the gripes she supposedly had with him, and of course Yor, who's always so flustered about her feelings, can't straight up tell him that she likes/loves Loid. So back to square one I guess...?

But even though this chapter may turn out like the last one and just be a standalone that doesn't lead to the next big arc, I can't help but think it's hinting at a "Yuri discovers who Twilight really is" scenario. For all we know that could be the first identity reveal of the series. It makes sense since, unlike identity reveals among the Forgers, this wouldn't necessarily result in the series heading towards an end. Even if Yuri discovered Twilight's identity, he could choose to keep it to himself for a while and nothing else would change. I don't like to speculate too much, but I feel this is a possibility with all the "Yuri vs Twilight" mentions we've had lately.

As always, just gotta wait and see!

[potatonugget7]

You Are My Sunshine

Chapter 1 of my new QSMP borrower AU. Also posted on AO3.

TWs: Fear of death, blood and injuries, a scary owl. 3.6k words.

Tubbo never seemed to learn his lesson when it came to trusting humans. Yet there he was, fleeing yet another home. This time though, he had a child with him. Yeah, he adopted a child. Considering he was still *kind of* a kid himself, maybe it wasn't the greatest idea, but it was too late for that now, they were inseparable like glue. Now it was Tubbo and Sunny against the world! Plus she shared his love for coffee! When he was her age, he wasn't allowed coffee, so Tubbo was *pretty sure* he was doing a fine job.

Hopefully this new house wouldn't have such weird and nosy humans.

Thunder rumbled in the dusk coloured sky overhead, followed by smaller cracks and flashes of bright light as it stormed. It was spring, the season of heavy rain and occasionally snow; also known as the perfect formula for hypo-fucking-thermia. Tubbo grimaced as the rain continued to beat down on them mercilessly, another heavy drop of freezing cold water crashing down on his head as he and Sunny trudged through a muddy forest of unkempt grass blades. It would be night soon. The sun was setting already, which meant the temperature would be dropping further and dangerous predators would be out hunting.

“Sunny, remember what I said? Stick close to me so we can share the umbrella,” he chattered out and Sunny nodded, squeezing his hand tighter.

All things considered, the leaf they were using as an umbrella wasn’t very effective. They were both drenched, covered in mud and dirt. Tubbo had tried to keep her out of the mud when it first started raining, but he couldn’t carry her and the bags. He cursed under his breath, squinting up at the darkening sky. It was just not their lucky day. Correction; not their lucky week.

They had to move on short notice; in the middle of the night, which then led to walking all day. Humans travelled much faster than borrowers could and Tubbo wanted to put as much distance between them and their previous ‘house mate’. For hours they trekked through forests of overgrown grass, across plateaus of dirt and brick. Along shores of large ponds and watering holes. He was certain that by now, they must’ve travelled at least a ‘city block’ as the humans called them. 

It should be far enough. He hoped it was far enough. His legs ached and his feet were numb with cold. Tubbo wasn’t sure if it was his own exhaustion, or the rain weighing them down, but the bags felt so much heavier.

He paused as he felt a tug on his hand. Sunny had stopped and dropped the leaf-umbrella, a strained wheeze escaping her as she clutched her chest. 

“Sunny?” Tubbo dropped the bags and crouched down in front of her, putting his hands on her shoulders. “Are you okay?”

Sunny tried to nod as she coughed dryly, a pained look on her face. The poor girl had lung problems. Tubbo was pretty sure it was called asthma. It couldn’t be cured as far as he knew. He did everything he could; taught her calming breathing exercises and upon hearing that coffee supposedly could help, he started making it more often. However he wasn’t exactly sure how accurate that information was, considering its source was Pierre. Though he did quickly learn that Sunny shouldn’t have more than one cup a day or else she would be bouncing off the walls for hours. Sometimes it got really bad though, especially in the spring and all he could really do was hold her hand.

“Just stay calm princess, you’ve got this. If it hurts you can squeeze my hand, okay?” he whispered calmly, taking her hand gently.

Sunny nodded again and squeezed his hand tight. She had described the feeling to him before. 

‘I feel all tight and like the air is being squeezed out of me.’ she had explained.

“Try and pretend you’re smelling some tulips, or maybe some coffee? Take a nice deep breath,” Tubbo said quietly, giving her the most reassuring smile he could muster.

A few minutes later, Sunny was able to reign it in again, but it felt like hours. Sitting there in the chilly air, getting battered by raindrops as he held his daughter’s hands. Unfortunately the rain didn’t set with the sun and as a bolt of lightning shattered the velvety sky, both borrowers jumped in fright.

“Pa…” Sunny tugged on his hand, frowning up at the sky as thunder rumbled loudly overhead. “Can we please stop here? I’m tired… and it’s really muddy and dirty.” 

The smaller borrower kicked at the dirt with her muddy boots, a foul look on her face. Sunny wasn’t a typical child. While most borrowers her age would love to be playing in the dirt and enjoying the outdoors, Sunny would rather stay inside and count her collection of bits and bobs. Tubbo didn’t mind though. It brought him peace of mind to know Sunny was safe at home, waiting for him to bring her back whatever shiny new trinket he’d come across on his latest borrowing trip.

“I know Suns, I know,” he looked around, squinting past the tall grass blades around them.

They were about halfway across a particularly overgrown backyard. The house it belonged to stood tall in the distance. From what Tubbo could see it did have a back porch, standing on sleek, dark wooden beams, with a grate of sorts that wrapped all the way around. It would be the perfect place to make camp for the night.

“This umbrella sucks,” the small girl huffed, motioning to the leaf they were using. “I miss my parasol.” 

Tubbo sighed. Regrettably, they had left it behind and he didn’t have the heart to tell her that it would’ve been useless anyway. Being made of paper, it would’ve been ruined in a few minutes of being out in the rain.

“Well maybe I can find you another one once it’s warmer out. I think the humans like to put them in their fancy… erm, barbeque drinks,” he gave her the most cheerful smile he could muster in the moment.

“Can you make it shiny pa?” Sunny asked with a hopeful smile.

Clearly she was in a much better mood already when it came to being promised new things. Tubbo felt a small weight lift off his shoulders at the sight of Sunny's smile. The weather was gloomy enough as it was, they didn't need either of them bringing the mood down any further.

“I guess I could reinforce it with some aluminium?” Tubbo smiled back at her, but it was a mask to hide his own gloom.

He had left behind… well, just about everything. His workshop, his machines and inventions, his materials. It would take years to rebuild both the workshop and his collection, assuming their new home would even have what he needed. Tubbo didn’t think human engineers were very common, and certainly not living on the same street. Disclaimer; he had no evidence to back that up, it was just a hunch . Honestly they'd be lucky to even find an abandoned borrowers’ hovel, let alone an available home with a proper forge setup.

“Oh…” Sunny visibly deflated, pouting at the ground as they trudged through the squelchy mud.

It felt like a punch to the gut.

“Poppetttttttttttttt… please don't make that face. It can't be helped for now, I'm sorry,’” Tubbo drawled out.

Squinting through the downpour, Tubbo could see they were almost to the human house which this yard belonged to. The structure was impossibly large, its rooftop easily grazing the skies as it towered over the small borrowers. The grass was getting thinner as they got closer to the building. Instead, large, flat stones were embedded into the dirt. Weeds were fighting to break through the cracks, between the tiles and several puddles of water turned the path into some kind of stoney bog.

They were so close to the porch now; all they had to do was cross the stone terrace. The whole thing made Tubbo nervous. Something in the back of his mind told him that if something bad was going to happen on this trip, it should happen sometime around now. There was almost no cover on the stone plateau, save for a few overgrown dandelions and upturned stone bricks, but he would hardly call that cover. If any birds spotted them, it would be so joever. 

“Welp, up we go Suns,” Tubbo hauled himself up onto the stone, his muscles aching and sore from exhaustion.

 “Pa, can we have avocado soup for dinner?” she asked as Tubbo reached down and pulled her up too.

“Sure…” he replied quietly, taking her hand as they began crossing the stone terrace.

In all honesty, he really just wanted to get to sleep. Unfortunately that's just what parenting was, it seemed. Tubbo was a little worried about a fire. Even a small one could draw unwanted attention. The brunet glanced up at the house ahead of them.

He didn’t see any lights on, but what if they somehow smelled the smoke and woke up? He couldn’t just feed Sunny cold soup though. For one, she wouldn’t eat it cold to begin with. Two, she needed to warm up or she might catch a cold! A sick child was the last thing he needed right now. Tubbo really hoped these humans ate avocados at least.

“Hey Princess… um, I just want to warn you. I might not be able to get you avocados anymore…” he said slowly, trying his damndest to avoid eye contact.

Sunny paused midstep, letting go of his hand. She looked up at him with a blank face, but Tubbo could see fire in her eyes.

“Huh.”

“Well it’s just…” Tubbo crouched down in front of her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Avocados aren’t super common I don’t think. When I was your age I’d never even heard of them before.”

“Really..?” Sunny asked with a look of awe and horror on her face, like she couldn’t begin to comprehend life without avocados.

“Yeah,” he stood back up, a sorrowful expression on his face.

“Well- what about- what about coffee?” the younger borrower asked in a desperate voice.

“No, I think coffee is universal–” Tubbo paused, feeling goosebumps prickling down his spine.

Lightning cracked through the air and the flash of light revealed a shadow on the ground. His eyes widened in panic and he let out a gasp. Quickly, he grabbed Sunny and threw himself to the side, hugging her tight. 

A pair of talons crashed down where they had been just seconds ago. A piercing ache jolted down his arm as his shoulder slammed into the stone, taking the brunt of the fall. Tubbo bit his tongue, swallowing back a pained cry. Now that the adrenaline was pumping, he barely noticed the dull throbbing in his shoulder.

“Pa?!” Sunny cried, her eyes wide with terror. 

An owl towered over them, its grey and brown serrated feathers having made it virtually silent. It looked like a demon, with its massive glowing yellow orbs and feathery horns. Tubbo had seen one in action once. It swooped down on a field mouse with terrifying accuracy and snatched it up into the air. The poor mouse never had a chance.

He didn’t answer her as he scrambled to his feet. The owl recovered quickly too, flapping its wings wildly as it swiped at them with its talons again. Tubbo darted to the side, dragging Sunny with him, dropping some of the bags.

“What is that?!” the younger brunette practically squeaked.

“An owl–” Tubbo breathed out, shuddering as the owl's head turned a hundred and thirty degrees, staring directly at them.

Terrifyingly silent, the owl sprung at them again and Tubbo scooped Sunny up with his good arm, the adrenaline pumping through his veins giving him abnormal strength. The brunet vaulted over a slanted stone tile, feeling the wind rush passed them as the owl jabbed its beak into the stone. He ignored both the pain in his injured arm, and Sunny’s snot soaking into his shirt. The poor girl had her arms wrapped tightly around his neck as she shook, her face buried in his shirt.

He sprinted as fast as his legs would carry him, jolts of pain travelling up his ankles every time his shoes slammed into the hard stone. They were almost there. Tubbo wouldn’t let either of them get eaten by an overgrown finch right before reaching their new camp.

“Suns we have to be- very quiet,” he heaved out, the cold air making his lungs ache. “O-okay?”

“Mhm,” Sunny whimpered.

Daring a glance over his shoulder, Tubbo realised he didn’t see the owl anymore. A wave of anxiety washed over him and a pit formed in his stomach. It must’ve flown back to wherever it had been perching before it jumped them. They were lucky the first time when the lightning struck and Tubbo managed to catch a glimpse of the shadow. He didn’t think it would happen twice.

He stopped to catch his breath, and squinted up at the dark sky; it wasn’t circling above them. Tubbo turned his gaze to the shrubs and trees around the backyard, scanning the tall towering fences and the nearby houses. He didn’t see the owl anywhere though. 

“Okay Sunny… I- I don’t want to scare you–” he started, setting the younger borrower back down on the stone. 

“Pa… that was already really scary,” Sunny interrupted.

Tubbo took a deep breath, his legs shaking from the adrenaline. The pain was starting to really set in, and the cold and the damp really didn’t help either. Looking over at the porch, he could see how the skirt was made of wooden plants. The planks created a criss-cross pattern, with holes too small for any creature bigger than a small rabbit. The owl wouldn’t be able to get them there. 

He gently took her hand again and began walking across the stone plateau once more.

‘At least the rain had stopped…’

“I know, but that owl might still come back. So we need to get under the porch, quickly and quietly. We’re gonna set up camp there,” he explained, helping her jump over a crack where a dandelion had challenged the tiles and won.

“Finally…” Sunny yawned.

“Sunny. Kid. You are way too nonchalant for someone who just nearly got snatched by an owl,” Tubbo deadpanned.

“I thought you didn't want to scare me,” she stated, a blank expression on her face.

“...” they stared at each other in silence for a moment. 

“Look– you know how fragile my ego is.” deep down though, Tubbo was happy she was so quick to recover.

Sunny rolled her eyes, letting out a scoff. Tubbo went to clutch his chest dramatically in betrayal– but let out a pained yelp, quickly remembering that he had an injured shoulder. The cheeky look on the younger borrower’s face turned to sympathy when she noticed.

“Does your arm hurt Pa?” she asked, gently tugging on it.

“Uh, yeah. So please don’t pull on it,” Tubbo grimaced.

“Sorry,” Sunny mumbled.

Relief washed over him as they finally crossed over to the last stone tile. Tubbo breathed a sigh of reprieve as he shoved aside an overgrown dandelion stem. He didn’t notice the owl was back until he was slammed into the stone. 

His brain buffered, taking a second to catch up before he realised what had happened. Sharp talons pinned him to the ground, digging into his arms and Tubbo let out an agonizing wail. He squirmed, pushing up against the owl’s superior strength. However even with the adrenaline pumping through his veins he was no match for a massive, hungry bird of prey.

“Go! Sunny hide- under the porch–!” he yelled, his voice cracking.

“But–”

“Go!” he struggled, reaching for his sword.

The smaller borrower nodded, tears pooling in the corners of her eyes. Tubbo managed to unsheathe his sword, using it to block the owl's beak as it tried to chomp his head off . At the same time, Sunny climbed up and between one of the criss-crosses in the porch skirt. 

Tubbo pointed the tip of the sword at its face the second time the owl lunged for his head. The pin was embedded in the feathery bastard's eye. The owl let out a deafening shriek and started flapping its wings frantically, scratching at Tubbo as it shrieked. The borrower let out yelp and curled up in a ball, covering his head with his hands.

‘Maybe that wasn't a great idea–’

Tubbo froze as he heard a click. Suddenly squares of light flooded the yard. Next, a loud shuttering noise, which was then followed by a resounding slam rang through the air.

“Yeah hang on Phil, it's that stupid owl again,” a deep voice groaned.

Thunk, thunk, thunk, clack, clack, clack–

His eyes widened in horror as he listened to the footsteps of the much scarier predator that was fast approaching. The owl noticed too, turning its stupid creepy head to the giant that now towered over the both of them.

“How many times have I told you to stay out of this yard?! Fucking bird,” the bald human yelled, stomping it's feet so loudly that it shook the ground.

The owl let out a shrill shriek, squawking angrily at the human before it took off again.

Tubbo slowly picked himself up, biting his tongue to quiet his own pained whimpers. His body felt like it was on fire. His shirt was ripped, and the sleeves were covered in messy, dark red stripes; gifts left behind by the owl's talons. 

“Jeez…” the human pulled a light box (Pierre said they were called phones) out of its pocket and held it up to its ear. 

“Sorry I'm back. Yeah the little one that won't leave the crows alone.”

The human didn't see him yet, and Tubbo didn't want to change that. Quietly, slowly, he pulled himself up onto the trim of the porch and crawled through one of the many gaps in the wood. He managed to drag himself behind one of the wooden posts that framed the porch before he collapsed in the dirt, panting.

“I mean, maybe? I didn't see one. It might've just been a rat.”

Tubbo heard some shuffling behind him and awkwardly sat up, leaning against the post for support. He pulled his heavy bag and laid it down in the dirt, still working on catching his breath. He just needed a minute to recover.

“Hello?” 

The brunet slapped a hand over his mouth to stifle the startled noise that tried to claw its way up his throat. 

“Is anyone or anything down here?”

Tubbo knew there was absolutely no way the bald human could see him. Even laying down, it couldn’t see him from that angle, in the dark no less. Well- unless it could see through walls, which he severely doubted. However, the urge to get up and take off running again was strong. 

“Yeah, I think it was just a squirrel or something,” the human got back up, dusted itself off and went back inside.

“K, I have to put the kids back to bed now. I think the owl woke them up again”

Tubbo still felt his heart hammering against his chest. The ridiculous amount of close encounters he and Sunny had experienced today gave him enough heart attacks to last a month thank you very much. He waited until it stopped raining sawdust and the footsteps above him faded away to move again. 

Once he was absolutely sure the human wasn’t listening, Tubbo grabbed his hiker’s bag and got back up again, (much to his body’s dismay).

“Sunny?” he called out, stumbling over the uneven terrain. “Poultry Princess? Where are you?” 

“Pa?!” his eyes darted to the source of the sound.

Relief washed over him like a tidal wave. Sunny was fine, she was alive in one piece. The little borrower had peeked her head out of her hiding spot; behind another wooden support. Tubbo rushed over to her, nearly tripping in the process, and lifted her up into a tight hug.

“I’m so glad you’re okay…” he whispered, setting Sunny back down on the ground when she started squirming.

The younger borrower grumbled, crossing her arms. She was giving him the look.

“...What?” he asked, dumbfounded. “Am I not allowed to hug you or–?”

“Don’t do that again Pa!” she cried, pounding her little fists on his chest lightly. “I thought- I thought you were gonna–...” her exclamations died down into sobs.

一

Once Sunny had calmed down, Tubbo had gotten a small fire set up. Though their clothes hadn’t dried yet, the warmth from the fire was welcome, and leftover avocado soup had never tasted so good. Luckily, the most essential items had been packed in their backpacks, and not in the bags they’d left behind while fleeing the owl attack. Tubbo didn’t think going back out there to rescue them was in his best interest at the moment. He’d just finished bandaging his new wounds after all, he wasn’t exactly keen on opening them back up already.

“Pa, can you sing me a lullaby?” Sunny asked as she helped her dad unravel their sleeping mat.

“I- well, I can try. Are you ready for bed then?” he pulled a blanket out of his bag and laid it down on the sleeping mats.

“I was ready for bed hours ago,” the younger borrower sassed as she flopped down on the mat.

“Fair enough,” Tubbo put the fire out before laying down next to her, pulling the other end of the blanket over them, like a blanket taco.

“Argh,” he cleared his throat. “My voice is a bit scratchy right now, so bear with me.”

“That's okay.”

“Ahem. You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy, when skies are grey… You’ll never know dear… how much I love you. Please don’t take my sunshine away.”

“Pa…”

“Yeah?”

Sunny turned to face him.

“Is that about me?” 

“Um, I guess you could interpret it that way, yeah,” he gave her an awkward smile.

“Okay…” she turned her back to him. “I’m glad the owl didn’t eat you.”

“Yeah, I am too, no more talking though. Sleep time,” he yawned out, pulling her into a warm hug.

“Night Pa.”

“Night Suns…”

[teenage-mutant-ninja-freak]

Helloo!!

I saw your witchy s/o post while looking into the tmnt tag and I'm so freaking happy someone finally wrote for a reader that practices witchcraft!!!!

If it's alright with you, and if you accept asks (I tried to look for rules but so far saw what you don't write) could I have the tmnt bois (especially Leo) with a witchy s/o that works with deities and dragons?

If not then it's totally fine! Hopefully Tumblr doesn't eat my ask so have a good day!

abso-fucking-lutely!!!! this is so fun and as a folk practitioner who works with deities this is right up my ally. If it's ok with you, I'm not gonna include dragons as that's not a practice I'm familiar with and I wouldn't want to get anything wrong. But deities I can do! I'll switch up the deities each time so there's something new with each of these as well.

Leo

"Can't, sorry, Loki said the vibe is off" you begin to leave the room and Leo is just following you like "What vibe? Who's Loki? Why is he telling you no?"

you're shuffling tarot cards and the fool pops out so you say, looking up, "I get it babes, please don't interrupt my reading like that, though" and Leo is so confused like "I din't say anything" and you just say "Not you, Loki"

eventually he tries to play into it like "Would Loki be ok if we didn't smoke cleanse the house today?" and you're just like "...yeah, I guess. But if you start feeling ill soon you'll know it's because he's pissed at you"

Leo does start feeling sick so you tell him to make an offering

he's never felt more stupid that when he pours wine into a glass on your alter but he soon feels better again and it freaks him out that it worked

"So he's a trickster god?" lots of questions like this and each time you're just like "Yes, he's a trickster, no he isn't going to hurt me, yes he fucks with me sometimes but it's all in good faith"

Raph

You wake up from a really bad nightmare

"I thought your Goddess was supposed to have power over dreams?"

"She does, something must be wrong"

you look in your offering cup and the wine has fucking moulded

"ah shit, it's mouldy. Better get her a new one"

after that you have peaceful dreams

you come home with a bunch of white roses and Raph is all "are those for me?" and you politely have to let him down and tell him they're for Selene

any time Raph has a bad dream you joke that it's because he's fallen out of favour with the Goddess for how he's treated you

fast forward to a time you and him get in a big fight and he has the worst sleep/dreams of his life for a week straight.

he comes crawling back to you practically begging you for forgiveness.

Selene gets a big offering after that

Mikey

You're clearing a space in his room for your alter since the two of you moved in together

"I need a large space, Hades like a big alter"

"What's he compensating for?" Mikey jokes

and you just shoot him this look like "Don't fuck around when it comes to him"

not even 10 minutes later one of his drums breaks

you're just like "serves you right"

you come in one morning with a cup of coffee and Mikey gets all excited like he's about to get breakfast in bed and you have to tell him that it's for Hades who likes his coffee black.

kinda freaks Mikey out when you hold a funeral for each of the dead rats you find in the lair but you have to remind him "I'm a death witch and I worship the lord of the underworld. What else am I meant to do?"

Donnie

honestly he mostly just leaves you to it

he's pretty good with his hands so when you told him you worship Artemis he made a clay stature of her for your alter

you told him he'll be in her good books after that

that night Donnie caught 10 foot clan soldiers

"well, she is the Goddess of the hunt... I told you she was happy with you"

He really takes an interest in your devotional activities

always asking questions about why you do that or the significance of this

[tanthamoretober]

Here we go, friends, the last days of the Autumn themed prompts posted to the Tanthamoretober collection on AO3

Multi day prompts

Day 1 & 15: Caramel apples, Harvest Ride

Apple Candy by TheArcher Rating: Explicit Summary: “You know, me and Elora were going to go on a carriage ride after breakfast. You should join us.”

“Oh, that’s such a nice and unexpected offer.” Graydon looked between Airk, smiling hopefully, and Elora, looking very nervous.

“Graydon’s probably busy hanging out with Boorman, right?” Elora said, looking at him purposefully.

“Actually, he wanted the day to himself.” He spoke before realizing Elora probably was hoping to have alone time with Airk. "I mean…

“Perfect!” Airk said, putting an arm around Elora. “The three of us can hang out.”

Part 4 of Harvest Festival

Day 5 & 20: Autumn Breeze, Festival

Forbidden Desires and Foolish Secrets by TheyAreSoGay Rating: Teen and up Summary: "Jade?" Kit looks so shocked the redhead wouldn't be surprised if she had grown three horns and a tail in the last few seconds.

She's going to reply, but her gaze is now stuck on the princess's eyes. They tell a story of heartbreak, and hope that was painfully discarded. They're stunning, and soft, and confused, and she looks so hurt in that moment that Jade can't even stand it.

"Kit?" Graydon walks up behind her, his hand tapping her shoulders softly, ruining the moment. The brown haired girl turns, her expression changing into a look she's never seen sported on her best friend's face. It's soft, and kind, and something else she can't place. "Would you like to dance?"

"Sure."

As they slowly travel to the dance floor, Kit sends her a look that clearly reads 'we need to talk later'. After the last few notes of the song is finished, the married couple makes their way to the center of the room.

OR

What happens when Brunhilde being Elora isn't revealed by Willow, and no one conveniently gets kidnapped right when Jade’s about to go to the Shining Legion, leaving her friend alone in her hour of need.

Day 27 & 28: Full moon & underneath the sky

Pack of Two by Silver85 Rating: Teen and up Summary: Kit makes a choice and puts herself on the path that one days leads her to Jade. Part 18 of Loving Me Loving You, (AWOOOO)

Day 1: Candy apples

One Night in October, Chapter 8: The Knife in the Flesh, by TheLateNightStoryTeller Rating: Teen and up Summary: On their way back from a family visit, a turn of events leaves Kit and Jade stranded in the wild. As night falls and the weather grows colder, the pair soon realize that someone in the woods is hunting them.

Day 16: Fireside

Salad by sofys37 Rating: Mature Summary: Lili gets caught off guard, she didn’t see Jade coming but she recovers and smiles. “I only take appointments in my office, you can come back tomorrow when we are open.”

“Oh, it’s ok, I’m not here for an appointment.” Jade gets a glock she had in the pocket of her hoodie and smiles. “I’m here to kill you, bitch!”

(also appears under the prompts ‘something in the woods’ and ‘wet’)

Day 20: Festival

feeling good by Anarik Rating: Explicit Summary: Meet me at 7:30 at the back of your house? K. Continuation of Festival Ideas (also appears under the prompts ‘voyeurism’ and ‘wet’)

Day 22: Kissing In The Rain

seeing stars by Geek_and_Nina Rating: Explicit Summary: that thing Jade found comes up and it's wonderful and then other wonderful things happen Part 22 of Show Don't Tell (also appears under the prompts ‘found footage’ and ‘rough sex’)

My Own Kind of Light, Chapter 7: Kissing in the rain, by slvershdws Rating: Teen and up Summary: Sixteen-year-old Kit Tanthalos meets visiting nineteen-year-old Jade Claymore at an Autumn Festival and it’s the start of a friendship that grows over the years into something neither expected, nor can they agree on what it is.

Until they do.

Day 23: Baking Pies

messy by Geek_and_Nina Rating: Explicit Summary: Kit and Jade pack up camp and head home, newly engaged... and nothing bad happens (sarcasm) Part 23 of Show Don't Tell (also appears under the tag ‘broken window’)

Day 24: Cemetery

Zombie Crack: Night of the Living Dental Dam by lowkeyed1 Rating: Teen and up Summary: Jade and Kit try a little Halloween roleplay… Part 1 of Tanthamoretober Crack Fics (also appears under prompts ‘role play’ and ’creepy setting’)

once more with feeling by Geek_and_Nina Rating: Teen and up Summary: kit and jade go on a stupid walk for their stupid mental health Part 24 of Show Don't Tell (also appears under the prompts ‘creepy setting’ and ‘roleplay’)

Day 25: Black Cat

Halloween Crack: Kiss of the Cat Woman by lowkeyed1 Rating: Teen and up Summary: Kit and Jade are on their way to a Halloween party when their car breaks down… Part 2 of Tanthamoretober Crack Fics (also appears under the prompts ‘costume party’ and ‘leather’)

this is a big world (that was a small town) by pirateygoodness Rating: Teen and up Summary: Jade makes noise, the sound coming out of her not quite a laugh but something close. It sounds like relief. She didn't notice herself holding her breath, but when the little creature yowls and squirms itself in half trying to take a bite out of Kit's arm, she realizes that she can breathe again.

Kit clucks a little against the back of her teeth, chuckles. "Look at you, hollering away. And we thought you was dead."

(OR: Cowboy Kit finds a stray kitten)

Part 3 of (cowboy) take me away (tanthamore rdr2 au)

leather lips and lights by Geek_and_Nina Rating: Explicit Summary: jade has a revenge plan for kit's teasing while she was on her conference but it really didn't go the way she planned Part 25 of Show Don't Tell

(also appears under the prompts and ‘leather’)

Day 26: Dead-End

Funhouse Crack: Mirror Maze by lowkeyed1 Rating: Teen and up Summary: Jade and Kit go on their first date. On Halloween. To the carnival Part 3 of Tanthamoretober Crack Fics (also appears under the prompts ‘mirrors’ and ‘lingerie’) 

My Own Kind of Light, chapter 9: Dead End, by slvershdws Rating: Teen and up Summary: Sixteen-year-old Kit Tanthalos meets visiting nineteen-year-old Jade Claymore at an Autumn Festival and it’s the start of a friendship that grows over the years into something neither expected, nor can they agree on what it is.

Until they do.

vengeance by Geek_and_Nina Rating: Explicit Summary: day after the bathtub fic! when i tell you jade got home as fast as possible Part 26 of Show Don't Tell (also appears under the prompts ‘mirrors’ and ‘lingerie’)

Day 27: Underneath The Sky

The List by Geek_and_Nina Rating: Explicit Summary: definitely not making fun of acre's naming protocols jade is on a trip and she leaves a list Part 27 of Show Don't Tell (also appears under the prompts ‘campfire stories’ and ‘dominance/submission’)

Day 28: Full Moon(s)

My Hands are Shaking from Holding Back from You by Jad3dEt3rnal Rating: Explicit Summary: Tentatively, Jade reached up and touched its cold face.

She breathed in deeply as the tips of her fingers found the cool, smooth stone; a force of energy seemed to billow out from it like a sudden, but not unbearable, wind, and Jade blinked as she gazed upon the stone in wonder. She was mesmerized by it as the rock seemed to minutely shift beneath her gentle touch. She stood there watching, gaping, as its face transformed.

Not once did it occur to Jade to pull away, to leave.

In moments, the lifeless statue had begun to move with the slightest set of spasms under Jade’s palm. She gasped then, recoiling a few steps to gaze upon the statue with awe, and confusion.

Suddenly- terrifyingly- intoxicatingly- the statue’s eyes moved, from looking off at some point in the distance, to looking right at her.

Or:

When Jade tries to go the extra mile for her thesis she summons more than she bargained for.

(also appears under the prompts ‘the lights go out’ and ‘magic’)

wake up by Geek_and_Nina Rating: Explicit Summary: kit makes jade watch movies again, but she keeps falling asleep and jade keeps her awake very different from their last movie binge... but also not different at all Part 28 of Show Don't Tell (also appears under the prompts ‘came back wrong’ and ‘sadism/masochism’

Werewolf Crack: A Galladoornian Werewolf in Tir Asleen by lowkeyed1 Rating: Teen and up Summary: Boorman and Graydon were all set to have a little fun in the woods -- until the full moons rose Part 5 of Tanthamoretober Crack Fics (also appears under the prompts ‘came back wrong’ and ‘sadism/masochism’)

Day 29: Carving Jack o’ Lanterns

Little Shop Crack: Mean Orange Bad by lowkeyed1 for LuckypupsMama Rating: Teen and up Summary: Graydon Krelborn is working at Mr. Willownik's flower shop, when he finds a strange and unusual pumpkin plant… Part 6 of Tanthamoretober Crack Fics (also appears under the prompts ‘cult’ and ‘long distance’)

pumpkins by Geek_and_Nina Rating: Teen and up Summary: kit and jade are moving in together two years ago there's a whoopsie Part 29 of Show Don't Tell (also appears under the prompts ‘cult’ and ‘long distance’)

Day 30: Costume Party

Costume Party Crack: Children of the Corn Cob by lowkeyed1 Rating: Teen and up Summary: Airk and Kit wear a costume to Boorman's party that Airk regrets, at first… Part 7 of Tanthamoretober Crack Fics (Also appears under the prompts ‘nipple play’ and ‘horror movies’)

My Own Kind of Light, chapter 10: Costume Party, by slvershdws Rating: Teen and up Summary: Sixteen-year-old Kit Tanthalos meets visiting nineteen-year-old Jade Claymore at an Autumn Festival and it’s the start of a friendship that grows over the years into something neither expected, nor can they agree on what it is.

Until they do.

lost in wanting her to win by Geek_and_Nina Rating: Explicit Summary: kit and jade have some fun at gray's party Part 30 of Show Don't Tell (also appears under the prompts ‘horror movies’ and ‘nipple play’)

Day 31: Trick or Treat

Corny Crack: Children of the Corn Cob II: The Final Crack by lowkeyed1 for GravityAlex Rating: Explicit Summary: Elora and Airk had so much fun at Boorman's party, they decide to meet up again… Part 8 of Tanthamoretober Crack Fics (also appears under the prompts ‘something in the woods’ and ‘sensation play’)

What a month (and a bit!!) it's been! Thank you, so much, to everyone who joined in, writers and readers alike.

And remember, Never Not Commenting November is a wonderful way to show your appreciation!

[mydarllinglover]

Alone || Home Sweet Home

Previous

Natalia felt completely drained and weak after the birth of her twins, but she couldn't give up and rest, she was in a strangers house in the middle of the woods, whilst Daryl, Michonne, Evie and the others were somewhere, hopefully still alive.

Leah had tried convincing her to stay for only a little bit, just to get some sleep and her strength up, but Natalia refused, somewhat politely.

"How the hell are you gonna get two babies back to wherever you came from, by yourself?" Leah asked her, the woman looked like she was capable of fainting at any moment.

"I have a community, I lied earlier because I don't know you" Natalia revealed.

"Gathered that."

"It's a big place, we have houses, livestock, gardens, even a church, you should come back with me, you'd be accepted into the community, we're all good people." Natalia offered, the babies were currently feeding for the first time, it was a lot easier than Natalia expected, they kinda just did it themselves with a little of her help.

"I can't." Leah shook her head.

"Why not, you wouldn't be out here by yourself, alone in the woods."

"I just can't, okay. I'm staying here, and if you're serious about leaving, you should get going soon, before it gets dark."

"Fair enough." Natalia nodded, accepting her answer. "I got a plan, but I kinda need your help."

Natalia had settled the twins, making sure they'd be okay whilst her and Leah went outside for just a moment, Leah had instructed Willow, her dog, to watch the girls, come alert them if anything had happened, she was very obedient.

"What are we doing?" Leah asked, dropping the sheet Natalia had asked for, on the ground.

"You're gonna help me gut up." Natalia shared, her knife was in her fist, she was in a lot of pain, from just giving birth not that long ago, but she pushed it away, Siddiq could offer her meds when she got back, she also found that it was a lot easier to move around when there were no babies in her womb. "That way, the walkers won't become a problem and I can get home quicker."

They had managed to lure three walkers towards them, putting them down, Natalia wasn't sure how much guts she'd actually need, but she wanted to be as safe as possible, even though so long ago, when they had only been in Alexandria for less than a month, Rick had managed to split two walkers between eleven people, albeit, one of them was a baby.

With gloves, Natalia and Leah cut up the walkers, slathering their blood and guts all over the sheet, she even smothered some on her cheeks, just to be on the safe side.

The two women cleaned their hands thoroughly as the sheet was hung up, the twins were new born's after all, they didn't want to cause anything that could pass on an infection to them, or the fever.

Leah had hunted down two different coloured fabrics, that were clean and not towels, helping Natalia swaddle the two sleeping babies, Daisy was sporting dark brown, and Bambi was wearing navy blue.

Natalia tucked the girls into the front of her dungaree's, that were a lot more looser, tying a cut up sheet around her body, keeping them safe and still, she had caught how the twin sisters were holding hands as they slept next to each other, it made her heart melt.

"Are you going to be okay?" Leah asked, as she put the sheet over Natalia's head.

"I'll be fine, I got this." Natalia told her. "You sure you wanna stay here?"

"Yeah, this is my home." Leah finalised. "Where I need to be."

"Alright, well, thanks, for like, everything." Natalia nodded, shaking Leah's hand with her free one, the other was holding the babies tightly to her. 

"Bye, Natalia." Leah bid her goodbye. "Good luck."

"You too, bye Willow." The dog woofed in response.

Natalia made her way through the woods, she luckily hadn't spotted that many walkers, but when she did, they just walked past her as if she was invisible.

Daisy and Bambi had luckily slept throughout most of the journey, Natalia wondered if they thought they were back in the womb in the darkness.

Thoughts of Evie clouded her mind, she was so scared for the girl, she missed her overbearingly as well, like a part of her was missing, she was praying she was safe, hopefully Daryl and Michonne had found her and the others by the time she got back to Alexandria, but also she hoped she'd manage to slip in before them.

Natalia may be a twenty-nine year old woman, but she knew she was in deep shit when she got back to the community, probably from a lot of people, and just to find out that their biggest worry with her leaving had come true, she was mostly scared for Daryl's reaction, but also how he was going to deal with the fact that Eugene had been put in charge of his wife and let her out of his sight as soon as possible .

"Home sweet home, girls." Natalia whispered, when she had reached the gates, that had been thrown open by Rosita as soon as she had spotted her.

"Nat's back!" She heard the woman shout to the people of the community.

"Mommy!" That familiar voice squealed, Evie came running out of the gates, towards her, Daryl was right behind her, who had been pacing the street's whilst Aaron and Michonne were convincing him to stay put, instead of go out looking for his wife, the last thing they needed was both Dixons out and about, lost in the world whilst they're newly rescued daughter waited on their return.

"Hi, baby." Natalia smiled, her eyes tearing up a bit, to see Evie was safe and okay.

"Nat!" Daryl called, as he jogged over, taking in his woman.

"Mom?" Evie halted just in front of her, seeing as she was wearing a sheet full of guts, but something was missing about her appearance.

"What happened?" Daryl asked, ripping the sheet over her head, his eyes full of worry.

"The twins decided to come today." She smiled at him nervously. "I jinxed it."

He looked down, seeing the tops of their heads, that were covered in dark hair, a lot of it, they were blessed. 

"Bring her to the Infirmary, I'll check you all over." Siddiq told them, him and their other friends loitered around the gates, watching the family's reunion, in slight shock and surprise.

Daryl came to his senses, nodding as he guided Natalia into Alexandria, letting Rosita shut the gates behind them, Evie followed as they made their way to the infirmary, Michonne went with them, as well as Aaron and Rosita, who put someone else on her shift.

"Ro, why don't you get some stuff for the girls, and Nat a change of clothes." Siddiq instructed her as he led the group of people into his place of work, Daryl sat Natalia down on one of the beds, cradling his daughters heads as he undid the buttons, freeing them.

"I'll help." Aaron offered as they both ran out of the door.

"Where's Eugene?" Natalia asked, looking around.

"He's in hiding until further notice." Michonne explained, as Daryl let out a growl from beside her, so he hadn't killed the man, good to know. "Negan ratted you out to Gabriel as soon as you left."

"He can mind his own business." She scoffed.

"Why the hell did you leave, huh?" Daryl demanded "Told you to stay put."

"You could have died out there." Michonne jumped in. "You're lucky you're not, anything could've happened."

"Let's not interrogate my patient, until we at least know everyone's okay." Siddiq took hold of one of the babies, cradling her as he set her down on another bed, checking her over, Daryl was holding the other one, waiting for her to be looked over.

"What happened out there, how did you find Evie and the others, what happened with Jocelyn?" Natalia asked, running her hands through Evie's hair, who was hugging her tightly.

She watched as Michonne and Daryl shared a look of uncomfortableness, their recent injuries were still burning on their backs.

"What?" She pushed, feeling uneasy.

"It's best we tell you after you've had some rest." Michonne told her, quietly. "All that matters now is that we're all here."

"Siddiq, I know the twins are already out, but like, gimmie drugs." Natalia laid down on the bed, covering her face with her arms.

"Nat, what actually happened out there? Did you go through it alone?" Siddiq asked her, swapping the babies around to check the one Daryl was holding.

"That's what I want to know." Michonne pried.

"I wanna know why you were out there in the first place" Daryl pressed, though his voice was a lot more gentle as he rocked his other daughter.

She groaned, giving herself time to think.

"Mom, did you see any walkers?" Evie asked.

"Uh huh, turns out, I'm like one of the coolest people alive, and resourceful, not to toot my own horn, but, toot toot."

"Natalia, I need to know." Siddiq brought her back on course, as he handed the other baby to Michonne as he started assessing Natalia, taking her blood pressure.

"Okay, fine, I was surrounded, not much, not even half a dozen of 'em, when my waters broke, then I... put them out, found a house and I got on with it, alone."

"By yourself?" Michonne's eyes widened.

"Yeah." She nodded, "no one else was around, so I did what I had to do."

"That's real impressive." Siddiq commented as he flashed a light in Natalia's eyes, checking her pupils.

The doors of the Infirmary burst open, Rosita and Aaron rushing in, carrying as much baby stuff as they thought they might need.

"Nat, you are really organised." Aaron told her.

"Thank you." She smiled at him. "Spent a lot of time in there."

"Well, if you ever wanna organise Gracie's room, be my guest."

"Oh, I will, what a treat."

"Okay, which one's which?" Rosita asked, holding up two pyjama sets, green and blue, as well as diapers.

"What are their names?" Siddiq asked, Daryl and Natalia had only shared it with Michonne, that morning.

"Uh, I think Evie can tell you." Natalia encouraged, smiling at her eldest daughter.

"Really?" Evie looked up at her, before looking at Daryl. "Which ones?" She whispered, even though everyone could still hear her.

Daryl crouched down, one of the twins, wrapped up in the dark brown fabric, still in his arms, he whispered her name, after Natalia made a D with her hands, than the others in the girls ear, who gasped enthusiastically.

"I'd like everyone to meet my little sisters, Daisy." She pointed at the baby Daryl was holding. "And, Bambi." She pointed at the other baby in Michonnes arms.

"Daisy's green and Bambi's blue." Daryl said, taking the green clothes off of Rosita, so he could dress his daughter, Natalia was impressed that he had actually remembered.

"We also grabbed these." Aaron handed the two teddies, from their crib, to Natalia, as Michonne dressed Bambi in her blue outfit, after putting on a diaper.

"And told Eugene he could come out of hiding, he said he'd be over shortly, as long as Daryl doesn't try and kill him, again." Rosita added.

"Don't worry, he's safe." Natalia rolled her eyes.

"Fer now." Daryl grumbled, softly brushing his palm over Daisy's head again.

Bambi had started crying in Michonne's arms, wailing loudly as she shook her tiny fists.

"She's hungry, already." Natalia sighed, reaching out for her daughter as Michonne passed the new born over, reluctantly.

Natalia pulled her top down, as well as her bra, she was already leaking by the time Bambi latched on. 

Soon enough, Daisy had kicked off, as well.

Daryl passed her over, as Natalia freed her other boob, placing her on his wife's chest, next to her sister, just as Eugene decided to walk into the infirmary, gawking at the topless woman, his jaw slack as his eyes shot wide.

"Hey, Eugene." Natalia greeted at him, as the others turned to face the man. 

"Buh- Boob."

Daryl pulled the curtain across, quickly, blocking the sight of his wife, when the Texan was unable to form a single sentence, or take his eyes off her naked chest.

Later that night, Daryl, Michonne and Natalia sat in the Dixons living room.

Natalia was layed down on one of their couches, Bambi snuggled up in her arms, whilst Daisy was in her fathers, as he sat on the other sofa, whilst Michonne was in the arm chair, candles were lit around them as the two prepared to confess what had happened.

Evie and Judith were both having a sleepover in Evie's room.

"So?" Natalia pushed, dancing a finger along Bambi's hair, taking in her perfect face, accepting the fact that she had made two gorgeous babies, inside of her, she did that.

"Jocelyn, she- she'd been training the children to become, become these feral... warrior survivors. She kidnapped our kids because, she thought we were too weak to raise them, that she could give them a better life, make them stronger than what they were." Michonne confessed.

"Did she.... did she hurt them?" Natalia asked, a thought that had been plaguing her all day.

"Nah." Daryl shook his head, his voice low as Daisy laid against his chest, asleep. "Evie said that they were kind to them, made it seem like a big game, she said she wanted to leave, but knew she couldn't, wanted to make sure Judith an' the other kids kept safe as well, told me she knew we'd come for her."

"Where were they, what did they do?" She had noticed how the two people she loved most in the world, apart from her children, had been wincing and walking differently.

"They were hiding in a school, tied us up... she had Winnie and Linus brand us, brand us with X's" Michonne rubbed her lower back as she watched Natalia's face drop, her face full of worry and anger. "To mark their kills, we had to do what we needed to... they didn't give us a choice."

"I'm so sorry." She whispered.

"Ain't nothing, only thing that matters is we're alive, and we got the kids home." Daryl rasped, his hand rubbing circles on the baby's tiny back as he kissed her head.

"Is the baby okay?" Natalia asked.

"Yeah, he's okay. Uhm, it made me think though." Michonne started. "I think I want to focus more on the wellness of just our people, I want to keep the gates closed for the time being. She was my friend, I thought she was a good person, but it showed me, that we have no idea what people are like, compared to who they were before this, and I can't allow something like this to happen again."

Natalia thought on her words, thinking about the woman she had met in the woods, whilst Daryl nodded in agreement, he'd been staring straight ahead, at Bambi since the conversation started, reminding himself that his girls were alive, they were actually here, and Evie was safe and sound upstairs, he would sacrifice anything to keep it that way.

"If you think that's best, then, yeah, I agree." Natalia concluded. "What about the others, though?"

The three communities had all been told the news of the birth of the twins, and their close friends were looking forward to making the trip over to meet them.

"Think it's best if we all just keep to our own for now, look out for our own people." Michonne whispered. "The King, Maggie and Cyndi all agree."

"That mean Carol an' Tara ain't coming down?" Daryl asked her.

Michonne shook her head.

"Not for the time being." She admitted, obviously going behind their backs and calling it off.

"Okay." Natalia got up from the couch, "don't know about the two of you, but I need to sleep for about a fortnight."

"Deserve it." Daryl grabbed her hand, getting up from the couch as well.

"Girl, I still wanna know how the hell you took out walkers whilst in active labour."

"When there's a will, there's a way." She shrugged.

"You are a mystery, Natalia Isabelle, you're tiny." Michonne pinched her fingers together "You truly amaze me, every time."

Natalia audibly gasped at her.

"One, the only person who calls me that, is my mother, and as far as I'm aware, she's dead. Two, like I told the other person who poked at my height today, I can still beat your ass, so don't try it."

"What did you say?" Michonne asked.

"What part?" Natalia sensed her mistake as soon as she heard it through her own brain.

"Who else poked at your height, today?" Michonne asked.

"No one, I don't know what you're talking about."

"You just said-"

Mich, you've gone through a lot today, you must be really tired." Natalia said. "You're welcome to take the couch if you want, or we have a bed in the basement."

"I'll be alright." Michonne got up from the armchair, clutching her bump as she made her way over to the twins, to say her goodbyes, admitting defeat. "Awe, I can't get enough, they're so tiny and precious." She cooed, kissing their heads as they stayed asleep in their parents arms.

"What can I say, I only produce beautiful kids" Natalia gloated.

"Tha's cause they look like you." Daryl said, before he got a chance to even think about it.

Her heart melted, as though she hadn't birthed his spawn today, and they hadn't been married for two years.

"Ain't you cute." She scoffed, a sarcastic smile on her tired face. "But these two are definitely you, they got your lips, nose, even your ears." She traced Daisy's face in Daryl's hold.

"Yeah, but she's got yer eyes." It was true, whilst Bambi's was the same beautiful blue as Daryl's, Daisy had Natalia's gorgeous hazel iris's.

"Least we have one way to tell the difference." She smiled up at him.

"Alright, I'm getting out of here before I get any more nauseous." Michonne put her hands up, heading towards the front door. "I'll come round tomorrow to grab Judith, breakfast is on me, too." She then left the Dixon household.

"She realises that she's now the only pregnant person around, right? So she's gonna be stripped of all responsibilities, just like I was." Natalia stared at the door.

"She's only got one kid." Daryl told her, heading for the stairs, as Daisy yawned as she blinked her eyes open. "And she ain't gonna have her hands full with three, two of 'em who can't do anything but eat, shit and sleep."

"I love babies, so much." Natalia cooed behind him, nuzzling her nose against Bambi's, losing attention in the conversation she was having with Daryl. "We were so wrong about this, shoulda done it ages ago."

"You had a whole breakdown when we found out, woman." Daryl looked over his shoulder at her.

"Okay, you weren't too thrilled either, and besides, I just had a near death experience, I found out at literally the worst possible moment."

They kept their conversation quiet as they got to the second floor, being mindful of the two girls sleeping in Evie's room, after the scary day they had.

Natalia felt an breath-taking warmth rush over her when Daryl opened the door of the nursery, walking in with Daisy as she held Bambi.

Her eyes pooled, a cheesy grin on her face, knowing she'd actually brought two beautiful, perfect and healthy babies into a world where all the cards were stacked against her, with the most amazing man she had ever met.

"You crying?" Daryl asked, concern in his voice as he looked at her. "What's wrong?"

"Yeah, happy tears, it's happy tears." She sniffled. "I promise. Just real happy. I don't wanna put her down." Natalia snuggled Bambi against her chest, kissing the tiny baby's head.

"They gotta sleep, an' you gotta too." Daryl told her, but he was doing the exact same thing to Daisy.

"Fine, okay, let's swap." Natalia suggested, kissing Bambi's nose for the last time tonight. "Here BB, go to Daddy, Daisy comes to Mommy." She cooed gently passing over Twin B and taking Twin A in exchange, so that she could snuggle Daisy.

Daisy opened her eyes, blinking up at Natalia, as her lips puckered.

"She does that same thing you do, when yer asleep." Daryl spoke up, rocking Bambi in his arms.

"What?" Natalia looked at him.

"You twitch your nose." He imitated, the same way the baby was.

"I do not." She refused.

"Yeah, ya do, seen it a thousand times over, look she's doing it an'all." He nodded at Daisy, who fell back asleep again.

Natalia looked down, and just as he said, Daisy was twitching her nose, her eyes were closed.

Daryl kissed Bambi's head, whispering to her before placing her in the crib, for the first time.

"Hate that I weren't there for you, or them." He said, taking Daisy again to put her down next to Bambi.

The two parents stood over the crib, watching their daughters as they snuggled into each other, their hands were touching.

Natalia leaned her head on Daryl's arm , her arms on the bar of the wooden crib, one of them was linked in with his.

"No, I'm glad you got Eves back, I fucked up by not listening to you and leaving." She replied, in a quiet voice, kissing his shoulder. "I'm sorry, for what she and those... things did to you. I agree with Michonne."

"'Bout keeping the gates closed?" He asked.

She nodded.

"I don't wanna run the risk of something like that ever happening again, I was terrified about Evie, I would do anything for that girl, our girl. Shes still so little, and I forget sometimes, cause she acts so grown up, y'know. The thought of them doing anything to her, hurting her, she helped protect Judith."

"She did, and the other kids, she did good, told her how proud I was of 'er" Daryl added. "Told me that she knew what she had to do, that we taught her that, Carl, too."

"I- just, I don't want to ever go through that again, and the twins, they're so tiny, they'd..." She choked up at the thought of harm ever coming to them, as she looked down. "I wanna do things different. With Winnie, I was dumb, I was dumb and naive and weak. I wasn't a good Mom to her, and she's not here because of me, that's my fault."

"Stop." He hushed.

"No, no it's true. The same with Evie, I tried my best to shield her for so long, keep her out of the loop, even with what happened with her actual parents, and it was you who tried showing me what was best. And now look at her, she helped all the kids of Alexandria keep safe, until you and Mich could get to them. I don't want to keep Daisy and Bambi in the dark, they should know how to protect themselves as soon as they can."

"Alright, I know." Daryl agreed. "We'll do that. Imma teach 'em everything my dad and Merle taught me, soon as they're old enough, Imma do it better than them, though. I ain't gonna be like my old man." He shook his head as he watched his daughters sleep. "I ain't ever gonna pull the shit he did, not to my mom, not to us."

"You won't, cause you're double the man he ever was, you're so much more, and better, you're so good to me." She squeezed his arm, looking up at him. "You're an amazing husband, and father, to Evie, and you're gonna be the same to them."

He looked to her, staring at her with so much love in his eyes.

"I love ya, baby." He whispered, kissing her hair

"I love you, too, come on, let's go to bed, we both need it, before they'll wanna be fed again."

"Alright." He let her take his hand, leading him out of the nursery as he flicked off the lights, closing the door, leaving it open only slightly, behind himself.

"Y'know, you were the first person to call me Nat, ever?" Natalia asked as they walked into their room, also leaving the door only slightly ajar, so they could hear well from the nursery and to Evie's room.

"Really?" He asked.

"Yeah, everyone before that, they only called me Tal, or Lia." She confessed.

Daryl picked up on the weird change of conversation, there was something in her sentence to be picked apart.

"Who was the person in the cabin?" He asked.

"What?" She acted confused, She was foolish to forget that Daryl could read her blindly, he had all her quirks, mannerisms, and tones memorised, he knew his woman.

"Who?" He pushed as they went to lay on the bed, Natalia collapsed on her front, something she hadn't been able to do in months, Daryl did the same, considering of his injury on his back, that he hadn't bothered to show Natalia, yet. "Don' lie to me, neither."

"She was alone. Well, her and her dog"

Natalia opened up "De Ja Vu, right? She saved my life, there was a group of walkers around me when my waters broke, managed to put down most of them, but, it almost got me, almost, she came outta nowhere, put down the two last remaining ones. Then she brought me back to her home. Helped me, Bam, she wasn't crying, she was quiet, I thought she was... But then Leah did something, never thought I'd feel so much relief to hear a baby's cry. She tried getting me to stay, but I couldn't, I had to get back, to see if you and Evie were there, safe. So she helped me with that, too."

Daryl was quiet as she confessed, silently thanking this Leah, for saving his wife and kids, his whole world.

"I told her about here, no specifics of where, but that we had a community, we could take her in, but she wouldn't go for it."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Daryl asked.

"'Cause, she just wants to be left alone, her and her dog. I had to respect that, after what she did for me, 'Sides, after what Jocelyn turned out to be like, or you having a vendetta against Eugene at the moment, I didn't wanna chance either you or Mich flying off the handle at her, tracking her down and finding out what she was like, sorry."

"I get it." He nodded, picking at his fingers. "I do. I'm grateful, to her."

Next

[stormxpadme]

Whumptober 2024 Alternative prompt - Secrets Revealed

06/2017

Of all the shitholes on this planet, why Egypt?

Pyro pulled the dark, camouflaging cloth of his turban down his face just long enough to spit a combination of dry saliva and sand onto the scorching ground; his very personal declaration of love for this pile of dirt and slums. Three hours of dully standing around in the godforsaken middle of nowhere, and he was already desperate to get back home.

Mystique's ideas were becoming more and more absurd. While her timeless blue and red skin didn't look her impressive retirement age, all the more senility seemed to have taken hold of her mind in the last few months. Not that Pyro had ever suspected the bitch to have lots of sanity in the first place, especially not since she had been forced to take over the Brotherhood. But this ... was perverse.

“Fucking finally.” He made no effort to hide his bad mood when his leader finally approached this ruin of a camp again on her stolen horse, several miles from at least the saving grace of a glass of gin in some dump in Alexandria, where he'd been forced to sit out Mystique's latest madness. Hopefully, she had at least found whatever it was she was looking for, while Pyro had been guarding a piece of parched land without even the slightest clue as to what they were actually doing here. “You done?”

Mystique didn't even dignify him with an answer. The two of them had rarely ever engaged in extensive communication. She nimbly jumped from her mount and carelessly released the reins, sending the horse out into the open desert with a sharp slap on its white rear, where it probably wouldn't survive for more than half a day. A much slower, more torturous death than its owner had suffered this morning. The shape of a hooded junk dealer dissolved before Pyro's eyes, revealing Mystique's slender, bare silhouette as she leaned over a rotten wooden table, one of three pieces of furniture in this barely ten-square-meter shelter with only a very holey roof left. With two aggressive thick lines, she crossed out the picture of a house on the map she'd brought with her. “Destroyed,” she finally deigned to explain after all. “She's probably already back out on the streets alone.”

“Who?” Even though he should be used to not always being immediately informed of all the details after all these years, Pyro was slowly reaching his limit.

Mystique had been neglecting her duties in the White House for months. Pyro had had to put out fires for her more than once already to keep her cover from being blown.

And now this fruitless treasure hunt in this shitty environment, from which Pyro would take home nothing but severe sunburn and sand in all possible or impossible orifices ... He'd fucking had it. “Can you maybe finally be so kind ...”

“I don't know the name she went under with after her father's death, but I have photos,” Mystique spoke up unexpectedly, absent-mindedly, monotonously, while she drew abstract patterns on the map with her marker. ”I'll recognize her as soon as I see her. Without her, all this is pointless. I've already positioned scouts in all major cities. Until they are successful, we have to guard this site. Any incidents? Horsemen in the area? Tuareg? Military?”

“Not even scorpions.” Pyro rolled his eyes impatiently. First, they didn't tell him anything, and now he was supposed to be content with cryptic statements again. This day just got better and better.

“Good.” Mystique watched with an amused little twitch around her eye as Pyro repeatedly wrung out his soaked shirt. Thanks to her powers, she didn't mind the unpleasant ambiance half as much, a fact that only made Pyro more irritated. ”Apparently, we are indeed the only ones who know about this place so far. Install a camera on that beam over there. 24/7 surveillance, weekly report. If there's trouble here someday, after all, we'll have to station people at the dig until we find this girl. For now, we'll fly back and keep an eye on New York. The girl has been in the local media a few times too many because of her powers and her knowledge of historical facts that she actually can't even have. We need to make sure we don't lose her to Westchester."

“Why? What do you need her for? What the hell are we even looking for?” Pyro grabbed Mystique's arm before she could impatiently trigger the signal on her watch that would start the autopilot of the helicopter in the distance. At that moment, he didn't even care about sand, crawling nuisances, or sunstrokes. He finally wanted to know what was going on here. “Raven!”

There were certain surefire ways to throw the Brotherhood leader off course. Calling her by her slave name was one of them. Sometimes she was ridiculously predictable.

Pyro had anticipated the brutal attack maneuver and reacted instantly, spinning around Mystique and bringing her down with a strong kick to the back of the knee, holding her arms together behind her back at the elbows. Her rude curse had him grin broadly. She shouldn't have trained him so extensively if she hadn't wanted him to become just as good as she was. “Cut the crap. I'm one of your most important warlords. You can't treat me like a primitive henchman all my life. What are you looking for?” It happened faster than he realized that she had already freed herself, her limbs thinning out under his grasp, her powers melting her cells into a flexible mass slipping out from under him. One moment he was kneeling over her naked form in the sand, burning hot even in the shadow – a quite suggestive situation if it hadn't been so damn warm and Mystique hadn't always awoken about as much horniness as a freezer could in Pyro ever since he'd left puberty behind. The next, his eyes were staring up at the bright blue, cloudless sky, and a painful burning sensation spread through his stomach. “Okay, okay!” he managed to get out, panting for air, struggling in vain against the pressure of a muscular leg resting heavily on his solar plexus. ‘I'm just kidding, okay?”

“Finally grow up, Pyro, if you ever want me to take you seriously as a partner." Mystique was surprisingly generous today; she released him without another painful kick. “I didn't talk about it yet because I never knew for sure. But this ...” She gestured vaguely at the remains of the camp. ”This is exactly how it was described in the book that Erik left me. I've been searching for this place for years. It marks the entrance to an underground temple from the time of the Old Egyptian Middle Kingdom, protected by several deadly traps. We need someone who can make contact with those who have been there before, when it was still in use, before we can dig. Someone who knows their way around down there.”

Pyro spat out sand again, laughing and coughing at the same time. His leader was really losing it. “Where's the problem? Then all we have to do is find someone who can talk to the dead. Are you fucking with me?”

“This is exactly why I only need you for backup, not for strategy,” Mystique replied harshly. The faint sound of rotor blades in the distance revealed that she had already summoned her preferred mode of transport during their little scuffle. Time to go home. ”You never had any respect for things much bigger than yourself. Cameras. Now. I have a few phone calls to make.” With that, she took a few steps aside and dug out the cell phone from her belt pouch that was reserved for White House matters. The argument seemed already to be settled for her.

Pyro gritted his teeth and leaned over the bag of equipment that Toad had prepared for him yesterday, so foolproof that hopefully, he would be able to handle all this complicated technical stuff that had never really interested him much. He obviously wouldn't learn much more today, and Mystique had once again made it very clear to him how she viewed his role at her side. No matter how hard he tried, he would never be enough for her. It wasn't the first time he wondered why he put up with all this crap in the first place. Unfortunately, there were no other options. “Fine, you need a tour guide, gotcha. At least tell me what we're looking for down there. Do you want to fill our treasure troves with rusted gold and clay bowls?”

“That, my dear St. John ...” Mystique looked back over her shoulder at him with a pitiful smile, “… you won't believe anyway until you see it with your own eyes, thanks to your pitifully limited horizon. Now get to work. We have other things to do.”

*******************************************************************************

@whumptober | @whumptober-archive

[aesopsbaby]

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫(s): Vampire!Lo , Werewolf!Meztli (Monster AU)

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬: After a hunt, Meztli wants nothing more than to be pampered by his Vampire. However, that quickly changes when he meets eye to eye with a replica of his beloved.

𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐞: EYYY!! I'm back! Sort of,,, I'm trying to get the prizes all out and I'm terribly sorry for going on a hiatus all of a sudden </33 I swear I'm working on alot of projects right now,, but no worries as I promise the winners will all receive their prizes soon! (Hopefully-) anyways~~ I hope you'll enjoy this!!

Ah,,,I really should get a beta reader because this has not been proof read so expect some grammar mistakes!!

1/5 Prize winner: @feelin-lo !

The night was peaceful. With the wind blowing softly, trees in the darkness rustling gently and the soft footfalls of animals scattering away whenever he steps on a branch.

Looking up at the moon, shining ever so brightly, he feels the corner of his lips lifted into a grin. Bringing his hand up, he wipes off the deep red staining his lips and face, however, still leaving a considerable amount behind. Not that he cares, he never did. But he did want to make himself look at least presentable before returning, to the embrace of warmth and comfort. To his home. His Lo.

Meztli reaches the front of the mansion, the tension long gone from his body after his hunt. Placing his hand on the shiny gold knob, he halts in his movements, eyes narrowing in a pensive way at the knob as the moonlight reflection bounced off of it. Meztli feels a growl bubbling up in his throat instinctively, his tips of his ears twitching slightly.

The tension came crawling back into his system, along with a sense of dread that ate him up slowly from within.

It felt as if this wasn't the same house he knew- No. No, it definitely is still the same house..- But, why was it that he could feel an impending and intense energy coming off the now foreign object in his trembling hold?

Voices. Meztli picked up on a distinctive muffled noise.

...

On..multiple voices? Meztli furrowed his eyebrows with confusion before his pupils contracted into tiny slits at the thought of a potential threat in there with Lo.

His eyes flickered with anger suddenly and all fear dissipated from him, now with a new found confidence, his grip loosen from the doorknob. Taking a couple of steps and backing away from the door, Meztli raised his leg, now opting to crash down the door. He feels a smirk tugging on his lips, bearing his white canines that are slightly stained red.

"Oh? Why don't we ask him right now then?"

At that moment, the door flung open with so much force that the hinges creaked violently. It wouldn't be a surprise if the door is now broken. The force on the action sent a gust of wind in Meztli's direction, causing him to plant his feet down instantly while raising both his arms to shield his face.

Meztli's ears were ringing, he muttered a string of curses under his breath at the sudden outburst, finally looking up after he came down from the adrenaline.

Meztli's smirk from before fell from his face, his jaw went slack as his eyes laid upon two figures.

Lo and...Lo..?

No that's not right..

He was taken aback by an unexpected sight. Standing before him was his beloved, but something was amiss. Meztli's eyes widened in disbelief as he realized that standing beside Lo was an exact replica with a sinister aura.

Confusion and tension filled the air as both males turned to look at Meztli. Meztli felt his breath hitched when he locked eyes with the shorter haired twin.

The atmosphere grew tense, almost suffocating.

"Leave him out of this. This is between us." Lo spat, glaring at the other, although having a slight tremble in his voice.

A guttural and loud laugh came from the "twin". He wipes away at fake tears in an attempt an a comedic gesture to taunt Lo. "Oh? And why should I?" He steps towards Lo, a smirk painted on his lips and his half-lided eyes soaked in his terrified expression that he kept well hidden.

"What?" He snickered. "Afraid that our darling will choose me--"

Lo scoffed, cutting him off,

"He's not "our's".. He's not "yours"! And hell, Meztli will never be yours, Master."

Master stared at him, anger swirled in his eyes at being cut off. "You have alot of nerve for someone so..weak." He smirked at him with a curt laugh, causing Lo to ball up his fists.

Their voices clashed with each other, causing Meztli to take a stumbling step back with a clenched jaw, still unable to comprehend the sight displayed infront of him.

As they continued to argue, their voices echoing through the room. Meztli found himself caught in the middle of this unexpected rivalry, torn between the two versions of his beloved.

As the argument escalated, Meztli's emotions swirled within him. He yearned for the love and companionship he once shared with Lo, but now it seemed clouded by this unsettling presence.

Would it be considered bad if he hated the other version of Lo? He despised Master, how he's currently bringing Lo down with his words and how he acted completely different from his love.

Meztli swallowed the lump in his throat, his ears went down, letting the voices drown out as he stared at Master.

..no that wasn't mainly the reason why he hated him so much. Meztli realized with a sour taste on his tongue that the main reason he had this hatred for Master was because he reminded him of himself.

Deep down, he knew that only one of them could truly be his soulmate, and that was Lo.

In the midst of the chaos, Meztli's love for Lo remained unwavering. After all, he was saved by the vampire. He still recalls how foreign it was to have his gentle touch as he took him in. How Lo treated him so delicately and how he looked at him with so much adoration in his eyes.

Master dashed towards Lo at lighting speed, getting ready to attack him.

Before he could even react, Meztli found himself sprinting towards the two, feeling a desperate pull to save and protect Lo from danger.

Meztli held out his hands, widening his stance so that he was shielding Lo behind him fully while he glared at Master. His pupils shrinking into thin slits as he bared his canines at the other Vampire.

Master raised one eyebrow, amused at the display infront of him. The shine of Meztli's sharp claws tainted slightly with blood caught, combined with his flared nose and razor sharp canines that can tear apart flesh, made Meztli look like a violent animal.

A violent and unstable animal that could grow soft at just the mere thought and touch of a vampire.

Master pursed his lips together into a thin line.

"How foolish." Master crossed his arms with a sigh at the scene. He took a step back. Narrowing his eyes at Lo and then at Meztli.

"Do not be too relieved. I'll be back for you, little wolf." With that, Master disappeared just as a thunder struck loudly, into the night sky.

Lo breathed a sigh of relief, "Thank god he's finally gone.." He looked up, realising Meztli is still in a tense action, his soft growling was still audible along with his troubled expression evident on his face. "Mez..it's alright." Lo placed his hand on his shoulder, giving a reassuring squeeze.

This broke Meztli out of his trance, whipping his entire body back to look over Lo. "It's okay, my love. We're okay." Lo whispered, making Meztli look up at him.

Lo smiled and it was as if the angels were blessed when time seemed to slow and the moonlight hit his face at the perfect angle.

Meztli felt his throat burned as if a thousand needles has been plunged into it. His vision blurred and the muddled figure of Lo made the tears well up even more. He threw himself forwards into Lo's arms, knowing, without a doubt, that Lo had already opened his arms out to embrace him.

Meztli refrained from crying out loud, only letting soft sobs escape past his lips despite trying so hard to keep them in.

"It's alright, my love..I'm here."

Then, he knew he was safe with Lo, that it was okay to let all out when hes with him. Meztli closed his eyes, letting his ears rest against his ruffled up hair, his tail swaying lightly as he let himself indulge in the oddly warm and soft embrace of his everything.

[anonymousfoz]

Lord of Cinder Backstory

Taglist: @vite-poh, @theoracleofgiana, @writeblr-of-my-own, @mfpipecat, @the-mindless

You look at your family, their kind warm faces filled with fear.

"This is what you wanted from me… you casted me away, because my powers aren't… positive" You look down at the burns on your hand. You clench your hands into a fist as one of your loving family members comes closer.

"We can talk it out, it doesn't have to be this way." You cast flame wall around you, pushing them back.

"It doesn't have to be this way? You guys wouldn't feed me for days… disowned me… treated me like the villain." You slowly walk through the flames, the tattered clothes your family had gifted for you, burning and a black suit emerged from the darkness. Their fear quickly turned into disgust and then anger. But did you care? No. You stood there, on the opposite side of your family before you grinned. You began to walk away, every step igniting a flame that would burn down the house. All the memories would burn down, all the abuse, all the loneliness turned to ash. You could hear the yelling of your family trying to get everyone out and save the most important things to them. You head up to the main staircase to watch the chaos unfold. Yet something caught your eye; the youngest member had separated from the family. She was the baby of the family, your little cousin. Her black hair was the only thing you saw through the smoke. She eventually got to the stairs, her little coughs was all that was heard through the now thick smoke. You get up and walk down to her. She quickly hugs you before coughing once more. You sigh and a path clears where there was not flames nor smoke. You pick her up, she hugs your chest before letting out more coughs. You walk out the backdoor so she could get fresh air.

"Baba?" She tugged your sleeve and looked up at you.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry for how they treated you. You don't deserve that. Nobody does. But… I am here for you, because family sticks together. Right?" Her weak smile meant the world to you. You look back at the burning building before walking off with your little cousin on your shoulder. What to do next? Who knew, but you two would never be separated again.

You wake up, old memories turning into nightmares became more frequent since you expanded your power with witchcraft. You wake up and wash your face with water. The cold winter night in the hut you were living in became as cold as your personality.

While your family was gone, you murdered them all when you began your conquest of your old land.

"Cousin?" You look over at your younger cousin. She appeared to be the same from back then, despite how violent things had gotten she always remained loyal to your side. No matter what got dark, she remained a constant light in your life. "Having the nightmares again?"

"Just the one of burning down the family home." She got up and began to get dressed as she had something to do at sunrise. "I'll be fine. Nothing I can't handle." You could hear her chuckle you came back in the room. You rolled your eyes and went in the kitchen to start cooking breakfast. You would have to do some conquest today while your cousin got to talk to the nearby witches and practice witchcraft. You were fine with it but you felt she was getting bored, she wanted to be by your side battling in the middle of burning villages.

"How much longer do you think it will take till we take over the entire country side?"

"I don't know. All I know is it will go faster once you are by my side." Your cousin hugged you from behind and then left the hut, walking out in the blizzard, a constant norm of the harsher northern environment. Soon you be out of this area and hopefully in a warmer area, you always hated the cold. But those were thoughts for later. You needed to focus on the day ahead. After all, you had just found out one of your siblings had a daughter you never knew about. It was time to hunt them down, if they allied or attacked you was up to them. You didn't care either way. It was all business. With breakfast out your way, you began to layer up on clothes, grab your long sword and old knight helmet, and headed out.

It was a long ride on horse back till you reached a burnt village. This was her last whereabout. You got off your horse and began walking around. It was perfectly quiet and colder than what you were used to. It would be expected she was hiding inside one of the houses that was still intact.

[definitelynotgideon]

This is a Genya Shinazugawa x OC (Gideon Azulyss) MLM Fic 🏳️‍🌈

AN/ I'm going to be so sad when my evenings fill up for work after this break, I'm having a good time writing this fic lol. Hope y'all are liking it too 👉👈

CW/ Language, Mention or Reference to Abuse but not detailed. Slight spoiler for Swordsmith Arc I think?

Word Count: 1,780

The Demons We Face | Chapter 3, Partners

Morning sunlight filtered into the room, waking Gideon up first. He gently sat up, blinking to adjust to the lighting and his eyes ventured over to Genya. 

For having such an heir of intimidation yesterday, he looked so calm in his sleep. He was laying down his side, both hands up near his chest and face as if he'd want to cuddle something if given the chance. Perhaps back home he had a couple of pillows on his bed. The thought made Gideon smile, it was sweet.

Further inspection of the room told the silver haired slayer that their hostess had finished laundering their clothing. But Gideon simply needed a little more time in the morning to get going, and he didn't want to rustle around too much and wake Genya up. He was sure that his sleep was needed if he didn't wake up with the sun…

He crept out of the room carefully, and walked into the kitchen area where he found the kind old woman preparing breakfast. He greeted her warmly. 

“May I please have some coffee?” He asked, to which she smiled and got him a cup. Since this village was a bit further away from larger cities, certain electric advances hadn't quite made their way in, so she put a kettle over her fire and prepared a pour over pot for him. 

“It'll just be a moment, dear.”

“Thank you ma'am.”

He sat at the table, kneeling on the cushion and looking out the window. He'd offer to help, but he knew that she would insist on him not doing that. All members of this family were the same way in mannerism; simply grateful to be giving back to the corps. So he'd do his part by simply being a pleasant guest and talking with her. 

“Seems like today will be a nice day, do you have any plans?” 

She smiled to him. “I might go into the town for a bit, pick up some things from the market. Will you boys be staying another night?” 

Gideon hummed in thought. “I could see us hanging around for parts of the day, but hopefully we have enough to go on tonight to hunt the reported demon down. I hope that's alright.” 

“Never any trouble, sweet boy. The demon slayers are always welcome here.”

She poured water over the grounds when the water was hot enough, expertly easing the stream in a circle to soak the beans just right as the previous liquid dropped to the glass caraf below. She handed him his cup and he inhaled the unique woodsy and robust scent of the coffee.  

Gideon looked around the kitchen while he sipped and saw that her kindling for her fire was low. Soft eyes blinked and looked to her. “Shall I fetch you more wood?” 

She looked up at him gratefully. “Please, if you wouldn't mind.” 

He finished his cup and gave it to her as he stood. “I'll be back, then.”

~ ~ 

Genya woke up shortly after Gideon headed outside. He peered over and saw his empty bedding and listened, not really hearing anything inside… what he did hear was the soft thudding sound, buffered by walls, of wood chopping.

He pulled himself up and out of the room to investigate the happenings. 

“Good morning young man,” the lady cooed to him, setting out the meal she'd prepared for them. “Your little friend is outside cutting some kindling for me. He will be back soon. Come sit and eat, before the meal cools.” 

Genya nods, but feels a little torn. Cutting wood? He's going to miss breakfast, and he already missed dinner last night. He looks towards the door and then his amethyst eyes go back to her. “I'll go get him. He needs to eat too.” 

He slips his white boots on and ventures to the back of the house. Gideon had undone the top part of his kimono and tied it around his waist to stay cool while he chopped wood. He was seated and using a small hatchet to produce small pieces for the woman to use in her fire.

Well toned like any of the other slayers their age, the small sheen of sweat highlighted Gideons muscles well. Just in case Genya didn't get enough of an eyeful when he confronted nude Gideon last night. Genya's gaze went to his hands as they worked, and then Gideon looked over to him.

“Good morning Genya! How did you sleep?” 

Genya was startled slightly. “I-I- slept fine… um. Did you sleep okay?” He rubbed the back of his nape. What even was his life? What even was this?

To make matters worse Gideon seemed oblivious, because he stood and stretched with a happy stretch sound. Genya decidedly looked away from him. Pretty guy…

N-No I- I mean… wait am I attracted to him?! What the hell?

“I slept well, thanks for asking!” He said, smiling to him in such a well meant way. “were you looking for me?” 

Genya snapped back into it. “Oh yeah, yes. Breakfast is done. I didn't want you to miss out…” 

Gideon smiled, finally kind of understanding what was happening to his new friend. “That's sweet of you~” he teased.

Genya then got even more flustered and crossed his arms. “Y-yeah? Well you're wrong- I'm not ‘sweet,’ I just ... I need my partner to be in top condition for our mission. Can't have you passing out. You might die.” 

Humor danced in Gideon's eyes and he grinned. “Is that so?” He asked, bending into a squat to pick up his cut kindling. “Glad that I've graduated to partner. Was it the shared slumber?~” 

“I- Shut up!” 

Gideon laughed, musical and loud and genuine. He playfully bumped Genya with his hip as he moved past him, his smile warm. “I'm only teasing you. Thank you for looking out for me.” He said, feeling very warm and fuzzy from the interaction. 

Genya blushed and just tried to turn away enough that Gideon wouldn't see. He followed shortly after Gideon rounded the corner. 

Once inside, Gideon offloaded his efforts and the old lady praised him for it, thanking him. He smiled endearingly to her, telling her it wasn't any trouble. Genya sat down, and after Gideon cleaned himself up with an offered towel and basin water, he decided to sit next to Genya. 

Sure, he did it to be funny, but he also did it out of trust and fondness. Genya was growing on him. He was fun to tease and seemed to have a genuinely good heart underneath all the protective barriers he has up. Gideon wanted to get to know him more.

But poor Genya was frozen. Gideon was so close to him, and he acted like any small change would cause him to move. Like a butterfly landing on a shoulder, and just trying to encourage it to stay…

Gideon carefully served up his own plate from the offered goods, stocking himself up on protein and fiber first. Genya followed his actions, choosing a wide variety of a bit of everything from the table. 

The older lady moved to another part of the house so that the two could speak about corps business… but Genya was curious first. 

“...Did she ask for your help with the wood? I'm surprised doesn't have a family member help her out with it…” 

Gideon shook his head softly, swallowing his bite. “Nah. I asked if she wanted help. I couldn't resist … she reminds me a lot of the old lady who took me in when I was younger.” 

Took him in? He was guessing that Gideon’s parents had been killed by demons. It was a common story.

“So like .. your parents? What happened to them?” 

Gideon shrugged. “Honestly, I don't know. They're probably still alive.” His eyes flash to where the old lady disappeared. “...my father threw me out when I was eleven.” 

Genya looked over to him, a bit shocked. Abuse? Did Gideon and him share a similar horror story? His own dad had become abusive towards their mother especially, and Genya's older brother had done most of the protecting against that wrath. In the end, he got what he deserved… just an asshole in the wrong place. 

“...I'm sorry. My dad was shit too.” 

Gideon looked over to Genya softly. “Sorry for you too.” He gazes down in a solemn moment, but then gives Genya a little smile. “But hey. We made it, right? Who needs them?” 

Gideon didn't know the full extent of Genya's trauma… and yet the words from his mouth were still encouraging and unassuming. 

A moment passes between them, they both nibble at their cooling food. Genya asks him another question.

“What happened to make him throw you out?” 

It was Gideon's then to freeze, but only slightly. He was slightly nervous, because what he'd provide Genya with in full confidence could be easily turned against him out of fear. But Gideon wasn't afraid of shit like this. Not anymore.

“...My parents set up an arranged marriage for me. They wanted me to marry for some sort of wealth exchange. But… I told my father I wanted to marry a man instead. And… yeah.”

Gideon is still sort of frozen. He can't quite look at Genya, but Genya is looking at him in a mix of shock and blankness. He wasn't expecting that. 

Finally after a moment Gideon dares to look to him. He searches his eyes trying to gage what Genya would do. But his amathyst eyes don't look angry. 

“...Genya?” 

“I'm… I wasn't expecting that. Sorry. Um…” he looks away and softly chuckles.

“It's okay. I… understand if you don't want to be friends with me.” 

Genya's eyes immediately lock back onto Gideon's. He sits up a bit. “It doesn't bother me that you're gay. But fucking slow your roll buddy. ‘friends?’ hmm? The fuck do you think this is?” 

He's totally bullshitting him, and they both hold their laughter until it bubbles over. 

“You're right, how dare I?” Gideon says through laughter. “Because obviously I've attained partner. Which is vague but I'd like to think it's just a little above friendship.” He holds up his fingers with a bit of space between a pinch to emphasize his point. 

Genya smirks. “You crafty bastard. Well played. Fine. Partners, then. The slightly above friend kind, I guess.”

“I don't make the rules, Genya.”

“Except you are literally making the rules right now.” 

They giggle a little more, and then Gideon finishes another bite of egg before calling his breakfast done. “So. We should make a plan for today and tonight. What are your thoughts?” 

[harryhandstan]

HIIII happy (late) 4th of july!!

you are literally the sweet person to ever exist i can’t believe its been like 2 years since we last spoke. its crazy how time flies

oh noooo im sorry that happened to you :(( im glad ur doing better and taking good care of yourself 💓💓 wishing u a speedy recovery!

alsoooo good luck with house hunting! that must be so exciting!!looking for a new place to call home and making new memories in it! i just know youll find the most beautiful homey and perfect place!! im manifesting for u

im doing well!! not much happened except for school stuff but i just went to my first ever pit concert a few months ago! i saw the driver era (only because i thought ross lynch was hot lol) i didnt know what to expect for pit but i didn’t expect to stand for 8 hours straight 😭😭 AHHHH ALSO im seeing taylor swift in a few weeks and i literally cannot wait!!!!

im always thinking about u! talk to u soon!! good luck 🍀 love youuuuuuu!!! 💗💓💓💞💕

-🧸

happy late 4th of july to you too bestie!! I hope you had a great day!!

I'm sorry for the delay in answering this btw it's been storming here so my wi-fi has been in and out all day!

omg stop you're so kind to me I genuinely love talking to everyone and I consider you and many others here my friends so y'all make it easy to just repay the love I've been given!!

it's actually only been a year bub! I only know because I looked it up to refresh my memory about what we talked about before cause like I said a lot had happened and I couldn't remember if we'd talked since my accident. it was last year after my birthday and after harry's house came out. but really it's alright I don't want you to feel bad!

thank you so much for the well wishes ❤ I realized after that I left some detail out of what happened to me and didn't explain it very well, but if I ramble on too much just feel free to skip over it! basically not only was I kicked but I went flying about 8 feet across my yard too, which caused me to have a compression fracture on T11 of my spine. I also had a contusion on my right hip (which is just a really, really deep and bad bruise), which is where the point of impact was. I will (hopefully) continue to improve, but having arthritis still causes me to have a ton of pain if I do too much physical activity. that part of my spine is also partly collapsed and always will be, but my neurosurgeon said that as long as my arms and legs are still okay that I should just slowly start to get back to "normal" life and listen to my body as I go along! I asked if I needed to keep up with x-rays or anything over the years but he said my symptoms would get much, much worse if the collapse got any worse and I would know I need to come back to see him. he also said IF I would've had to have surgery that it would take like 12 pins and a huge rod to correct things so I'm so SO lucky that things weren't any worse!

thank you so much for helping us manifest!!! it means more than you'll ever know because it hasn't been easy so far trying to find a place 😔 we live in such a rural area in GA and we originally wanted to stay in the same town because I was supposed to start a new job in january and we wanted to be close to my work. I probably won't get to take that job now (which is a whole other long story), and since there are very limited options we're probably gonna have to broaden our search to surrounding towns that are slightly bigger! we ultimately want a house together, but I think we're gonna have to settle for an apartment for now until we can find the perfect place for us. anything would be better than here rn though!!!

idk if I've ever talked much about my dad to you but we have as no contact of a relationship as possible even though we live in the same house. he's the reason for my accident and so the day it happened and we were waiting for the ambulance to come my mom told him that we wouldn't be coming back to this house. but then we had no choice we didn't have the money or resources needed to go elsewhere. I was worried as I got better she would forget about that and slip out of that mindset, but thankfully she hasn't! she just told me tonight we'd probably go look at apartments next week and that she can't wait to get out of here. I could truly cry at the thought of having a safe, clean, and comfortable space away from him. it's what my mom, my siblings, and our dogs all deserve!

how is school going? how much longer do you have to go? and oohh I'm so happy you got to experience a concert in pit!! it's amazing but it is soooo exhausting I hope you got lots of rest afterward 😊 when I saw harry I wore my ankle support thing to my pit concert to because I knew my feet would be swollen the next day probably. and taylor swift that's so cool!! I'm very excited for you!! I hope you have the best time!!! where are your seats for that show?

I'm always thinking about you too!! seriously sometimes I'll just think about you or how you're doing so just know you're always getting any spare good vibes I have sent your way ✨ thank you thank you for the good luck!!! love you moreeeee 🤍

I was gonna tell you about getting to see stevie nicks and my road trip to see my little brother but I talked so much this time we'll save those stories for next time if you wanna hear about them!!

[survivor-north-sea]

episode two: "You've never heard such spiteful fiddling." - Trinica

Tyler Frazier

I feel like AJ is doing a lot so I’m gonna have to tell her to chill soon. She wants to target returnees which like is weird and I’m not sure I wanna do that

Hairie

As expected, it was a unanimous decision and Fifi went home.

-

Finally forming an alliance with majority numbers. Stoked to get the game running but we need to kick butt in these challenges.

Trinica

OK I am absolutely letting paranoia get to me but it just occurred to me that jinx and clefford could possibly be playing together and getting everyone involved in this drama on purpose... I don't even know what that strategy would entail But I am absolutely fucked if they are working together so I'm going to choose to believe that everything's fine and I'm OK.

I have a feeling we're going to lose this challenge. we have some members of our tribe who go hard on challenges like me and aj and other members who I think slacked a bit on the 1st challenge. In this challenge there's no room for slacking, nobody will be able to pick up your load so I'm worried we're gonna lose if anyone goes MIA like with the first challenge. But if we go to tribal hopefully it's an easy vote for leifa since she hasn't really been around.

Hairie

I'm just afraid how much of an impact my 10% disadvantage would affect our overall score for this challenge. Putting in a 110% for sure!

-

JayJay is sacrificing so much sleep time base on the timezone she's in. She is a queen!

Tyler Frazier

So Aj is like super paranoid ab idols and advantages and like I don’t really care bc I have no clue what’s happening with them. I don’t even know how to start looking so idk what else really expects me to do ab that. Also I just wish AJ would sorta just chill out bc I think she could be a good shield for me but she’s gonna become a liability VERY soon if she isn’t already. I give her 4 tribals MAX before she’s booted if she keeps it up

Trinica

FUCK I just got exposed while hunting for an idol in front of the entire tribe. I want to believe that people won't think anything of it/will assume that everybody is hunting for idols, but I think it's more likely that they fixate on my name being out there as a threat.

I NEED us to win this challenge to avoid tribal and put some space between this fiasco and our first vote.

AJ asked me to take her on a double hunt tomorrow so she can hunt solo, which I'm fine with because I need a break from solo hunting for a bit 😅

Toni

Theme: "Two days in and Esteban is still TBC"

Hello World!

It's been an interesting journey so far. We won the first challenge so I was able to sleep lol. Thank God. I wonder if i'll be able to stay up tonight to strategise if we lose this one. I wouldn't want to be away from camp right before a tribal :')

In other news I definitely think Trinica and Jinx are my solid team. I've gone back and forth with Esteban and don't know what to believe now. Jinx believes Esteban is playing double agent with Clefford which doesn't make me feel good at all lol. Not to take it personal but it makes me think why did he decide to team up with Clefford instead of us haha. This is all speculation of course. My gut tells me Esteban hasn't actually found an alliance yet. So 2 days in and still no idea if I can trust Esteban. Perhaps I'll devise a test if we win this next round.

Onto AJ who by far is the greatest surprise yet in terms of how compatible we actually are haha. I know I wrote her off 2 days ago but what's the use of the mind if you can't change it. I thought there's be no way 2 strong type A personalities would get on but we're definitely getting on like a house on fire. What I appreciate about AJ's temperament is that I feel like she says what's at the top of her mind and you don't have to think too deeply about what it means because she's said what she means. You know? see what I did there? because AJ always says "yk". ha! BANTER.

Anyway, I'm petrified of Clefford I really need him to go asap. I've heard from 3 sources that he's targeting Jinx which is scary because we won immunity AND it's round one babe :') chill - it also means he needs to go because we could lose a number if he eliminates Jinx and that would weaken our alliance. I'm even more petrified of him because he hasn't made any effort to get to know me at all lol. I mean I get it though, I do give off unfuckwithable vibes. Even though i'm a sweetheart. Maybe I should have said the survivor player i'm most like is Drea. She was kind of unfuckwithable too. Balance is required in empathy, like I said Logic and Heart. Do no harm, take no sh*t!

P.S. I'm sure Clefford is a lovely human :') just a big threat in the survivor game.

Signing off still confused about Esteban? byeeeeeeeee

AJ

Alright it’s getting closer to seeing who got taken out of the other tribe and thus see what the next challenge is! So far Trinica and I have formed a core alliance - sorry Cleff - and are idol hunting together. We’re trying to rope in Esteban to take me on hunts so we can gather more coins and info on island stuff.

I’m also trying to see if I can convince Tyler to take me as well. If I can get enough people doing down a path with me as possible then they may be convinced to stay hunting with me for long enough that I can keep tabs on what everyone’s getting.

I've done it. I've convinced Toni to bring me on her idol hunt. Rn she doesn't know I've gone on duo hunts before so fingers crossed she doesn't find out. Aaaaand small islands are hostile. Cool cool cool.

Jinx

round one: part one of me being targeted for no reason by clefford even though we won immunity 🫶🏽 https://voca.ro/1opefEPnyumi

part two https://voca.ro/1ncski26u2Pq

9:49 PM imagine giving me a reason to vote you out! when we’re not even going to a vote! i prayed for times like these!

you know i am transparent and honest but i do know the cardinal rule of survivor you don’t have to show them all your cards to win

-

my best confessional to date welcome to the round two part one

https://voca.ro/1kOwf318dzBPHairieThank god Hidra took the mercy rule. Lowkey felt bad for Esteban

Trinica

https://youtu.be/2FDr13kJC3I

AJ

Alright I feel like this round was so short, and y’all really deserve a longer confessional so here it is. Welcome to the AJ Recap - coming to confessionals and a Viewing Lounge near you. So let’s get this whole thing started. The beginning of this is I guess when the next challenge got released early. I was so happy because it meant I wouldn’t be staying up too late that night. Tonight I’m staying up until four for the results though so I’m probably going to just stay up through the night. Your girl be ballin.

Anyway I’m also happy I stayed up last night because it meant I didn’t get put on fucking tug of war which would have been terrible for me. I say me but it would be awful for the tribe too, but bad for me because if we lose - which it’s looking like we may and it’s terrifying - I’d be to blame. Luckily I got battle of the wits (y’all will see my phrases in there for sure) and I got to have a more chill time. But I’m pretty happy with it.

Now onto more interesting matters. I’ve done my first lone idol hunt. It went pretty well all things considered. Better than Trinica’s. Trinica and I aren’t revealing we’ve hunted with each other yet. Now I managed to convince Toni to take me with her. Congrats to me I feel accomplished. It ended quickly but now Trinica and I know not to go to the small islands on our next hunt together. Toni also wants to take me tomorrow which is good. Now comes the issues. We’ve made an all girls alliance chat and hopefully unlike IRL survivor no one fucking flips.

Bad news is Jinx told us that Esteban has been saying he thinks Trinica and I are close because of how we keep pushing him about the idol hunt. I mean he’s not wrong but he doesn’t need to know or be saying that to anyone. So honestly I think he may be a threat that needs to get disposed of quicker than anticipated. He seems sweet but he’s really playing and he’s the oldest person here which means he’s got more life smarts just generally. I’ve played the I’m just a young superfan who is super excited to help out and play even an online version of this game card and it seemed to have worked. Trinica and I are trying to think of damage control though. So far I know Jinx seems to be buying it. If she really does idk but fingers crossed.

I’m trying to play a team player, and look sweet and helpful enough to be kept around for a long enough time. Besides if we’ve got a strong enough group of ladies to take the merge by storm then maybe we’re going to be a new BWB. Stay tuned y’all, trying to make Mother Parv proud. Until next time. (which if we go to tribal will just be chaotic rambling from me) I leave you with a sense of impending doom and a feeling we’re going to tribal looming over me. I can’t explain why I just have a feeling. Ok until next time y’all.

Tyler Frazier

So shockingly (not shocking at all) it seems people are starting to get fed up wirh AJ and Trinicas aggressive and messy gameplay right off the bat, particularly with the way they’re handling the idol hunt which is fine with me. If I need to let them fly off the rails I’m fine with that. Especially if someone else is leading the charge, since it still is so early on in the game the last thing I wanna do is make any waves right now. I’m gonna just go with the flow because there’s no need to really be playing hard early on.

-

As for my game in general, I think socially I could be doing a bit better it’d probably be good to chat some more but I feel good about a few people. Esteban, Clefford and Bethany are all people I could see myself working with. A big part of my strategy is not coming on strong at all. I wanna be perceived as the “chill young guy” who’s just here for a good time so that way nobody wants to target me in the near future.

Bethany

i'm honestly laughing so hard right now hearing about clefford telling people he is a newbie LOL in what world aksldfjsa;lkdfjakfja you are putting way more attention on yourself getting all worked up about it my friend!! just be chill!! it's okay!!! the newbies are not scary they are actually very nice!!! they are not on a witch hunt against you rn so don't give them reason to please

Chelsea

I had zero concept of what an “endurance” challenge would look like online and I am floored at what tribe mates are accomplishing in the Tug-O-War and Build a Boat challenges! I hope it doesn't look bad that I didn't want to do that...TrinicaOK I'm like 99% sure that we are going to lose this challenge and we're going to tribal tomorrow. More pressing is that Esteban has told Jinx, AJ, and Toni (and probably the boys) that AJ and I are tight and a threat. AJ and I are doing damage control now, but it's looking DICEY.

AJ also scares me a little lol. She's honestly diabolical, she puts on this "I'm only 18 and I'm scared" character like a second skin and I think she's got everyone wrapped around her finger. Thank God she's on my side (for now).

Toni seems to want to hold on to her relationship with Esteban, but I need her to see what a snake he is. Toni said that Esteban wants to work with her to break up AJ/I and Clefford/the boys. I have to really get Toni convinced that the girls alliance is strong and Esteban is too risky to work with.

Esteban

Round 2

This is tough. The challenge is tough. So I was tasked to do the tug of war with azri and Clefford. It is an odd choice of people to be in this game though. This is the opposite of what people who choose this selection as a good one.

So everyone had the chance to do hunting now and AJ and Trinica is pissing and exhausting me. I am all aware (if i am wrong then damn me) now of what the little kitties (AJ and Trinica) are doing. They ofc wants to excrete all the information they wanna get on me. AJ asking (assumely) most of us to go idol hunting with them as confirmed by Toni. They thought that they are in control of all but lets change this plot a little bit. I will be in a self-destruction mode and I don’t care if this will bite my ass up. I will rally CLEFFORD, azri and tyler to go against these amazing girls. Hoping with the backing of Bethany and Toni we will caught the purring cats on their game. ;) I’ve been playing dumb and nice for so long but I wanna try new things. :) so lets see how these things work. ——————— Not me devoting much on the challenge that iI know we already failed. I just want to see how the other group persist and used this story that i did my best on the challenge with my tribemates. I have more than 20 alarms in the middle of my classes! Lol ———————- People is kinda scared now about the result. I already knew that in our challenge (with azri and clefford) we already lost. It’s hard to really be against the vampires of the opposing tribe. Really hard! __________ Not trinica telling me that Jinx lose the challenge. I am curios and sus with that though. Heroes challenge. Alone? Is there any advantage? Hmmm probably. She intentionally lose that to gain advantage. ——————— Talked to Toni, Tyler, Bethany, Clifford and AZri of what Aj doing about the idol hunt. Caught her that she talked to most of us to work together in an idol hunt. Very suspicIous. I wish these people will work with me and vote either Aj or Trinica out. Or jinx? Idk. Lol this will be so intersting.

Chelsea

So mad that the Battle of the Wits was the only one we didn’t win outright! Want to make sure ppl see me as a competent person, but since we won no one else will probably even remember….fingers crossed!

Zach🤠

So the hero challenge was a slay. Jinx and I had so much fun. I let jinx have the idol so my tribe could win. And I think I aligned myself with jinx in the process if we both make it to merge? Zach and Jinx at merge with an idol?? power duo i fear

AJ

It's been crazy y'all. Shit hit the metaphorical fan before we'd even lost yet. I think we all knew it was coming and everyone's been scrambling every since. Esteban is spreading lies about Trinica and I, trying to make it seem like we're super tight and all that. Luckily I think I may have won over Jinx again, Bethany doesn't seem to want to write a girl's name down, we're just waiting on Toni.

In the meantime I know I have to be on top on idol hunting like nobody's business. There's five hours between tribal and Jay getting home so I should be able to manage. Wish me luck y'all, I'm not ready to go home just yet and I'm gonna fight to stay in this.Brandi I was so worried about this challenge but it was almost a full sweep!!! Proud of us 💪🏼

Trinica

Okay, so after AJ and I scrambled last night after finding out Esteban was snaking around trying to pull girls to turn against us, we did a LOT of damage and scrambling. In some ways, working with AJ is a dream- she's sharp and willing to put in the work, and it does feel like a democracy between us. On the other hand, she does sometimes tend toward emotional playing (especially now when she's worried the votes are coming her way) and last night, even though I told her NOT to initiate any game talk in the girl's alliance chat, she sent a giant essay about everything that happened with Esteban (and dropped my name about 20 times in it). The only way to ensure everyone thinks we're in a secret alliance is to refute that 20 times in a giant rant lmao. Jinx influenced her to do all that, and I need to watch that influence on AJ.

Toni reached out and told me that the boys are voting AJ and trying to pull Bethany and her in. I'm so glad I did the work with Toni yesterday to deepen our connection and ensure her I trust her. Bethany didn't say a word about it to me (though maybe she's still asleep), but Toni came right to me, and that's what I like to see. I also got her to post it in the group chat, which is huge because until then I don't know that she put a lot of faith in the girls. But I think we're all tied to each other now.

My biggest question mark now is Bethany, but last night she told me she didn't care who we voted, she just didn't want to vote a girl first, so hopefully she's on the level.

Also, Clefford and Azri both reached out to ask what my plan is after leaving me on read for like 12 hours lmao. I'm playing them like a fiddle put of PURE SPITE. You've never heard such spiteful fiddling.

Raffy

Brandi came to me and wanted to start an alliance with us and Champ. I feel like Els now because I'm in two alliances very early in this game. It also limits who I can target. Now, I can only really target Zach or JayJay, neither of which I want to vote out. I guess this is what I get for being nice haha. I'll just roll with the punches to be honest. I can definitely see the vote falling onto Zach if we go to tribal before a swap, but I really don't want that. So, instead, I am going to try to win every immunity lol. Good thing we won this last one. I wouldn't know what to do.

Esteban

Today, it should be AJ or I. If not AJ let it be me tbh. That’s the GOAL. 😉

I planted seed to all except TRInica AND JINX coz i know they will leak it to her.

I will let clefford think its his plan and cultivate it to other players. I have my SE ASIAN men “LANGIT” with azri and clefford. Toni trusted me ( i guess more than AJ) and clefford planting to her the POC alliance. Bethany my patagonia queen, and tyler home i played with in a live game which we worked together. If this works well I will be damned feel good.

If it’s not then well played my friends.

Tyler Frazier

So it’s looking like I gave AJ way too much credit. She will be voted out at the first tribal she attends! I mean technically I was right still I gave her max 4

AJ

Guess who the guys are gunning for. Spoiler alert it's me. Im hoping the girls stick with me like they say they will and we can get Esteban. Anyway I went idol hunting and it was soo promising but someone got there before me. I'm almost positive it's one of the guys. Anyway yeah I'm super nervous for tribal

Azri

https://youtu.be/mqsaRX7Jdto

Esteban

Self-destructing Esteban

I felt weird playing this kind of game play tbh. I don’t know what’s on my mind but am so into this plan. Reasons: 1) I wanna make a new version of Esteban’s game. 2) I am a little not to the ordinary Mental State. 3) I am just feel not respected by how AJ and Trinica makes me feel like a dumb person pushed to the limits. ;)

At this point IDC anymore if I am going home as long as the other votes goes to Aj. Just give her a little THOUGHTS to PONDER. Me going home tonight is not their bragging rights to take because I am aware of what I’ve done. It should not be me or Aj it’s should be CLEFFORD and / or TYLER. But, i took the risk and just went through it and probably saved these guys another day. :) as they deserve it.

My thoughts about the votes are:

SCENARIO A - my hope! Vote against AJ - (esteban, clefford, azri, tyler, Bethany, Toni) Vote against Tyler - (jinx, AJ, trinica)

Scenario B - bad

Vote against AJ - (esteban, clefford, azri, tyler, Bethany, Toni) Vote against Esteban - (jinx, AJ, Trinica)

Scenario C - Worst though IDC anymore.

Vote against AJ - (esteban, clefford, azri, tyler,) Vote against Tyler - (jinx, AJ, trinica, Bethany, Toni)

Are we gonna live another day or are we going home at peace? Let’s find out.

LOVE CHEETOS!

Tyler Frazier

inx just told me I’m the vote. That’s awk 🙃

Jayjay

Everyone did so awesome on this challenge, we were definitely determined to win this one and it shows with our results! I’m so proud of us! I don’t know if I should really be concerned with making strong alliances so early in the game however I have asked someone to go on an idol hunt with me. I think the player I’ve grown probably closest to is Hairie as well so I look forward to getting to know him better and possibly form an alliance with him. Glad we don’t have tribal council to go to tonight and am excited to see what’s for the new challenge!

Julia

The majority group on my tribe was formed with me in it and I’m honestly really stoked. I still feel closest to hairie and definitely still weary of raffy, but I’m just going to see where things goTrinicaThis vote is so MESSY. Azri, Esteban, and Clefford started reaching out this morning, fishing for a name to vote for but giving me NOTHING in return. I don't know if they realize how transparent they're being but it's truly sloppy gameplay. I fed them all Tyler's name, but if they're smart they won't believe me. Clefford said he'd make a chat for me and esteban and him, but then he ghosted me (obviously).

Jinx started the "in vecepia's name we trust" WOC alliance with me, them, and Toni. It's good to have, but I'm honestly nervous about both of them-- Toni because she wants to hold on to Esteban, Jinx because she's playing with her emotions (or at least trying to get us to BELIEVE she's an emotional player) and either way is a loose cannon.

Jinx has an idol and is hellbent on using it tonight (which is weird...I don't get her reasoning, I think there may be a time limit on the idol maybe?) but their plan is to just be as chaotic as possible to try to pull votes so they can use it, which is just...a bizarre move this early in the game. And I think what's happened instead is all the boys are paranoid we're voting Clefford, so I suggested switching to Esteban, but Jinx WILL NOT let that happen.

At this point, my prediction for tonight is: the boys have an ace up their sleeves, AJ goes home, my game is fucked, and lowkey it's Jinx's fault lol. Fingers crossed I'm wrong.

Arvin Bentonon

I am very happy that we won because I put a lot of effort in the tug of war. I have problems getting up with my alarms but I thankful that the other tribe surrendered.

Champ

So happy our entire tribe pulled their weight and we won. I’m nervous for the returning players because I feel like they’ll have an advantage over the new bees. Trying to stay as active as I can to read everyone’s messages and hopefully find an idol clue

Hairie

Wow we won almost all the challenges in divide and conquer! Impressive !!!

Bethany

https://youtu.be/zcWcLZY09wY

Hairie

Raffy did nearly 500 trunks. He’s scary and thankfully I’m in an alliance with him

[spider-xan]

So what's up with Arthur? Why would Van Helsing want him as a Dracula hunter so badly that he's holding off on staking Lucy until Arthur sees her and believes vampires are real? Is he just traumatizing him for fun? Wouldn't it be better to just never let him know the truth? Isn't Arthur merely Lord Just Some Guy?

I've already written out a version of Van Helsing's monologue about Arthur in plainer speech, with the odd annotation and a summary to tie it all together, to make Van Helsing's intentions with him hopefully easier to understand, if anyone needs that! (I can't link it here, or tumblr will block this post from appearing in the tags.) However, I'm also going to try and break down some possible reasons why Arthur makes sense as a worthy recruit for a vampire hunting team, even if he's not the most developed character in the novel:

• Lucy, Jack, Quincey, and Van Helsing trust him with their lives, and surely Mina will as well by virtue of his being Lucy's fiancé - and if Mina trusts him, Jonathan will too

• He has a strong personal reason to fight Dracula - revenge for Lucy, and to stop what happened to her from happening to anyone else and their loved ones

• Arthur is already somewhat in the know about Dracula and vampires, even if he's not fully aware of it yet, but it's still more awareness and experience than the average person - and it's a very small circle of people, so you work with what you have; he'll know even more soon, for good personal reasons

• He's a physically fit and strong young man! You need someone like that to fight Dracula, who supposedly has the strength of twenty men! The team needs more than just the nerds

• As a titled and landed lord who just inherited both his father's estate AND the Westenra assets, he's extremely rich, so he has the money to fund whatever the team needs; his title also holds a lot of weight in this time period to get what he wants - it's not just a fancy title, he's literally a sitting member of the House of Lords in Parliament, so he has connections and clout, both social and political

• He's one of the more emotionally intelligent characters, will jump to act when needed (ie. seeing through Lucy's mask and getting help for her), and we know he's brave and adventurous, based on his backstory of going on wild expeditions with Quincey and Jack; I think he's far more emotionally resilient than he gets credit for too

• As an aristocrat, Victorian contemporaries likely would have inferred that he hunts as a hobby, and may have served in the military as a commissioned officer (imperialism tbh), so he almost certainly knows how to hunt, track, shoot, ride a horse, etc.

• Other assets that I won't list right now bc they would be spoilers

[hangezoeenthusiast]

You failed me

multiple x gn!reader

word count: 2,524

warnings: cursing, yelling, arguing, death, angst, blood, explosion, the egg (it deserves its own warning)

synopis: you guys failed me(us)

(the lyrics go with each person, might not get everyone, and also xd’s part is kinda wonky)

song: rät by penelope scott

I come from scientists and atheists and white men who kill God They make technology, high quality, complex physiological Experiments and sacrilege in the name of public good They taught me everything, just like a daddy should

Quackity, Karl, George, and Sapnap left you. Your mentors, your friends. The ones who taught you everything you knew. They went to build their little “Kinoko Kingdom” while you stayed in the ruins, the dust. “They’ll regret that.” you swore. You built something better, something greater.

It was called “Las Nevadas”. A place where everyone was allowed. They would remember not to fuck with you. They would soon realize that they should watch their back for the rest of their short, stupid lives.

“Watch out, you guys, I'm watching your every move.”

And you were beautiful and vulnerable and power and success God damn, I fell for you, your flamethrowers, your tunnels, and your tech I studied code because I wanted to do something great like you And the real tragеdy is half of it was true

Wilbur majorly fucked up. He was supposed to be with you to the end, your guys’ country, right? No. He left you behind. He went to find peace, find his heaven, while you stayed on earth, wallowing away until your flesh seeped off your rattling bones, rotting away by yourself, with no one to bare witness.

“Why didn’t you bring me with you Wilbur?” you asked his stupid grave on top of the once L’Manburg. “Why did you get the ecstasy, why do I get the remains?”

“I’m coming for you Wilbur, and when I do, we are going to wreck upon justice on everyone who wronged us, wronged you, they will feel our wrath.”

But we've been fuckin' mеan, we're elitist, we're as flawed as any church And this faux-rad West coast dogma has a higher fuckin' net worth I bit the apple 'cause I trusted you, it tastes like Thomas Malthus Your proposal is immodest and insane And I hope someday Selmers rides her fuckin' train

"Y/n!" Technoblade yelled. "I TRUSTED YOU, AND YOU BETRAYED ME, FOR WHAT, TO BLOW UP A STUPID COUNTRY, A COUNTRY THAT WAS DOOMED TO FAIL FROM THE START." He started to battle you, missing every single swing, blinded by fury.

“YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO BE ON MY SIDE.”

"LOOK AT ME GODDAMN IT."

You looked up at him in the eyes and boldly said, "No, Techno, don’t you see, you’re in the wrong here, you’re the one who betrayed me." You were blinded by friendship, you couldn’t see that Tommy had betrayed Techno, and that what the Butcher Army did to Techno was terrible.

"What do you mean Y/n, you know what they did, they wronged me, they used me, they tortured me, they gave me hell, so I gave it back to them, I destroyed the things they loved, the people they loved, you see Y/n, those who have treated me with kindness I will repay that kindness tenfold, and those who treat me with injustice, that use me, that hunt me down, that hurt my friends, I shall repay that injustice a thousand times over, do you understand?"

"No I don't, Techno, you can't do this.” you begged. He pushed you out of the way, "Get out of my way Y/n." “No, I won’t, I won’t let you destroy everything we worked for.”

“Well, then I have to fight you.”

And thus the battle began, Swords clashing against each other, blood spilling from open wounds, friends digging each other into a whole both of them couldn’t get out of. Techno was letting you off easy, he knew his strength, he knew that he could’ve beaten you in one swipe, but he didn’t want to kill you.

So when you had the opportunity, you swept from under his feet, and knocked him down. You placed your blade onto his neck, pressing down until a little drop of blood appeared, “Stay down Technoblade, or I’ll do something worse than try to put you on trial.”

He watched as you walked away from him, trying to save L’Manberg from a worst fate than death itself.

“One day Y/n, you’ll see, I’m on your side.”

I loved you, I loved you, I loved you, it's true I wanted to be you and do what you do I lived here, I loved here, I bought it, it's true I feel so stupid, and so used I feel so used

"Why would you do that Dream? You didn't have to do that." you interrogated. Dream had stupidly blew up the community house. You both didn't plan that, he had gone behind your back. "I had to Y/n, you wouldn't understand."

"What do you mean I don't understand, you went against my back, we were supposed to-" you cut off yourself, "Dream, don't you understand, you did something stupid, and what did you get, you got stupid jail." "The reason I did that is because I needed to isolate myself from humanity." he said, proudness lacing his words.

"What do you mean?" you questioned. "If anyone knows I can revive people, I'm screwed, so that's why I need to be by myself, yeah it sucks major ass, but at least no one else will know, well, besides you anyways." "I have a task for you Y/n/n, I need you to find a way to bring Tommy and Ghostbur in here."

"Why Dream?"

"I'm going to revive Wilbur."

I was your baby, your firstborn, the hot girl in your comp-sci class And I was Darwin's prep school dream, bred, born and raised to kick your ass I fell for circuit boards, rocket ships, pictures of the stars If you could only be what you pretend you are

"PHILZA MINECRAFT COME BACK HERE." you were chasing Phil, through the woody forest, covered by oak trees. He had information on Technoblade's whereabouts and you needed it. You chased him with your enchanted netherite armor, netherite sword and axe, and a few op potions. Your goal was to capture Philza and interrogate him on where Techno's place was. The thing was, you were his child. His own child trying to kill his own son.

He felt betrayed, his own child turned against him and their brother, their family. "The Butcher Army must've gotten to you somehow." he thought in his head. Surely, his darling Y/n didn't do it on their own will, right?

He was incorrect, you did it because you believed that Techno needed to be brought to justice, by punishment. You believed that your own sibling needed to die, because he was a "liability" to L'Manberg's growth and future. He needed to die because as long as he would live his long life with his little enderman Edward, retired, he would still cause trouble to everything you, Quackity, Tubbo, Fundy, and Ranboo had built.

He pleaded, "Stop Y/n, you don't have to do this." You argued, "I do Philza, as long as he lives, my plans for L'Manberg will forever cease to exist."

He felt like shit, you called him Philza, not Dadza, or Dad, or anything besides his normal name. "Did I screw something up?" he asked himself quietly under his breath. "Yes you did Phil, you took the traitor's side." you had heard Phil mumble.

"HE'S NOT A TRAITOR." Phil yelled at you. "Yes he is, he deserves what he is about to get, I will say it again, where is his base?"

"I'm not saying, Y/n, why are you doing this, Techno is your own sibling." "He's not my sibling anymore, that stopped when he destroyed L'Manberg, you're lucky I forgived you." you declared.

"Y/n/n, please don't do this."

"I have to Dadza, I can't let him roam free."

When I said take me to the moon, I never meant take me alone I thought if mankind toured the sky, it meant that all of us could go But I don't want to see the stars if they're just one more piece of land For us to colonize, for us to turn to sand

Bad had tried to convice you to join the Eggpire. You had no effect while being next to the egg, and he had to take you out. People who had no effect towards the egg had to be eliminated.

He was creepily following you, waiting until you stopped to get a chance to capture you. He had hope that you did have an effect, that you would join the Egg with him. He didn't want to kill you, you were his best friend, besides Skeppy of course.

"Come back here Y/n." he said. "No chance in hell Bad, get the fuck away from me." "HEY, LANGUAGE!" he exclaimed. "No language, get away from me, you're creeping me out."

He threw his trident, spinning in the air, trying to catch up to your frantic steps. You were trying to get to Church Prime, where no one could kill anyone, hopefully Bad would abide to that rule. You were just about to step on Church Prime when you bumped into a hard, armored chest.

You looked up shyly, and saw Punz, with his red eyes reflecting anger. "Where are you going Y/n?" he questioned. "Somewhere." you blankly stated. You were desperate, you didn't want to die, or anything else that Bad was going to do to you. You tried to dodge Punz, but he placed a hand on your shoulder, "Stay right here Y/n."

"No, get away from me, I don't know what's wrong with all of you, but go away, I don't want anything to do with your stupid Eggpire." He raged, and grabbed your wrist heavily, "DON'T TALK ABOUT THE EGG LIKE THAT, IT WILL TAKE CONTROL OF THE SERVER, AND YOU ALL WILL BE ITS SERVANTS." "LET ME THE FUCK GO PUNZ." you screamed. You were wiggling in his grip, trying to escape his lunatic self.

While he was holding you, you saw two other shadows behind you. It was Antfrost and Bad. "What do you guys want from me, I didn't do anything wrong."

"You are against the Egg Y/n, people who are like you and Tommy have to die."

"Well, I'm not dying today." you murmured under your breath. "What was that you said?" Antfrost asked you.

You smirked, "I'm not dying today, I'll tell you one more time, let go of me."

Bad and Antfrost walked closer to you, Punz right behind you, all of them cornering you into a tight spot. "What you going to do about it Y/n, you're cornered."

"You'll know when they get here, but for now, you better run boys."

'Cause we're so fuckin' mean, we're so elitist, we're as fucked as any church And this bullshit West coast dogma has a higher fuckin' net worth I bit the apple 'cause I loved you, and why would you lie? And then I realized that you're just as naïve as I am Oh, you're so traumatized it makes me want to cry

"Tubbo, don't do this." Schlatt had unfortunately found out that you were a spy, that you were on Pogtopia's side. He had ordered Tubbo to kill you with fireworks, to light you on fire, give you blisters all over your body. "Please Tubbs, you're my friend." you pleaded.

"I can't Y/n/n, or something worse will happen." he whispered to you. "What do you mean?" you asked. "He can-" he trailed off, looking somewhere else besides your eyes. "Tubbo, you don't have to do what that stupid bastard tells you to do, you're your own person, with your own thoughts and actions."

"I'm sorry Y/n, I hope you can forgive me."

"TUBBO N-" you was cut off by firewords hitting your skin, making blisters and burn marks all over your body. You lost your second canon life, feeling betrayed by Tubbo. He killed you for what, a stupid father who never cared about him in his entire life, a father who exiled his friends that actually treated him like a person, and not like some random piece of trash.

You respawned in your bed, feeling bruises and bumps mostly on your forearms and your back.

"I'll help you Tubbo, I’ll get rid of him.”

You dumb bitch I loved you, I loved you, I loved you, it's true I wanted to be you and do what you do I lived here, I loved here, I bought it, it's true I'm so embarrassed, I feel abused

“Come on Y/n/n, come with me.” Punz begged of you. He wanted you to visit the Egg. You didn’t want to be controlled by a stupid omelette. "I'm not Punzo, why are you so obsessed with that stupid thing."

"DON'T SPEAK OF THE EGG LIKE THAT."

You put your hands in front of you, accidentally touching Punz's chest, "Ok calm down buddy." He didn't calm down and instead yelled at you on why you had to join the Eggpire.

"If you join, you will be forever happy."

"If you join you'll get whatever you want."

You were tired of the members of the Eggpire to convince you to join them, you didn't like eggs anyway. "Punz, for the last time, I'm not joining you, stop telling me."

“Then you have to die.”

So fuck your tunnels, fuck your cars, fuck your rockets, fuck your cars again You promised you'd be Tesla, but you're just another Edison 'Cause Tesla broke a patent, all you ever broke were hearts I can't believe you tore humanity apart

“XD!” You were pissed at him, he had destroyed your house, made your friends pissed at you, just everything you liked. All because he wanted you for himself.

He wanted you to be dependent on his every word, and he was being a manipulative psychopath. And you didn’t tolerate that, it was like he was his human counterpart, Dream.

He walked to you with confidence, waiting for to get a hug from you, well, he didn’t get that. You slapped him so hard his head swung to the left.

“WHAT THE FUCK.”

“That’s what you get you stupid son of a bitch. You fucking ruined everything.” “Calm down Y/n/n, what is wrong?” He acted concerned, but you knew that he was faking. He would do anything to get someone’s approval.

“DO YOU WANNA KNOW WHAT’S WRONG, IT’S YOU, YOUR STUPID PRESENCE IN MY LIFE. YOU KEEP ON WALKING AROUND LIKE YOU FUCKING OWN THE PLACE.”

“Calm down darling, just take some netheri-” you interrupted him by slapping the ore out of his hands. “I don’t need jack shit from you XD, you know what, take back the necklace, I don’t want it.” You pulled the shiny, green emerald necklace off your neck, and pulled XD’s palm out.

You placed the necklace filled with memories, and put it on his hand. You closed up his palm, and walked away, leaving XD to his own accord.

“We could’ve had evertything X.”

[imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl]

The Perfect Bad Boy (Pt. 14 of 18)

Pairing: Billy Hargrove X Reader

Word count: 3 K

Summary: Working as a lifeguard in the Hawkins Community Pool, you try to fit in after moving from New York. Things were going pretty well when you notice you've been under someone's stare. Billy Hargrove, Hawkins' bad boy, has been staring at you since day one. You never intended to have anything to do with him, judging by the reputation he has. But Billy won't leave you alone, determined to show you his feelings are different this time...

As if your heart flooding you with confusing feelings wasn't enough, there are weird, strange animals lurking in the woods... But those have to be just part of the wild live of the woods surrounding Hawkins... Right?

<- Previous part (13)

Next part (15) ->

{Stranger Things Masterlist}

×

Hunt and Destroy

“Alright... A lot of new words and names...” You mutter, looking at the floor between your feet. It's late now, and Eleven has been talking for over an hour. The story is long and you had to stop her to ask a few questions. More than a few, actually. Everything sounds like a very strange story, the weirdest, something nobody could come up with. To prove it, Eleven turned the TV on with her mind, skipping through the channels before turning it off again. But you didn't need any proof. You know what you saw and it was very, very real. “Upside down, Demodog, Demodorden...”

“Demogorgon. With a G.” Dustin corrects you, smiling. How can he be smiling?

“Demogorgon, ok.” Nodding, you take a deep breath and stand up. “So... What's the plan?” You ask, pacing around the living room.

“Well, we need to gather the whole party for this,” Max says and the others nod.

“I'll talk to my mom and Hopper,” Jonathan speaks out. “We have to do this as soon as possible so... tomorrow.”

“Yeah. Can it be here?” You're not sure if you can make this demand, but right now, being anywhere else after dark is too much. The sunlight is your protection since it's deadly to the... Demo-something. It burns them. They like it cold, said Eleven.

“Sure.” Jonathan answers and you offer him a small smile in return. “Could it be by five? Before the sunset.”

“Yeah. We can sneak out of the pool again.” It shouldn't be a problem, and if Anthony is there, you could pretend to be sick.

“Tomorrow is our day off.” Billy reminds and you take a deep breath, running a hand through your hair. You completely forgot that.

“By the morning them. Maybe we'll get something figured out we can start working on through the rest of the day.” Mike suggests and the whole party agrees. “We should get going though. It's late.” Mike gets up from his spot on the floor.

“Wait.” Mike can't possibly be for real now. “You're not gonna head home now. With those things out there.” They're getting closer to the town, and it means they'll hang around all night. “It's dangerous. You should stay.”

Most of them agree easily, chattering among them. Max seems excited, but Mike exchanges a look with Nancy. “I don't think our mother would let us crash at Billy's place.” She says with an apologetic look.

“Oh.” You know why. Billy told you where he was going to when the Mind Flayer almost got him... Or better saying, who he was going to meet. Mrs. Wheeler. You did felt weird back then, and it sure makes you feel weird now, but whatever he did before, you left it where it belongs. In the past. “Just call and tell her you'll be crashing at my place.”

“Yeah, man. C'mon. Slumber party.” Dustin cheers, smiling, and once again you can't understand why they aren't terrified. Guess they're just used to it. But how can someone get used to monsters lurking around?

“Alright, then.” Mike agrees, making his way to the phone.

“They didn't get it yet,” Billy whispers in your ear.

“They didn't get it.” Repeating, you wrap your arms around his neck. “I'm really trying not to freak out right now.” The words come out of your mouth, rolling out your tongue.

“Let's go to the bedroom so you can rest and we can talk.”

“Ok...”

“Alright. It's done.” Mike comes back with his sister, gesturing at the front door. “Should we get going?”

You and Billy exchange a look. They really didn't get it. “Uhm... So that's it, guys.” You start, taking Billy's hand and pulling him with you. “You can crash either here or Max's room. First to wake up makes breakfast.”

“Wait. You made me lie to my mom?” Mike asks as you move further into the hall.

“(Y/N) is living here.” Max ends the mystery, and you can feel her massive eye roll.

“Holy shit.” You hear Dustin and Steve mumbling as you get inside the room.

Billy lets you shower first, and as you wait for him, you look through his college books. Everything seems very complicated. Your fingers run through one of the pages, taking in the many numbers, but not really reading anything. Your mind is too far away right now. The scene keeps playing back, over and over. The... Demodog, as the kids call it, its face opening up, the guttural noises it made. You wish it was just a nightmare, but everything seems very, very real.

Billy's sudden touch makes you suck in a sharp breath, shaking a little. “Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you.” The feeling is quickly replaced by the usual warmth he makes you feel. Safety and comfort.

“It's ok, I'm just... How is it possible that the kids seem to be so fine with it?” Turning around, you lay your head on his chest as he pulls you close.

“They've been through a lot. They know how to deal with it and you don't have to participate if you don't want to.” Billy touches your face, fingers caressing the soft skin of your jaw. “I'll do anything to keep you safe, you know that right?”

You do. But staying out would not only make you a coward, but it would mean one less person to help them do whatever they're planning to. And, whatever this thing is, it had a part in messing with Billy's life. With Max's life, and all her friends. It's kind of personal. And, if Billy is in danger, you want to be there to make sure you'll do anything to save him. “I want to do it. I just need time to... Process everything.”

“You won't be alone. And I'm not talking only for myself, but for everyone else too.”

“Ok.”

“Now come. You need to get some sleep.” Billy pulls you to the bed, and, instead of laying beside him as usual, you decide to crawl on top of him.

“Am I crushing you?” You ask as you lay your head on his chest, smiling to feel his strong arms around you.

“Haven't you noticed the weight I can lift? You're nothing compared to it.”

Closing your eyes, you feel as he places a kiss on the top of your head. You've never been like that with Billy, literally on top of him, and it's good. Today, more than ever, you need to feel safe. Protected. And he's the only one who makes you feel this way. “I'm so happy we don't have to go to work tomorrow.”

“Me too.”

Pulling yourself up, you move upwards until your face is close to his. “Do you think the kids are talking about us?” Despite your mind being apparently stuck reminiscing the same moment, the terror in your chest, you try to change the subject. Hopefully, it'll keep you from having nightmares tonight.

“I'm sure of it.” As he speaks, a noise of glass shattering reaches us. “Max!” Billy yells at the top of his lungs, startling you. “What the hell!”

“Stop yelling.” You giggle, playfully slapping his shoulder.

“Just a glass, Billy,” Maxine answers from somewhere in the house.

“Better clean this shit up!” He shouts again.

“Shut up!” You whine, lowering yourself on him a little. “Or else I'll have to make you and it won't be nice.”

Billy raises an eyebrow, that usual smirk making its way to his lips. “Oh, and how exactly wouldn't it be nice?”

Yeah, you didn't really give much thought before making the threat. “Okay then.” Smirking, you close the distance between you until your lips are brushing on his before you sit up abruptly, a hand covering his mouth. “See? I told you it wouldn't be nice.” He opens his mouth under your hand, and you feel his teeth biting your skin. “Billy!” You complain, taking your hand away from his mouth. “I can't believe you bit me, you jerk.”

“You got what you deserved.” He suddenly pulls you down, making you lay next to him. “Now, quit playing around and sleep, princess. Tomorrow will be a long day.”

“Kiss me goodnight then. To keep the bad dreams away.” You ask him softly, melting into the slow, warm kiss he gives you.

It doesn't help with the nightmares though. Twice that night you wake up, a breath caught in your throat. You struggle not to let Billy notice, snuggling closer to him.

You're more than happy when morning finally comes. The house is so damn loud, and breakfast in a mess. You like it though, the craziness distracting you from yesterday's events. The rest of the party is here by nine, thanks to the urgency of the matter. And then, after everyone is fed up and the dishes are clean, which took half an hour since nobody wanted to do it, everyone sits in the living room to talk.

And you just can't seem to keep up with it. The boys speak fast, Hopper yells, Joyce tries to calm him down, he argues with Eleven, which is like his daughter, you got that, and then he argues with Mike. Nancy and Jonathan always check with each other before saying something, Steve always finds the flaws on the kids' plans, pointing out the many ways it could go wrong, and Dustin often gets into some kind of argument with him. There are a hundred different ways things could go wrong. A thousand ways you could die. Running a hand through your hair, you hold onto Billy's biceps, laying your head on his shoulder. You're the only one who didn't say anything since the conversation started. There's just nothing you can help them with, you'll just stick up to whatever plan they have.

What they know for sure that these Demodogs are here because some of them must have been left behind in some kind of incubation period until it started growing again.

“So that's it. Hunt and destroy.” Lucas says, nodding to himself.

“Yes. We don't know exactly how much time we have until they start going full Demogorgon, so we should start acting now.” Mike states. “Immediately.”

As if something was lit up, everyone starts moving. “My place in one hour, everyone,” Hopper says and suddenly the crowd disperses, the house once again silent.

You're still in the same place you were, on the couch, legs crossed, eyes on the floor. “Hey. You ok?”

“Yeah.” Taking a deep breath, you stand up. “So. Hopper's place. One hour.” Saying this more to yourself than to him, you get up and pace around the living room. “Should we take the baseball bat?”

“Steve has one far more fun than that. You'll like it.” You can tell Billy is keeping his voice nice and soft, trying not to push you over the edge with everything that's going on. “(Y/N), you don't have to go. You know that, right?”

“I do. But I'm going anyway.” Walking over him, you tiptoe to place a kiss on his lips. “Those kids are so brave. I don't want them to think I'm the weak link.”

“Alright, but we stick together. No exceptions.”

“I agree.” It does make you feel a lot better.

In the next hour, you and Billy shower and get ready. You make sure to wear short jeans and a light shirt so you won't feel too hot. The plan is trying to find the Demodog's nest. This part has to be made during the daylight, to make sure no attacks will happen, so you have no choice but to walk around the woods under the sun. Billy makes sure to shove a lot of water on his backpack, using literally every bottle he found in the house. And Max gathers some snacks for the day.

You reach Hopper's place at the same time Nancy, Jonathan, and Mike does, realizing it's also Joyce's place. The party is gathered in front of the house, a big map of Hawking on the ground. Beside it, a pile of some random stuff that you guess will be the... Weapons you'll use. Just in case.

Hopper is the one to assign everyone a place to start, the area they'll have to cover, and where they'll have to stop. There are lines drawn over the map, and you hope Billy has everything memorized because you don't even know where is where. Then, the groups are separated. Billy of course says he'll take you and Max. And Lucas, much to his dismay, will come along too. When people start taking stuff from the pile, you immediately get what Billy mentioned earlier. There's a baseball bat with nails on the top. Smiling, you take it.

“That's so badass.” You mutter, looking at Billy. “This will be my weapon of choice.”

“Hey. That's mine.” Steve exclaims, reaching out his hand.

“Not anymore, buddy.” You sass at him, swinging the bar and hitting the air.

“But–”

“She's good with the bat, trust me,” Maxine says and you nod. Some people have an interrogation on their faces, and Steve keeps staring at the three of you, as if waiting for further explanation.

“We have an inside joke.” Lowering the bat, you turn to look at Billy.

“Restricted to the Hargrove family,” Billy states, taking one the radios from the pile and starting the make his way to the car. “And Max.”

“But what about me?” You feel a little set aside by his affirmation, wondering what he meant. It's impossible that he's ignoring the fact that you were there that day. “I'm in the joke too.” Whining a little on purpose, you follow him.

“You still only notice half of things.” Billy winks at you as he gets inside the car, and after Max and Lucas get in the back seat, you get in as well. “I know you know what I meant.”

“Maybe I didn't.” Billy has this way with you. You were expecting the first sensations to fade, but they didn't. He still makes you nervous, the butterflies on your stomach doesn't seem to grow immune to him. And part of you is still scared of the things you think he means. You did got what he said, but it's safer to just pretend you didn't, right?

The short drive is filled with chattering. The kind of chattering you didn't want to hear since it's all about the Demothings. You stop by the woods, and Max and Lucas will be the ones responsible for the map since they have a compass.

And so the ‘hunting’ starts. You're glad it's not a real hunt though. You remember when you invited Billy for a trail with your friends, but walking through the woods feels different now. Before, you had only the normal wild animals to worry about, not some monsters that came out of the gates of hell. But you try to keep in mind that the sunlight means protection, so you'll safe. For now.

“Billy, can you make sure we'll have enough daylight to make the way back to the car?” You ask him, putting your hair up on a ponytail.

“I will, don't worry.” He moves closer, taking your hand in his. “We'll be ok. Just focus on trying to find anything unusual in the woods.”

“Sure.”

Billy doesn't let go of your hand until you stop to eat something. Lucas and Max start arguing a lot when you resume your walking, complaining about the directions. Billy is clearly pissed, not very fond of the idea of his little sister dating. It's cute the way he keeps staring at the young couple, paying attention to whatever they're saying. You wonder if Billy ever thought about having kids.

Wait. What the hell? Step back, you tell yourself. Too soon for that.

At some point, a fresh breeze starts blowing, and you couldn't be more thankful for it. Letting your hair down, you run a hand through it out of nervousness.

“I'm telling you, we have to go West now,” Lucas says.

“Yes. First West then North.” Maxine takes the map from his hands, taking a look at it. “It's obvious if you think about it. Just look. Try using your head for a moment.”

“Are you calling me dumb?”

“Yes!”

“Alright, both of you.” Billy intervenes, his voice with a tiny hint of anger. “Will you two make a goddman decision or will I have to?”

This will be interesting. Billy and you have been walking a couple of feet behind them, so as he moves ahead, you stand there, crossing your arms. The breeze brings a soft sound, that looks like the sound the pools make when it's windy. Following it, you spot water, only about ten feet away. Leaving the guys behind to their fights, you make your way there, making sure there are no big trees hiding you from their sight. When you get there, you bend down, putting one hand on the freshwater.

“(Y/N)!” It's Billy's usual yell, the one he always uses to scare the shit out of you. “Do you want to give me a heart attack?” When you turn around to look at him, he's already close by, Maxine and Lucas coming right after.

“Sorry, but I found this lake.”

“Lover's lake,” Max says, sitting down on a rock, eyes on the map.

“Lover's lake?” You repeat, crossing your arms and looking at Billy. “Why haven't you ever brought me here?” By the name, you think it would be a nice romantic date. And you remember by what you saw on the map, the lake is shaped like a heart, the reason for the name.

“Oh, you're new here. Sometimes it slips my mind.” He puts he bag down, safely away from where the small ripples reach. “People usually come here to... You know. So I thought that if I brought you and then you found out what really happens here you'd come to the wrong conclusion about my feelings for you.”

That's a very good explanation. And it makes you feel... Special. Different. “Thank you, then. For... Having this in mind.” As you speak, you take off your white shoes, all dusted by now.

“What are you doing?” He asks, an eyebrow raised when you look up at him, using his arm for balance to take off the other shoe.

“I'm using the Lover's Lake to something else than making out.” You start walking backwards, into the water.

“Whoa, look at what (Y/N)'s doing,” Lucas says, and you give them a glance. Max giggles, putting the map down.

“Try to drown Billy, would you?”

“I'll do my best.” When you stare back at Billy, he's already in the water.

You move back until your feet stop touching the bottom, so you start swimming further away. The freshwater is a blessing, washing the hot day from your skin. For a moment, you decide to leave the worries behind, just for a couple of minutes. Billy is quick to reach you, and you're suddenly aware of the kids staring. “We have an audience, keep that in mind.” You tell him when he pulls you close, strong arms encircling your waist.

“Were you ever kissed underwater?”

“No.” Your smirk matches his as you take a deep breath and push yourself down.

The kiss is a mess. You have to focus on holding your breath through the process, what makes you laugh, throwing bubbles on Billy's face. You manage to reach the bottom, your back hitting the rocks as Billy floats on top of you. But eventually, the oxygen you were saving is over, so you push him away and swim back up, laughing when you reach the surface.

“What a chaos.” You burst out when he comes back up as well. “We suck at underwater kisses.”

“I think I swallowed some water,” Billy says, coughing a little.

It only makes you laugh harder, removing the hair glued to your face. Swimming closer to him, you wrap your arms around his neck.

“Hey! Mr. and Mrs. Hargrove! Let's get moving!” Lucas shouts, making you roll your eyes.

You burst into laugh again when Billy flings you over his back, carrying you back to land.

And the walking restarts, with Max and Lucas constantly arguing and Billy trying to make them stop. The good thing is that it distracts you. And the bad part is that it distracts you from searching around for any signs of a Demothing nest. Your eyes scan through the woods, among the trees, looking for–.

“Holy shit!” Lucas exclaims and then he jolts away, running, followed by Max. You and Billy exchange a look before rushing after them.

Before you can ask what was that, you see it. A huge hole on the solid ground. It would fit a car in it. The thing goes down, in a slope, and then it keeps going until it makes a turn left. It's clear it doesn't belong to any kind of wild animal. It's not natural. A low, guttural low snarl reaches your ears, and you involuntary gives step back.

“Call them. Them then we found it.” Lucas says, taking a pencil and making a mark on the map.

The moment Max takes the small radio, you hear static. “Everyone listen up.” Steve says, more voices talking behind him. “We found it. A freaking hole in the ground. It has to be–”

“That's it.” Eleven's voice cuts him off. “We found it too.”

It was supposed to be just one.

“What?” Steve asks.

“Head back now. Everyone.” Hopper says and Max turns the radio off.

This is far worse than you thought.

×

@chloe-skywalker @dpaccione @dreamin-of-dacre @funeral-7 @uncookspaget @youhavemyfantasticbeasts @halloweenbitch2764 @redlovett @multific @shinydixon @nikkixostan @clockworkballerina @nope-thanks