#we call them El and Mia for short

[dreamyyesenia]

Welcome to Ravenwood! Wait no, let’s introduce our furry magical companions first. Meet Elminster (m), Gemma's familiar, and Lamia (w), Gavin's familiar!

[ell0ra-br3kk3r-writes]

Electric Touch

pairing: fred weasley x fem!reader

genre: fluff fluff flufff

el's thoughts: so sorry i've been mia for a while... excuse the writing haha i'm trying to get back to my usual rythm.. part of my speak now event! requested by @harryslittlebitch

“Just breathe, relax. It’ll be okay.” Y/N paced the living room floor while she waited for the ringing of the doorbell. 

“Y/N, dear, won’t you sit?” Her mother chuckled at the sight of her daughter wringing her hands in worry. 

“Mom, I can’t! I’m so nervous!” She spun on her heel, faced her mother and swung her arms in exasperation. “When have I ever been nervous with Fred? It’s Fred Weasley for Merlin’s sake.”

“You’re one thousand percent right, darling. It’s Fred, you have nothing to be worried about.”

The younger Y/L/N sat down and laid her head on her mother’s shoulder. “You’re right.”

The mother smiled and stroked her daughter’s hair, “And you look stunning, you’ll have him wrapped around your finger. As if you don’t already.”

Y/N laughed, “Thank you.”

Tonight was their first date. Well, first official date. The pair had been playing a long game of pining and the red-head finally confessed the night of their grand departure. Y/N had scoffed and slapped his arm playfully, calling him an idiot as she tried not to cry. She declared her reciprocation of his feelings and he had promised to take her on a date over the summer. And here she was. Waiting for Fred to pull up in his father’s car to take her on their first date.

Y/N’s head shot up, narrowly missing her mother’s. “What if- Merlin.” She ran a hand down her face. “What if he doesn’t like me any more? What if it just doesn’t work out? What do I do then? Mom, I’ve likeed him since second year! It would break my heart- no it would absolutely shatter me if it didn’t work.”

“My sweet girl, please stop worrying. You’ll grow gray hairs before he even arrives if you keep up at this rate.” 

The y/h/c-haired girl shot the older woman a glare only recieving a chuckle. 

“The two of you will be fine. Believe me please. Molly and I both think you’re perfect for each other, and we noticed that since before you went to Hogwarts. You’re excited and it’s making you nervous. A first date is exciting and I’m so incredibly happy for you! It was about time in my personal opinion.”

“Mom!” Y/N lowered her head to her hands.

“What? Do you disagree?” The older woman received no answer. “Exactly. Now you have another hour before he is supposed to arrive, come help me in the kitchen.”

~

Y/N heard a call roll up to the driveway and rushed to the door, swinging it open only to find her father getting out of his car. “Oh.”

“Good to see you too, darling.”

“Sorry dad.” She chuckled and walked to help her dad with his bags, kissing his cheek on the way. “It’s already 8 o’clock…”

Her father turned to face her, “What time did he say he would be here?”

“8 o’clock.”

“Well, give him a few minutes then.” He laughed and walked to the house, closing the door behind them.

She continued to pace the floor much to the amusement of her parents. Frozen in her steps, she saw headlights through the living room shutters and turned to the large clock on the wall. 8:05. She squealed and rushed to the front door, brushing her hands over her skirt and fixed her hair as she waited for him to knock on the door. 

Knock knock.

Her body stuttered as her mind raced over what to do. She cupped her hands around her mouth and turned away from the door before shouting, “I’ll be right there!” She waited a few short moments before she opened the door, promptly ignoring her parent’s laughter. 

“Hiya, Darling!” 

“Hi!” She chuckled as he handed her flowers, “Thank you. Come inside while I put the flowers away.”

The red-head closed the door behind him and said his greetings to her parents, giving them each a hug. “Mr. Mrs. Y/L/N, thank you for letting me take her out tonight.”

Mr. Y/L/N smiled widely and patted the young man on the back. “Of course, Fred. You bring her back safe and sound though.”

“Yes, sir.”

Y/N hurried back to the hallway, “Okay, let’s go.”

The older couple watched fondly as their daughter went on her first date with the boy who she’s had a crush on for years. 

“‘Bout time, don’t you think?” The slightly graying man said as he watched the car pull out of the driveway. 

“My words exactly, My Love.” The woman kissed his cheek and leaned her head on his shoulder. “He’d be good for her.”

“He would be. Bring her ghost town of a life back to life, if I could say so.”

Mrs. Y/L/N slapped his arm playfully, “Don’t say such things about your daughter!”

[chadillacboseman]

Las Almas Blues

Pairing: Alejandro Vargas x F!Reader

Warnings: Mentions of injury, the military industrial complex, etc. We all know what MW2 is about at this point. Alejandro being a big ass softie.

Summary: Post MWII. Alejandro has had his ass kicked, been betrayed, lost at least one squadmate, and finally took down the woman who has caused all of the bloodshed in his beloved Las Almas. There's only one person he looks to for comfort in the aftermath.

Word Count: Very short. Call it an exercise in getting back into the groove I guess.

A/N: Some use of Spanish language, translations provided at the bottom. NO mention of reader's skin, hair, or eye color. Reader does also speak a lil Spanish.

--

Every inch of Alejandro's body ached as if he'd been run through a meat grinder. Bruises and burns that had gone unnoticed before suddenly throbbed now that the surge of adrenaline had left his muscles.

"Oye hermano- " Rudy peered through the rear view mirror when they hit another bump that sent Alejandro into a fit of animated groans, "¿Estás bien?"

"Estoy bien. Just get me home."

Rudy grunted in response and directed the SUV down a darkened street that wound its way out of Las Almas and into the mountains that surrounded it.

The house was tucked just beyond a range of steep peaks that reached for the sky, their black, jagged edges just barely visible against the deep blue above them. Alejandro had known the house as a child- the former home of an American painter who had been scared off by the cartel violence that threatened to encroach upon his front yard.

But it never did.

It was why he had chosen this place to hide you- to keep you distant from the violence and the bloodshed he saw every day. To give you some sense of normalcy behind the suspiciously tall fence and armed Vaqueros that lined the property.

Rudy signaled to one of the men at the gate and jerked his head toward the rear of the vehicle.

"Bienvenido, jefe," the guard glanced in the back seat and Alejandro offered him a nod in return.

--

From upstairs, you watched the lights of the SUV as they turned through the gate and came to a stop in the driveway. One of the back doors opened and a figure that was unmistakably Alejandro's stumbled out, hunched over as if in pain.

"Alejo-" you breathed his name and bolted for the stairs, taking them two at a time until you reached the foyer. You waited, fingers wringing in worry until the front door opened and he stumbled through.

"Vida mia-" Alejandro practically collapsed into your arms and you took a few steps backward as his weight fell against you and his heavy gear bags dropped to the floor, "te he extrañado."

"¿Qué pasó?" You pulled back to examine his face- he looked exhausted, every line seemed etched into his skin as if into a granite slab.

How could he possibly begin to explain his week to you?

"Hey, we caught El Sin Nombre- turns out it was an old squadmate-"

"Rudy almost died in a burning building, but he drove me home."

"We saved the US from a missile strike."

"A lot," was all he could muster, so you left it at that. You'd seen him bloodier than this more times than you liked to think about, but never had you seen him so utterly exhausted.

"Come upstairs."

Alejandro took your hand and followed you up the stairs to the master bathroom where he perched himself on the edge of the bathtub. His head throbbed in the brightness there- a new, sharper pain that shot down his jawline with every movement.

"Here," you pressed a cool cloth to his forehead and he leaned into it, his eyes squeezed shut against the ache. His head came to a rest against your midriff and you chuckled, running your fingers through his tousled black hair, "You going to live?"

"Maybe," he murmured against the fabric of your sweater, "Maybe not."

You pulled his head back gently and he grinned weakly up at you, his soft eyes glinting in the bathroom light. The grin faded when he spoke again.

"I almost died out there," Alejandro's eyes darkened for a moment as his mind wandered to the way Rodriguez's body had tumbled from the cliffside, lifeless into the ravine below, "I lost a good man, too."

"Alejo," he hummed in response to the nickname, something so personal, something he held so dear when you spoke it, "When will you give this up?"

You had asked him that question a thousand times.

Through tears, through screams, while squeezing his hand at his bedside. Time and time again, he had told you that Las Almas needed him- that he couldn't abandon the good people of the city like a dog with its tail between its legs.

But now? Now Valeria was behind bars, maybe even permanently. Los Vaqueros were back on top despite their losses, and for once, Alejandro felt as if maybe he could give it up.

"Would that make you happy, mi amor?" he rose to his feet and clasped your hands in his, "You want this old man to hang it up?"

You laughed, the first genuine laugh you'd had since he had been gone with the American taskforce. It made his heart sing to hear it, to see your face light up as it broke open into a bright smile.

Rudy could take the helm- he was more than capable of continuing Los Vaqueros without Alejandro.

Since the day he had first met you, he'd dreamed of giving you the life you deserved- one that wasn't fraught with worry or tinged with loneliness when he had to be away.

Because God, he loved you. He loved everything about you. He wanted you to be happy in ways he wasn't even sure he could make you-

But he could try.

And he would try every day of his life until he succeeded.

--

--

TRANSLATIONS:

Oye hermano. ¿Estás bien? - Hey Brother, you alright?

Estoy bien - I'm good/I'm fine.

Bienvenido, jefe - Welcome, boss.

Vida mia, te he extrañado - my life, I've missed you.

mi amor - my love

[skycollides]

Hi I love your stories you post. And I just reread a hank story of yours and It so sweet. So could you write a first date imagine with him? I also loved the one of ez and I thought one with hank would be so sweet!😍 Thanks in advance

@hoooli13 Thanks for the request. I hope you like it! ����

First Date

Hank x Reader

Authors note: I apologize in advance for grammar mistakes

English isn’t my native language.

Let me know if you want to be added to the taglist.

Warning: none

Words: 1.715

You met Hank through your cousin Bishop. From the first time you met him at one of the parties you were fascinated. At this point you were sure that he was the most handsome man you have ever laid your eyes on. Sadly Bishop told you that his guys were off limits. He didn’t want this life for you. He wanted you to have a man who’s not in conflict with the law all the time or in danger. Nor did he want to see you in danger. Ever since you were children Bishop wanted to protect you and this was his way of protecting you. He also told the guys you were off limits the first time you set a foot into the clubhouse. After going to the clubhouse more regularly you and Hank had gotten closer and little did El Presidente know that things always go the way he wants them to.

You are currently at work the you get a text form Hank.

Hank

Hey Y/N,

I hope you’re well. 

I’m sorry I didn’t text you 

these past couple of days

but we were on a run.

I’ll make it up to you 

if you let me.

Tonight?

Y/N

Hey Hank,

I’m good!

Are you and the guys alright?

Don’t apologize!

Bish is my cousin I know

you guys go MIA form time to time.

It’s okay. I understand.

Well you don’t have to but

I can’t say know to that.

Yes I’m actually free tonight.

Text me the details and

I’ll be there.

Hank

Yes we’re alright nothing 

happened.

I’m glad you’re so understanding.

My place 7pm.

I can’t wait to see you darling.

You can’t help but smile. Did this incredibly handsome man seriously ask you out? Like for real? You could hug the whole world right now. Happiness that what you’re feeling right now. No matter what Bishop said you won’t let it stop you from seeing him. 

After 3 more hours at work you’re finally free to go. As soon as you’re home you go straight to your wardrobe looking for something to wear for your date. After searching for a while not really knowing what to wear you come across a dress. You remember Hank telling you how beautiful you looked in  that dress so you go for it. You look for matching heels before heading to the bathroom to take a shower. Once you’re done you dry your hair, put on some make up and get dressed. You take one last look into the mirror before taking your purse and your keys leaving your house.

20 minutes later you arrive at his place. Your heart is beating really fast and you’re a little nervous.  You take on last look in the review mirror checking your makeup before getting-it heading to his front door. You know and soon after he opens the door.

’’Hey Y/N’’ he says with a huge smile on his face.

’’Hey Hank’’ you say and he pulls you into his strong arms and kisses your head. You breath in his scent and it calms your nerves a little bit. He lets go of you and says:

’’You look absolutely stunning darling. C’mon in.’’ you follow him inside and he leads you to his back yard. Once you’re there you can’t help but stare at the sight in front of you. 

A table for two. Fairy lights and a lot of candles all over the porch.

’’You hate it don’t you?’’ his voice brings you back to reality. Hank took your silence the wrong way. You turn around and look at him with a soft smile.

’’Hank Oh my god. Why would I hate it. Its absolutely amazing. I love it. No one and I mean no one has ever done nothing like this for me before. Thank you so much’’ you say. 

’’I’m happy you like it. Well looks like no one before me knew how to treat you properly.’’ he says and you reply with a short.

’’Looks like it.’’ You take a seat and Hank leaves you to get the dinner he prepared for the 2 of you. You look around still not believing that someone like Hank makes so much effort - for you. He shortly return and it smelly heavenly. he sets the plates down on the table.

’’I hope you like it. It was my grandmas recipe.’’ he says and blushes. You grab your fork and take a bite. You close your eyes and this is for sure the best piece of meat you’ve ever had in your entire life.

’’I think I’m going to kidnap you and keep you as my personal cook. Like for real. Hank this is so so good.’’ 

’’I’m glad to hear. Do you seriously think you’ll be able to kidnap me Y/N?’’ 

’’No but it sounds good’’

’’Well you wouldn’t have to kidnap me I would you with you anytime’’ he says and winks at you. You blush and look down at your plate hoping you can hide it. Little did you know it was too late for that. Hank saw it.

After the both of you finished eating Hank cleans the table. You offered to help him but the declined right away.

He returns to you with blankets and pillows. You raise your eyebrows and he walks past you and spreads one of the blankets on the lawn he nods with his head for you to come over and you do. 

’’Have a seat beautiful it’s now time for stargazing.’’ he says and you sit down. He sits down next to you and hands you a blanket with the words.

’’Incase you get cold’’ you take it thanking him.

He lays the pillows down behind the both of you and lays down looking up to the sky. You watch him for a moment before doing the exact same thing. You lay there in silence - a comfortable silence. You’re thankful Hank did all of this for you.

’’How did you know I like stargazing? I can’t remember telling you about it.’’ you ask him curiously. ’’Well Bishop told me when I asked him why he calls you his little star. So when I thought about what to do on our first date this is what came to my mind. We both aren’t the type for super fancy restaurants so I thought cooking for you and watching the stars with you would be a good idea. At least I hope you feel the same.’’ he says grabbing your hand.

’’Ah now it makes sense. You’re right I don’t need all that fancy stuff. It’s not about the amount of money you spent on me. This night couldn’t have been more perfect. No one made the effort for me before like doing something like this you know?! Usually the guys I dated before simply took me out to one of those fancy restaurants. You just thought about what would make me happy and I really appreciate it Hank. I’m so thankful to be here with you and the stuff you did for me tonight.’’ you say having tears in your eyes - happy tears.

’’I’m glad you’re happy. That’s all I wanted sweetheart. The night isn’t over yet.’’ he says before leaning into you. You move closer to him as well and shortly after your lips collide. This is the moment you have been waiting for the whole night. Hank grabs your face and pulls you closer. You move your hand to his chest resting it there. He’s the first one to pull away. The two of you stare at each other sniveling like crazy before Hank speaks up.

’’I know its early and stuff but - could you imagine being my girl?’’ he asks you and you nod.

’’Yes I actually can. I’d be honored to be yours. We just have to keep it to ourselves for a while. Until I figured out how to tell Bishop you know. You guys aren’t the only ones with rules. He also told me that you guys are off limits.’’

’’I can live with that but we shouldn’t wait too long. I don’t wanna betray him this is more than just us you know his not trusting me any more is probably the worst thing that could happen - club wise. Besides I want to show off my beautiful woman and not hide her away from the world.’’ he says. You grab his hand and stroke the back of it.

’’I agree with you babe. The next party at the clubhouse is next week as far as I remember. We should probably have it figured out by then.’’

’’Yes we should.’’

It’s starting to get colder and your freezing by now even with the blankets you’re wrapped in.

’’Hank? I’m cold’’ you say and he gets up.

’’Let’s head inside.’’ he says and you get up as well. You help him picking up the blankets and pillows before going inside. Once you’re inside he says

’’As much as I love seeing you in that dress - do you want some warmer clothes? I can’t risk my girl freezing to death.’’ he asks you and laughs.

’’Yes that would be nice.’’ he leads you to his bedroom and hands you a hoodie and sweatpants.

’’There you go’’ he says and you thank him.

’’I’ll make you tea how does that sound?’’

’’Yes please’’ he nods and leaves the room so you can get changed,

After you’re finished you go back to the living room where he is waiting for you with he promised tea. You sit down next to him and say

’’Is it bad that I don’t wanna go home tonight?’’ he looks at you and replies

’’Is it bad that I don’t want you to?’’ 

’’I guess I’ll be staying then’’ you say and smile at him before taking a sip of your tea.

The both of you just sit there talking until early in the morning. The day couldn’t have been better for you. You had a perfect date with an incredible man. You know have a boyfriend that cares for you. You also came up with a plan to drop the news on Bishop. Looks like going to the clubs house more often wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

Taglist:

@everyhowlmarksthedead

@mayans-sauce

@lovebennycolonmiguelgalindo

@spookys-girl

@queenbeered

@ocetevasgirl

@charcoocheurie

[marmolady]

Home for Christmas (Estela x MC)

Main Pairings: Estela x (f)MC

Summary: Endless Ending.  It's Taylor's first Christmas off La Huerta, and the beginning of new traditions with her found family.

Word Count: 6127

Chronology: carries on from ‘Date Night’, and  ‘When the Fight is Over’, precedes ‘A Proposal’.

Tagging: @saivilo, @edgydepressedchoicesthot, @sceptilemasterr, @greengroove​ 

“We’re home!” Taylor called as she stepped through the front door, immediately hit with a wall of warmth and the smells of spiced candles and fir tree. “Happy Christmas Eve, everyone!”

Diego practically bounced to the door, and wrapped his friend in a hug. “Wait, does this mean you’re the gift? Talk about cheap.”

“Hahaha, you’re hilarious. Actually, you should be grateful to have me. I could be helping myself to seconds of Tio Nicolas’ natilla right now. Sadly, airlines don’t tend to let you bring custardy leftovers on board.”

Estela grinned, wiping her snow-covered boots on the mat. “It’d be mush by now anyway. I’m sure Tio will take much better care of it.”

A year ago, everything was so different. Christmas had been, at best, a bittersweet occasion, the shadow of all that had been left behind in a burning world. It had been Taylor’s consolation prize; she’d die in a matter of weeks, but at least she had a semblance of a proper holiday season with the ones she loved.

The share house, purchased by Estela with what had been Aleister’s inheritance passed on, had been somewhat emptier than usual; most of the Catalysts had been desperate to spend the season close to family after having thought them lost forever for so long. With all the space going spare, Aleister and Grace had taken up residence, forsaking their apartment so they could keep Diego company during what was a difficult time for him. Estela and Taylor had, of course, been in San Trobida with Nicolas, sharing a family Christmas Eve-- the first Estela had actually celebrated with her uncle since just a few short days before her mother’s murder. It had been strange to let the occasion be happy, but as the day wore on, she settled into the feeling, warmed by the clear joy in Nicolas. By the time they’d flown all the way back to the States and driven back from Northbridge airport, it was getting on for midnight… almost Christmas Day.

Grace came skipping down the hall, Aleister a little way behind her.

“Merry Christmas, you two!”

“Happy Christmas!” Taylor opened her arms wide, accepting another tight hug. “I can’t believe you guys all stayed up. We said it was gonna be late….”

“Oh, don’t be silly! We’ve missed you. So much I almost don’t feel bad about tearing you away from all that San Trobidan sunshine.”

Estela hugged Grace, who barely came up to her chin. Her sister. “Christmas is for family. Tio is Colombian, so it’s all about Christmas Eve for him… it kind of works well now that my family’s a little bigger.”

There was sadness in Grace’s eyes… deep and profound. Estela saw it there, and it made her heart hurt. She had a lot of things she’d like to say about Grace’s mother, but none that had their place here and now. How anyone could remain cold after over a year of separation-- a disappearance no less-- boggled her mind. But Grace was Estela’s family now, and that came with no expectations, no strings attached. Perhaps someday Blaire Hall would see what exactly it was that she’d been missing out on, but in the meantime, Grace would be given all the familial love she could ever need.

Taylor turned around from hugging a typically awkward Aleister to catch Diego’s eye. “Hey, if you want to check out your actual gift, try the back door.”

“Uh, Tay… what have you done?”

“Just go look! Jeez, so ungrateful….” Taylor exchanged knowing glances with the rest of her companions once Diego was safely down the hallway.

“Oh. My. God!” came a cry from the back room. “Ohmygod. I think I’m gonna cry… oh my-- Varyyn!”

Grace chuckled. “I think you guys just won Christmas!”

“I know, right?” Taylor said, grinning broadly. Having brought Varyyn to San Trobida a couple of days prior so he could fly into the States with them for Christmas was a big undertaking… but somehow they’d managed to keep the secret. “Whoever’s got Diego for Secret Santa is gonna have to bring it.”

Grace and Aleister followed after Diego, excited to reunite with a friend they’d not seen in months. For all intents and purposes, Varyyn was the thirteenth Catalyst-- and as far as anyone was concerned, as part of the family as anyone else. It would take some assistance from Iris’ wizardry with holographic disguises, but Varyyn would be kept safe, and given a holiday to remember.

Listening to the joyous chattering of her best friend as he hurriedly got the full story of Varyyn’s surprise visit right from the source, Taylor smiled to herself as she slumped against the wall, exhausted. Late nights were something she still struggled with since her recovery from Vaanu’s essence leaving her-- though the slew of parties that came with moving into a house with half the Catalyst gang had built up her resilience a little. She noticed a sprig of mistletoe hanging over the doorway to the hall, and sidled over. All those kisses she’d shared with Estela last Christmas… they’d been goodbyes. Taylor didn’t ever want to kiss Estela goodbye again; she wanted to kiss her to say ‘I love you’, or  ‘I’m yours, forever’, or ‘sling me over your shoulder and carry me to bed’. Anything but ‘goodbye’.

Estela caught Taylor’s eye, and a smirk. Just a flash of a tease-- a dare. Such a freaking dork. And, of course, she had to go to her. She would always go to her.

Taylor swayed exaggeratedly, a pout on her lips, as she glanced --with all the subtlety of an army tank-- at the mistletoe above their heads. “So… are you gonna ki--?”

No further prompting was needed; Estela covered Taylor’s mouth in a searing kiss, while her hands roamed along her sides and back, holding… feeling. It was all she could do not to quirk a satisfied smile at the moan against her lips as her tongue swirled against Taylor’s. She could do this for… well, she could go without breath for fourteen minutes, but that could never be enough. How could she need air when she had this?

“I fucking love you, Taylor….” she gasped when she finally came away.

“...Buh…?” was the wordless sound that fell out of Taylor’s mouth as she wobbled on the spot. It took a moment for her to bring herself back to her senses, to return to earth from whatever heavenly realm she’d just been swept into. “I love you, Estela. I love you.”

She took Estela’s face in her hands, and kissed her hard, relishing the force, the passion with which her lover reciprocated. It was fierce and triumphant, all theirs after coming so close to it all being snatched away. My Estela. I’m yours, forever.

“Aw, what?” Diego exclaimed as he came into the hall, Varyyn’s hand clasped in his. “We’ve got a mistletoe traffic jam! Come on, Tay-- I haven’t seen him in weeks. Pretty, pretty please?”

Coming away with a little groan, Taylor looked into the disgruntled face of her best friend, at had to smile. It wasn’t possible to resent the interruption when She gave an exaggerated sigh. “Someone should’ve bought more mistletoe….”

“Hey! My expectations for kissing were so low--”

Taylor laughed, perhaps a little intoxicated by the lingering buzz of that kiss. “Oh, we’ll get out your hair. There’s some things best done with a little more privacy.” She wiggled her eyebrows at Estela, who was still looking at her as if oblivious to the presence of anyone else. All shining tenderness. It made her damn near melt on the spot. “Shall we?”

Estela nipped in for one last quick peck to her wife’s lips. “Okay… done.” She glanced to Diego and Varyyn with a slight smirk. “You two have fun. Before you have to fight off Grace and Aleister.”

 Having dumped their backpacks unceremoniously to the floor, Taylor and Estela fell onto their bed in a mess of loving touches and joyous giggles.

“Happy Christmas, sexy lady,” Taylor purred.

Estela blushed, glancing away momentarily before stealing another kiss.

“Te deseo con el fuego ardiente de mil soles. Eres mia, amante. Mi todo.”

“I have no idea what you just said… so why do I have shivers going up my spine?”

With a breathy laugh, Estela snuggled into the crook of Taylor’s neck. My everything. She could never take for granted what she had, some miracle that had meant Taylor could stay, that this was not, in fact, a dream. But she woke up each morning, and there Taylor was, and it was a balm for every hurt she’d ever been dealt.

“Hey?” she murmured.

“Yeah?”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“And… before we went to sleep… I wanted you to have something. Seeing as we’re actually doing gifts this year.”

Taylor quirked an eyebrow, playing cool when all she really wanted to do was dive in her drawer and bring out her own gift. She’d been working on it a long time. “Okay-- just give me a moment. I’ve got something for you too. I’ll just change into my PJs first; gotta be comfortable.”

While Estela quickly got into her pyjamas, she glanced over at Taylor, unable to hold back a smile. God, she was beautiful. Estela reluctantly turned away to rummage for her gift.  

“Happy Christmas, Taylor,” she said, leaning in to kiss her lover’s cheek as she handed over the carefully wrapped parcel.

A warm smile spread across Taylor’s face. After the heartache the previous Christmas had come with, this was so wonderfully comfortable.

“Happy Christmas, ‘Stel.”

Taylor delicately pulled off the tape, trying not to rip the paper, and revealed a fat hard-cover book. It was heavy in her hands, full to bursting, slithers of paper peeking out the edges. A photo album.

“Wow, Estela… how did you do this?” she asked as she began to turn the pages. On the first page, the group selfie Michelle had taken just before the confrontation with Rourke--  which had been recovered from IRIS’ data bank-- and what followed was a chronological record of Taylor’s two years on Earth. There she was… holding a mewing pink kitten, a Valentine’s Day present… wind-surfing with Varyyn… dressed up to the nines for what had become the traditional Catalyst New Years-Multi-Birthday extravaganza. She’d not even seen most of them before. This must have been the complete repository of every photograph her friends had ever snapped on their phones during their year on La Huerta. Beside the photographs, her friends had scrawled notes and captions.“I mean, how did you get all these? Was everyone in on this?”

“Yeah, pretty much. Of course, you ask for help with these people and they go crazy with it. So it’s a little bit bigger than I first had in mind.”

More and more pictures. More and more memories. Taking her back to herself at her most weak and vulnerable, recovering from the release of Vaanu’s essence that had almost killed her. Friends crowded around her sick bed… then the celebrations that followed.

“There’s still room in the back,” Estela said. “For whatever it is next year brings.”

“Bring on 2020,” Taylor laughed. “I don’t think there’s anything it could throw at me I can’t handle; not now.” I’ve got you, don’t I? She looked up into Estela’s smiling face and loved her, her own eyes welling. “Thank you-- so much. Looking at this… I must be the luckiest person who ever lived. Nothing’s ever gonna be the same-- thank god-- but this time in our lives has been incredible, and this is just gonna keep it all with me. I love it. I really love it.”

Estela’s cheeks flushed. She could never tire of making Taylor’s face light up like that; glowing with joy. “Good. Because I love you.”

“And I love you too-- my starlight.” Taylor edged closer until she could tug Estela into a tight snuggle, and planted a soft kiss to her lips. Bliss. Then, she reached behind her pillow and brought out a squashy-looking present. “For you, my lover.”

Estela giggled and stole another kiss before accepting the gift. “It’s okay, I won’t have a meltdown this time.” Out of the wrapper fell a soft woolen bundle of dark blues and purples, accented with stars. An infinity scarf, homemade and endearingly lumpy.

“Taylor, it’s beautiful.” Estela hugged the scarf to her chest. She could feel the love interwoven through the whole thing, and the symbolism of the stars… and their forever.

“I tried to arrange the stars roughly into our constellations. Limited success, but if you squint--”

Estela hooked the scarf around her wife’s neck and tugged her in for a kiss. “It’s perfect, you dope. I absolutely love it. And I love you-- to the furthest star in the universe and back.” She took Taylor’s hands, and saw those stars in her eyes, shining just for her. “This just… feels like a dream. Like if a year ago, we’d wished and prayed to who and whatever the hell might have been listening… this is more than I could have dared hope for.”

“A scarf?”

Estela playfully swatted Taylor about the head.

“No, I know,” Taylor laughed airily. She leaned in and kissed Estela’s nose, her cheeks, her full, tender lips. This holiday season wasn’t an effort in consolation, it was a foundation being laid for a full, human life. Moments that would become traditions. “It’s everything I never thought I could have,” she said softly. “And I am just so, so excited to have this with you, year after year.”

“Me too.”

Leaving her scarf on, Estela snuggled under the heavy blanket and nestled in against Taylor. She yawned, happy-tired. It was a wonderful feeling, running from her head to her toes. She let her hands roam; caressing Taylor’s chest, torso, then venturing beneath her pyjama pants to settle between her legs.

Taylor let out a pleasured hum, but kept herself together enough to reciprocate; she did love a challenge. Her movements were slow, purposeful; knowing exactly how to elicit the whimpers that told her she’d got Estela coming apart in the best way.

The two lovers touched, caressed, kissed, until they lay, spent, in one another’s arms. Estela surrounded Taylor like a blanket; a protective shield. She’d gotten… better. No longer did Estela hold her wife in a vice-grip through the night, fearful that she’d be somehow ripped away. But the touch, close and persistent… she couldn’t settle without it. Someday, they both hoped, the sense of security in their new lives together would be enough. In the meantime, Taylor could sleep safe and utterly loved, her Estela keeping her close.

“Mmm… you ready to call it a night?” Taylor murmured.

Estela closed her eyes and nuzzled against her wife’s neck. “Mmhmm.”

“Ha. Sweet dreams, babe. And Merry Christmas.”

“You too, querida… night-night.”

 _______________________

Christmas morning was slow and easy, with all three sets of couples content to take their time in rising. Between warm beds and tender arms… and no real reason to rush, it was inevitable that the share house would remain quiet long into the morning.

When everyone did rise, the atmosphere was incredibly relaxed; the quiet enjoyment of the company of close family refreshing. It would be soon enough that the share house would be once again bursting at the seams and pulsing with the sounds of another rowdy Catalyst gathering; saving up energy for what was to come was wise… and the pace suited everyone present. Rugged up in festive pyjamas and lounging before a roaring fire, the small family passed the hours with board games-- purposely bypassing the tantrum-inducing likes of Monopoly-- and giggling through ever more extravagantly acted out rounds of charades. It was all new to Varyyn, and he soaked it all up like a sponge, throwing himself into everything to the point where he was nearly matching Aleister for dramatic flair. Estela’s ability to act out absolutely anything with a perfect deadpan had the whole group in stitches.

This, Taylor was certain, was what her holidays were going to be all about. Her and her band of misfits had everything they needed in one another.

Taylor, dressed after having enjoyed a brunch so late it might as well have been lunch-- and not an early one at that--, found Grace on the front porch, sitting with a steaming mug of cocoa and just taking in the distant sounds of children at play a few doors down. On the snow-covered front lawn, Furball was gamboling around merrily. If Varyyn was going to be joining them for Christmas, it had only been fair to make it an open invitation, and the little magic fox had been too excited to see old friends to not be brought along. Taylor was now grateful that Grace had the company, even as she took a quiet moment.

“Are you okay out here? Al said you gave your mom a call earlier. I figured that might have been… stressful.”

A warm smile jumped to Grace’s face at the arrival of her friend-- her sister. The care there had the effect of lessening those stresses, fading them into the distance, where they no longer truly mattered.

“Hey, Taylor,” she said. “Yes, I got that call out the way; I didn’t want the worry to be hanging over me all day. We kept it short. It’s gotten more difficult to find an understanding, you know?” She gave a little sigh, and shook her head. “To Mom, it looks as if I’ve given up, stopped trying. But the only thing I’ve given up is chasing the approval I’ll never earn. All I can do is hope that someday, she’ll look and see the real me; and love that person.”

Taylor put an arm around Grace. “You know, I really think that will happen. Someday. It’s got to take a bit of adjustment for her….”

“And she’s not exactly used to being the one jumping through hoops,” Grace chuckled. “Even jumping through hoops that should take minimal effort. In the meantime, I’m happy. Really, truly happy. We never had Christmases like this-- she never had the time. This is nice. It feels like a real family Christmas… spending all morning in our pyjamas, siblings squabbling over something stupid….”

Taylor laughed. It was all good-natured, if occasionally little bit heated. Estela and Aleister were well-practiced at butting heads by this point, and Taylor had strong suspicions that Estela liked getting a rise out of him just to tease. She absolutely exasperated him. And they loved each other.

“Yeah,” she said, “maybe this is what our Christmases are gonna be. Our little family, glued together from all these broken pieces and somehow fitting just right. It’s weird; just about everyone has been shaped some way by their childhood memories of these holidays… I don’t have any of that nostalgia, or old sore spots… just this, now. I guess these days are what I’m going to end up all sentimental about.”

“I know it sounds strange, but… me too, Taylor,” Grace agreed, smiling as her husband’s voice floated out from the house, seeking her out. She couldn’t say when the last time was that someone had truly wanted her company at Christmas was, but those days were a thing of the past. “And right now, I think I want to be back in there, soaking it all up. Come on.”

 “Should we put a movie on while we’re waiting for everyone?”

“Tay, you know my response to that. Maybe Home Alone or something. Should go down better than Muppet Christmas Carol did the other day….”

“Good god,” Aleister scoffed, “that was a mistake. Poor Charles Dickens, rest his soul, his timeless tale could not have been more lost on--”

Estela strode into the room, as if on cue. “The fucker, Scrooge knowingly killed so many people-- including that future version of Tiny Tim, which we can safely assume because it was the bastard’s ‘change of heart’ bullcrap that saved him.”

“Well, Tim wouldn’t have lived if Kermit-- I mean, Bob Cratchit-- hadn’t embraced the changed man before him. The point is redemption. ”

“Yes, he would. Scrooge was so desperate not to die himself that he’d keep the whole damn town fed and housed. Doesn’t mean you’d invite the cockroach in and share dinner with him. Those people were idiots!”

“You might even say they were… muppets,” Diego piped up, a glint in his eye.

Aleister groaned heavily, so utterly done, while Taylor snorted with laughter.

“Home Alone it is, then,” he muttered.

The main event, the full Catalyst family gathering, would be taking place later in the evening. Even with families at home to re-connect with over Christmas, the pull to be together was present in each and every one of them. No one else-- no one at all-- could ever truly understand. The sense of belonging, of security found in those who’d weathered the same storms, created a need that was deep and profound. Stepping away would be gradual, and for this first Christmas home, that the twelve would not remain parted. Raj only had a short flight from his grandmother in New York, so he was first to arrive back home. Both the duos-- Craig-and-Zahra and Michelle-and-Quinn-- had longer flights between home and the families they’d shared most of the holiday with, but arrived in at Northbridge airport at near the same time, so Sean had pre-arranged to play taxi after a Christmas dinner with his mother and brother. Jake would be the straggler. Louisiana was rather more of a trek, and after all those years in forced isolation from his family, he would not be rushing for anyone.

 The backyard had been transformed into a nighttime winter wonderland, a snowy playground adorned with lights that changed colour to the beat of Christmas songs piped out into the winter air. A snowball fight stretched across the hours, and carols were easily drowned out by the accompanying shrieks and shouts of laughter.

When Taylor crashed down into the snow beside her wife, she was soaked and shivering from taking hit after hit, and still grinning from ear to ear.

“Well, you put up a valiant fight,” Estela laughed. “Especially because Sean is, you know, pretty much a professional at throwing stuff. If you like, I’ll get back out there and avenge your honour… for a price.”

“A kiss?”

“Well, that would be hard to resist.”

Estela leaned forward, catching the warmth of Taylor’s breath on her lips as she moved in for a tender kiss. When Taylor came away with a happy sigh, they pressed their foreheads together.

They settled down, side by side, looking out over their friends as they laughed and played. The energy was different. Emotions were running high, everything felt on a new level, one that no one beyond this found family could ever understand. No one else knew just how much was being celebrated that Christmas… no one else knew all that had once been lost.

For Taylor, it was validation for the leap of faith she and Estela had taken together, the one that very nearly had cost their future together.

“Michelle was just telling me,” she said, “her mom flew out to Colorado to have Christmas with Quinn’s parents. Quinn’s parents like… together, in the same room, actually getting along. And it was three years, Meech said, since she’s seen her mom at Christmas. She just looked so happy.”

She snuggled close, tucking her arm through Estela’s, and nuzzling against her cold cheek. On a night like this, she couldn’t have any regrets. On a night like this, she could rest her so often troubled mind and know, they’d made it. She whispered kisses through Estela’s hair, against her ear, red with cold, her rosy cheek, the edge of her knowing smile.

“It’s going to be okay now, Estela. My starlight,” she said softly.

“I know. It’s like something you can physically feel. Like everyone’s just floating on a cloud. That kind of pure relief.” Estela hadn’t even felt that when the war ended, when the son-of-a-bitch Salazar took his own life and in doing so set his country free. She’d had her own wars still to fight, both against Rourke and within her very soul. When Taylor had awoken after her sacrifice to save the world, the fear in her had lingered on. Time was Estela’s healer; time allowed her to trust that life could be kind to her, that she was not inevitably hurtling towards darkness and despair and loss. Sometimes, things just got better.

She found Taylor’s fingers, surely as painfully cold in the night air as her own, and squeezed.

Diego came running up to them. “Hey! I’m just about to head to the airport with Varyyn. I should be an hour, tops.”

Taylor’s face registered surprise. How late was it? “Shit, Top Gun’s landing soon!”

“Ha, yeah… that’s my point. Doesn’t time fly when you’re having fun?”

“We could come with if you like.”

“Thanks, Tay, but I actually wanted to take the time alone with Varyyn. Make the most of what we have-- and it’s dark out, and hardly any traffic; it’ll be nice for him to get out and see the town without too much risk.”

Taylor nodded, understanding. “Okay. But you drive safe, you hear? If you end up dead in a ditch because you can’t keep from kissing him for five minutes, I swear I---”

Diego cut her off with a hug. “And you, don’t drink too much. You are the world’s biggest lightweight.”

Estela sniggered. Taylor’s ability to stand up to the effects of alcohol had been one of the hits she’d taken as a side-effect of her giving back Vaanu’s essence. “I’ll say. Now the driving’s taken care of, I’m pretty sure I’ll be needing to hold her upright within fifteen.”

“Oh, you two are hilarious. Fine. I’ll be good if you will. Now get out of here and bring our pilot home-- Craig is desperate to get Secret Santa started!”

 Secret Santa was the big event. The one everyone had been waiting for. It had taken Taylor a good deal of scheming and bribing and trading, but she’d managed to secure for Estela the ideal Secret Santa recipient for the brilliant couples gift that she had in mind. For hours upon hours they’d toiled together on their secret project, with Taylor enthusiastically teaching Estela to knit for the purpose. It was only a couple of nights ago that they’d finally finished off their respective masterpieces.

Taylor was practically skipping when she presented her gift to a distinctly nervous-looking Zahra.

“Why do I have a bad feeling about this?”

“Open it, Z!” Craig exclaimed.

Estela hurried over, her own worryingly lumpy parcel in hand. “Hey, Craig! You should open yours too. It’s kind of a set.”

“Why do I have a very bad feeling about this?”

An eager crowd formed, jostling to see what it was Zahra was fussing about.

She pulled open the wrapping, determined to witness whatever disaster awaited her before Craig opened his… and found in her hands a very large bright red Christmas sweater, ‘Player One’ emblazoned in big woollen letters on the front, and ‘P1’ on the back.

“Um, Taylor… you remember when you almost killed yourself restoring the world, right?”

“Kinda sticks in the memory, so… yeah.”

“ I stayed up all night, with Estela in the worst possible mood-- have you met bad-mood-Estela?-- making sure you didn’t drop dead; three long, soul-destroying nights in a row… and this is the thanks I get?”

“Bro! I love it!” Craig hollered, holding up his ‘Player Two’ sweater. “Best freaking present ever-- when I die, Imma get buried in this thing!”

“So, uh… mixed reviews?”

“If you think I’m gonna wear this---”

“Put it on! Put it on! Put it on!”

Zahra glared at Taylor, then Estela, while Craig’s chants were taken up by the whole group. For fuck’s sake. I knew friends were a mistake. I should have stayed dead in that goddam temple.

“Put it on! Put it on!”

Jake barked a laugh, offering Taylor a gift of his own. “Nice one, Princess! You’ve set the bar high-- as if there was ever any doubt-- but I’m pretty sure you’ll like this.”

She opened her heavy present to find a gently-used old sewing machine. Her eyes lit up. It had been a passing, passing mention that with so much knitting under her belt that she’d wanted to give sewing a try as well, but apparently it hadn’t gone unheard.

“Oh my god!”

“Ma hadn’t used it for ages, and when I told her I was after something for you, she wanted you to have it. Consider it a thanks from both of us for all you did while we were dealing with the courts.”

Taylor found her eyes stinging. She didn’t need thanks, he was good as a brother to her. “Wow, Top Gun. This is…. surprisingly--”

“...surprisin’ly thoughtful?”

“That’s it. Surprisingly thoughtful,” she laughed. When she looked up and caught Jake’s eye, though, she knew he got it. There was nothing surprising about it, after all they’d been through together, she’d never expect anything less than thoughtful-- but she’d be damned if she let the old joke die.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the present-exchanging horde, Sean handed to Estela a small, soft parcel. “Happy Christmas! I hope you like it.”

“Thank you, Sean, I really appreciate it. I’d say you didn’t have to but… Secret Santa… I guess you’re probably expected to actually get your person something.” No doubt she was flushed red, awkward as ever, but accepting gifts was another thing she was slowly getting better at. She unwrapped her gift carefully, saving the paper and appreciating the care that had gone into the neat wrapping and embellishments.

Sean chuckled, not unkindly. “That is the general gist. But it’s my pleasure, really.”

Estela unfolded a lightweight muted green and grey Hartfeld University sweatshirt. She couldn’t help the smile that lit up her whole face. “I guess this means I’ve got to stick around?”

“You’d better.” Sean grinned as Estela put her arms around him, laughing. Damn, they’d come a long way. “I know you never intended coming here to be anything other than a means to get closer to your goal, but really, that’s why everyone comes here. If anyone’s a Knight, you are.”

“Thanks. Really… I love it.”

“KNIGHTS!” Craig boomed.

“Uh, yeah,” Estela said. “That.”

 With gifts and hugs exchanged all over the place, everyone began to wind down. For most of the gang, the day had been an exhausting one, crammed with emotional family get-togethers and flights across the country. As mattresses and sofa pillows hit the lounge room floor, there was a shared relief, and tired Catalysts began dropping like flies.

Huddled in a couple of beanbags, Taylor nestled into Estela’s chest and the soft fabric of her new sweater, wrapping her arms around her and sighing with contentment.

“Happy Christmas, lover….”

“Mmm…,” came Estela’s sleepy reply. “Happy Christmas, mi alma…. Love you.”

“Love you too. Always.”

Within moments, Estela was slumbering peacefully, her little snores making Taylor’s heart near burst with affection.

Through half-lidded eyes, Taylor looked upon her family around her, yawning or already dead to the world after one insanely hectic holiday. It wouldn’t always be this way. It couldn’t be. Over the years, they would drift their separate ways, cherish the time spent with loved ones elsewhere as old traditions and new played out. But Taylor was certain that they’d never truly grow apart. Some things were just far stronger than the tests of time.

From across the room, Varyyn exchanged a knowing look with Taylor, smiling wistfully as he continued to gently stroke his fingers through a sleeping Diego’s hair.

“G’night,” she mouthed, then let go of an exhale of contentment.

It didn’t matter how long this lasted; what was important would remain. As long as she had Estela in her arms, and her family loving her from however far they had to be, she’d always be home for Christmas.

[nalgenewhore]

holiday surprise

howdy y’all! merry christmas and happy holidays from your fave chaotic fae entity <3 just wanted to leave this lil giftie poo for you before i go back on hiatus!

“Ok, so you’re still coming to our place for dinner and you’re staying with me and Rowan, right?”

“Um, Ace, there’s something I wanted to ask you, just before I drive up.” She bit her fingernail, eyes locked on her boyfriend where he was asleep in her bed, sprawled across the mattress, the sheets pooling around his waist, his chest and arms marked with dark ink. “Nothing big.” Lorcan shifted onto his side, his eyes cracking open. She savoured the scrunched up look that came over his face as he stretched and his eyes, glazed from sleep, landed on her, seated on the large windowsill. 

Elide smiled at him and stood from her perch in favour of sitting cross-legged next to his head, delighting in the way he shifted to rest his head in her lap, his arms wrapping around her waist. She grinned down at him and ran her free hand through his thick hair, the strands silky smooth between her fingers. 

“ELIDE!” 

They both jumped at Aelin’s voice coming through the phone, “Shit, sorry, I got distracted, what’d you say?” She bent down to kiss his head, feeling him smile into the skin of her inner thigh. 

“What did you want to ask?”

She breathed evenly, steeling herself for the barrage of questions that would no doubt come after her next words. “Can I bring the person I’ve been seeing?”

Her cousin, more like a sister to her, a very intrusive older sister, gasped, “What! Who? When? Why didn’t you tell me! What’s their name, whatwhatwhat?! You cannot do this to me, Ellie!” 

“Can they stay with me?”

“Yes, of course, but who?”

“Let’s just say,” Elide smacked Lorcan’s shoulder when he started pressing heated kisses to her skin, slowly inching his way up. He exclaimed softly and looked up at her, grinning wickedly when she mouthed Stop, I’m on the phone! He did no such thing and she tried to quickly finish her call, “They are not your favourite person on this world and you have definitely threatened them with grievous bodily harm if they so much as look at me. I h-hate to cut this short but I really, really need to g-oh.”

“Elide. If it’s who I’m thinking of, I will mur-” It definitely was but Aelin didn’t need to know that now.

“Anneith, it’s not, seriously, ew,” she lied but to her credit, this was a rather broad category for Aelin. She bit her lip to stop from crying out when Lorcan bit her gently at the jape. “I really need to go-oh n-now,” Elide tightened her grip in his hair, pulling on it as she said goodbye, as he slid his fingers into her core, “We’ll see you tonight, y-yeah?” 

“Ok, yeah, see you tonight, I love you, El.” 

“Ah. Love you too, Ace.” 

She hung up and threw her phone onto the thick, fluffy carpet. She fell onto her back, her other hand sliding into his hair as he slipped her legs over his shoulders, his hands curling around her thighs, and looked up at her. “We have two hours before we need to leave.”

Elide grinned, “Let’s make the most of it, then.” 

“El, baby,” she was drawn out of her slumber by a soft voice. “We’re here.” 

She jumped, nearly slapping Lorcan across the face, “Shit, fuck me!” She looked around bewildered at the snow-covered forest on either side of the highway. Elide turned to Lorcan who was laughing as he kept his eyes trained on the road in front of them. She hit his shoulder, “You asshole, why’d you do that!” 

“You told me to wake you up before we got there,” he responded, barely hiding his grin. 

“You really are just as evil as Aelin says, you know.” 

“Oh, fuck! Queen Galathynius called me evil, whatever shall I do now?” He rolled his eyes slightly, his jaw clenching just a bit. “I haven’t cared about her opinion for nearly a decade, that will not change even if we’re dating, Elide.” 

Elide leaned over the centre console, resting her chin on his bicep and fluttering her lashes, “Can you at least try to be civil? For me, please?” 

He flicked his eyes down to her and dropped his head to kiss her sweetly, “I’ll try but I make no promises.” She knew that this was the best she could get out of both of them and smiled against his lips, kissing him back before she settled back into her seat, pulling out her phone. “Whatcha doing?

“Texting your favourite person in the whole entire world,” she teased, typing a message out. He shook his head and turned back to the highway, sighing as they passed a kilometre sign, the sign telling him he had just under two hours of driving left. 

>>>Ae

<<<yes?

>>>can you please please please promise me that you will be civil to them? if you guys fight the entire time, i swear, i’ll cry fr

<<<you’re really scaring me, who are they? 

>>>it doesn’t matter. 

>>>they already said they’d try so now it’s up to you 

Aelin didn’t answer and Elide knew exactly what she had to say to guilt her sister into agreeing. 

>>>do you really want to be the reason yulemas was ruined cause you couldn’t be adult enough for it?

<<<oh that is low, mala that’s borderline evil, fine, i’ll be civil 

<<<are you guys almost here?

>>>yes mama and don’t worry they’re driving the speed limit

<<<good that’s my baby they’re with

<<<i miss you so much 

>>>i miss you so much i’ll see you so soon less than two hours away!!

With that settled, Elide turned her phone off and dropped it into her bag, turning to look at Lorcan. “It’s settled, she’ll be civil, she promised.” She beamed at him and was rewarded with a pained grin, more like a grimace than anything else. “Come on, it won’t be that bad!” 

Her phone made a noise and she fished it out, opening to read the text Aelin had sent her. 

<<<salvaterre isn’t coming this year

<<<ro said he’s spending the holiday with his girlfriend and her family

<<<who’s the girl?

<<<i asked ro and fen and everyone but they said you know the most 

“I redact my last statement, L. She’s gonna kill me.” 

“Ready?” 

“Is anyone ever ready for the full wrath of Aelin?” Lorcan questioned as they walked up the pathway to Aelin and Rowan’s townhouse. Elide stopped and tugged on his hand with both of hers until he turned back and cupped her face, “Lochan, I promise, it’ll be fine.” He leaned down to press a reassuring kiss to her lips, murmuring against them, “It’ll be fine.” 

She nodded and smiled, though it was muted. They walked up the steps, Elide squeezing his hand before she knocked on the door, heart in her throat. 

It was Aelin who opened the door, the smile on her face fading as she took in the two of them standing there. “What the fuck.” 

“Happy Yulemas to you too, Aelin,” quipped Lorcan, smirking at her. Elide hit his shoulder, Stop being an ass. He shrugged apologetically and turned back to Aelin, stiffening only enough that Elide and Rowan could notice.  

The blonde remembered herself and hugged Elide, whispering fiercely, “Elide, what is happening?” 

“I’ll tell you later.” 

Rowan appeared behind Aelin and smiled easily, eyes darting between the three of them as he let them in, “Hey, guys, glad you could make it. How was the drive?” He asked as he hugged Lorcan, the brothers having some sort of secret exchange. 

“It was good, the road was a bit sketch ‘bout an hour north of Perranth but good otherwise,” replied Lorcan as he shrugged out of his coat and hung it in the hall closet. He took Elide’s coat and smiled at her, a real smile. She returned it, rolling her eyes when Aelin gripped her hand. 

“I need her in the kitchen, this baking stuff, I just don’t get it,” she explained to which everyone scoffed at. Aelin was the head pastry chef at an acclaimed restaurant downtown and had won awards for her work.

Lysandra and Nehemia joined them in the kitchen, Fenrys already seated on the counter. He hopped down to envelope her in a warm hug, “Ellie, finally, it’s so boring here, I need some drama!”

Nehemia smacked his shoulder, glaring at her boyfriend, “Fen, stop being a dick, come on.” He smiled and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek before walking out.

“What the fuck is happening?” Exclaimed Aelin, her arms flying out. “Can someone explain this to me!” She glared at Elide who glared right back. 

“I thought it was pretty obvious.” She stated, crossing her arms. “I’m dating him, what more is there to say?” 

“You told me you weren-”

“Ah, I never said that, I never said I wasn’t dating him.” 

Aelin frowned, “You said ‘Anneith, it’s not, seriously, ew’ when I said ‘If it’s who I’m thinking of, I will murder him’.” 

Elide spread her hands, grinning wickedly, “In my defence, Lorcan is not the only person who you’ve threatened with violence if they look at me so….” 

Lysandra and Nehemia laughed, the green-eyed woman agreeing, “She’s right, Ace. And it’s not like they tried to hide it, we all figured it out in the first month.” 

Aelin froze, turning her electric eyes on Elide. “Who else knew?” 

Elide shrugged and hopped onto the counter, “I dunno. Lys, Mia, Nes, Borte, Fen, Ro, Aedion, Manon, a bunch of people.” 

“And how long have they known?” 

“Oh, gods, ages, an eternity, Wyrd, so long!” Nehemia said, smiling sweetly. “Just kidding, Ae, don’t pop that vein in your forehead, now, they’ve only been dating, what, five months?” 

The guys walked into the kitchen, Lorcan walking over to Elide. “Six months, Mia, Summer Solstice.” 

The golden jewelry in her hair clinked as she nodded to Lorcan, “Thank you, I knew that wasn’t quite right.”

Aelin dropped her head into her hands, cursing every god she knew. They laughed and Rowan hugged her, “It’s not that bad, Fireheart.” He tilted her chin up and pressed his lips to hers causing all their friends to exclaim in disgust when it turned into something more.

Aedion was the first to protest, “Are you guys serious? What the fuck, there is something wrong with you.” His lip was curled in disgust as he looked away, using Borte’s hand to cover his eyes, the two friends thoroughly sickened.

“Hellas below, take me now, take me now, I’m ready, please,” said Lorcan, burying his face in Elide’s shoulder. “I think I’m gonna throw up, seriously, I do not feel well.” 

“Wyrd, save me,” commented Nehemia, raising her glass to hide behind it, Fenrys ducking behind her. 

Lysandra gagged and turned to Nesryn, screwing her eyes shut, “Can someone gouge my eyes out, now please? I never want to see ever again.”

“Is it safe now?” Asked Borte from behind Aedion, the petite woman easily hiding behind her extremely bulky friend.

Elide peeked around Lorcan and made a sound of disgust, “No and I’m pretty sure that is not food safe.” She closed her eyes, feeling Lorcan laugh onto her shoulder. She looked up again, “Ok, come on, guys, even for you, this is excessive!” 

Aelin and Rowan broke apart, laughing and smiling as they all walked into the living room to begin their little mismatched family’s Yulemas traditions. 

Everyone was all smiles and happy faces as they listened to holiday songs and eventually, ate quickly before returning to their masterpiece. 

Then, after what seemed like hours and hours of work, they shut all the lights off and sat down, watching the pine tree light up, all of their carefully placed decorations glittering in the warm light. 

Everyone clapped lightly and settled in to welcome Yulemas with their yearly watching of the Home Alone movies, only the first two as they all collectively ignored the movies number three through five. They all threw popcorn at the screen when Donald Trump appeared, yelling obscenities and cursing him in ancient languages that had them bursting into hysterical laughter. 

Elide was tugged onto the couch, falling back into the chest of Lorcan. She tilted her head back on his shoulder and waited until he looked down at her, a question in his dark eyes. “What?” 

“Happy Yulemas, Salvaterre.” His questioning expression turned into something soft, something he only ever looked like around her. 

“Happy Yulemas, Lochan.”

@myfeyrelady​ @kandasboi​ @the-regal-warrior​ @rhysands-highlady​ @city-of-fae​ @westofmoon​ @empire-of-wildfire​ @shyvioletcat​ @alifletcher2012​ @tangledraysofsunshine​ @ttakeitbacknoww​ @tswiftslyrics​

[suffering-and-happy-about-it]

The News (Sriracha, Part 41.)

Series description: A problematic college student gets the worst summer job of the ‘83 - Jim Hopper, the Chief of police in your hometown will have you as his secretary since his old lady Flo has two months lasting holiday. It was agreed so Hopper could let you far away from all the trouble.

Part Summary: The wedding came way sooner than you expected to, you could maybe say that you weren’t even prepared for a thing of such a caliber. Also, did El and Mike really told Mr. Clarke that they’re cousins?

A/N: This chapter is a complete and utter chaos and I love it so much. Inspired by all of the romantic songs from the 80s’. There is a lot of callbacks to the OG Stranger Things (like El and Mike being cousins) and into the origins of this series as well.

Warnings: THIS SHIT IS HEART-WARMING, IT WILL MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD, MF, BECAUSE I LOVE AND YOU MATTER TO ME AND NOTHING WILL CHANGE THIS. Also, a lot of fluff. ♥

Word count: 5K

Tagging: @nemodoren @missdictatorme @ysljordy @creedslove​ @hopperlover​

Series master list: H E R E

GIF SOURCE

Life can go completely crazy once you decide to something insane with it. Like having a wedding with a guy who you love without any judging, yet still being a college student. The big date was set on the first July of 1986, which meant that you had to study for that semester’s finals, take care of the new house you owned, having Eleven moving back and on top of that, you were doing preparations for the wedding. Now, that was what you called busy.

It was quite weird when you once took El to Hawkins High to sign the papers with her, meeting professor Clarke in the process. You let Max and El go to your car while he wanted to have small chit-chat with you.

"How are you and your Hopper doing? Everything fine?" - He started, putting his palms entwined on his chest. After a while, you nodded, being completely confused. After a small rant about your approaching wedding, he proceeded to the thing which was itching his curiosity.

"Have seen Eleven before here a couple of times before. First, if I'm correct, it was in 1983. Then she came to the Snow Ball of 1984... I thought she was Mike Wheeler’s cousin and now I get to know she's your and Hopper’s daughter?" - He asked curiously. What the hell was going on in the fall of 1983? You hadn't known much about that time from El’s perspective, yet Mike mentioned that was the year when they first met. Trying to hide the nervousness and confusion behind a smile, you nodded.

"You know kids, Mr. Clarke. They like to make things up and they don't exactly think about the consequences either. It was probably some joke or whatever." - You giggled, telling yourself that you have to talk to both of them about this. It wasn’t an issue that could bring some great consequences in the future, but it would be weird to see two teenagers who proclaimed being cousins... Well... Holding hands, kissing, and stuff. - "Especially these boys. You know Dustin and Lucas, Mike and Will. They love to make up stories and wild stuff. Sometimes even I don't know what should I believe when they're telling me something. Their imagination is just amazing."

"Right, haven't exactly thought about that. You have any information about Joyce, Will, and Jonathan?" - He asked and this time, he wasnt suspicious. You nodded with a happy smile, telling him all about their life in Maine. You wanted to visit them in there for a short vacation, taking Mike, Lucas, El, and Dustin with you - Steve Harrington told you that he and Nancy would gladly go with you to ride in the second car.

"Mr. Clarke, you're invited to my wedding!" - You yelled at him when you were leaving the corridor, pointing a finger at that slim, tall man with a mustache. - "I hope that you'll come. July the first, party starts at two p.m.!"

But when you sat behind the steering wheel, that was a different story. You looked at Eleven who was sitting at the passenger seat, having a hell of a confused face. - "Cousins? You and Mike told them that you're cousins? Where are we? In Texas or Alabama? For the love of God." - You asked unbelievably. Max on the backseat leaned in with a burst of laughter. She didn't know about that either since she wasnt around at that time.

"It was Mike's idea... And Mike’s a boy and boys are..." - Eleven wanted to defend herself, her brown eyes looking at you while you started the engine. You stopped her by pointing your index finger at her.

"Uh-uh, young lady. Only I can say that boys are stupid and that's because I'm living with your father. We clear?" - You asked with a giggle. They told them that they're cousins... Jesus Christ... You couldn't wait to tell Hopper. It was clear that he will lose it once you'll tell him what Mr. Clarke asked you that day. After taking the girls for some ice-cream, you picked up Hopper at the station, since his shift was just ending. While Eleven ran off with Max to look at the movies int he rent shop Harrington was working at, you entered the police station.

"Afternoon, Flo. Every time I see you, you look better than the last time. How do you do that?" - You asked, leaning your head to your shoulder. You loved that woman so much - you still remembered how much patience she had with you and Hopper at the start.

"You, honey, are going blind. Nice to see you too." - She got up with a giggle, hugging you and kissing both your cheeks. - "The big day.s on its way. How you're feeling? I was so nervous I couldn't sleep a month before it happened."  

"Oh, I'm more nervous about my finals than about my wedding. Jim will probably get drunk and he’ll cry in the corner with my father about me being a big girl and stuff. I hope he gave you the invitation card? If he didn't, I swear to God..." - You rolled your eyes, having Flo gently patting your shoulder. The old lady disappeared for a second to snatch you some coffee and a piece of cake. Callahan, Powell nor Hopper noticed you chatting with Flo yet, so you had the time to observe Jim.

He looked way more relaxed as a normal officer. It could be seen that he's happier than that before. He didn't have as much responsibility as he had when he worked on the position of the police chief, even though he was doing an excellent job being the head of Hawkins police. Yet now, he had more time to have fun with the two other men and there was something simple about listening to orders.

"Honey, don't worry about that. The Monday after you said yes, he came to the office yelling that he's about to marry you. For real this time. And the following week he gave the cards to at least half of the station." - Flo chuckled, watching the men as well. It took them a while to notice you standing there but when they did, Hopper immediately started to pack his stuff. Normally, Powell or Callahan drove him home, so it was a nice surprise seeing you standing there.

"How you're doing, girl?" - Powell gave you a tight fatherly hug, have you smiling from ear to ear in the process. - "You're looking tubular. That's how the young call it these days? Also, new haircut?" - The man asked when you gave a short hug to the younger policeman.  

"You're about two years late with tubular, dear Powell. But thanks for noticing since this grumpy bastard didn't." - You let Jim slide a hand on your waist, looking at him with your eyebrow risen.

"You know that I still can cancel the engagement?" - Hopper mumbled before stealing a kiss from you. For a short moment, you were just looking at that handsome man before calling him out with: - "It’s more probable that I would do that, baby. So don't try to piss me off."

"And that's the facts. See you around boys, we have a family night." - Hopper waved at them, leading you out of the station, telling you about his day. Max and Eleven were waiting for you outside, holding a few rented movies. You were taking them to the cinema that night, true, but you allowed them to watch some movies in the living room. It was Friday, so neither of them had to wake up for school.

The other few weeks were just crazy - you and Hopper had to choose the flavor of your wedding cake, you had to study for finals hard, there were the dress tests and even three weeks before the wedding, you hadn't found the right one. Steve Harrington, Robin, Nancy, and your mom became the party for each of the tests since Hopper wasnt allowed to see them. The location was paid, the menu was completed, the decorations were also set to go, but the dress...

And also the finals.

You'd swear that you hadn't sweat this hard at the previous exams you were taking. And writing the final essay wasn’t a walk in the park as well. It was the result of many things that happened in 1986: from Hopper being MIA to coming back, buying a home, finishing the reconstructions, having Eleven coming back to your life, the whole proposal, and marriage thing... You straightaway cried when you got the letter you passed and that by the start of the next semester, you'll start a whole year lasting practicum at the children's traumatology in the hospital of Hawkins. That was a miracle happing right there.  

After that, it was time to concentrate on the chaos you called "my life". And it was hard sometimes to stay mentally stable. Especially when the countdown to the wedding itself came. It was a week before the first of July when you stopped in the door leading from your bathroom, looking at Jim quietly reading in the bed. You looked like you're about to puke something, your eyes being widened and opened.

"Are you alrite? Somethin’ happened in there?" - Jim put the book down, quickly snatching his new reading glasses from the top of his nose. With the same face, you walked through the bedroom, shaking your head.

"This doesn't look like your nothin’ happened face. What's goin’ on?" - He asked once again when you were purring the pajamas on. Eleven was listening to the Romantics on the second floor, so you heard some parts of A Night Like This resonating through the house.

"Marriage is the scariest of all social constructs I've ever seen." - You started explaining, climbing into the bed next to Jim. Oh, so that was what this was about. - "I mean, two people can live together without having to marry, you know? All it takes is love and time and..."

"You're afraid of bein’ married is what you're tryin’ to say, am I rite?" - Jim chuckled, looking as you tried to figure out the most comfortable position. You settled on your belly, having a small pillow under your breasts, watching Jim sitting next to you. You made a dumb face before nodding.

"You’ll be just fine, trust me. You already have me under your thumb so there's nothin’ to worry about. Come ’ere." - The man chuckled, putting the book on his nightstand to snuggle you.

"It wasnt too hard to domesticate you, but... I'll be Mrs. Hopper next week. If you'd die, I would have the right to have the money from the police office and stuff. It's the legalities that make me anxious." - You mumbled horrified. Suddenly, you jumped when Hopper just started to laugh out loud.

"You haven't even got married and you're already thinkin’ about havin’ me dead? Well, that's nice." - He continued with the laughing, having you chuckling too. - "Trust me. It won't change a thing... Except for your surname."

But even if Hopper assured you a million times, just like your mom and Steve, you still couldn't sleep, couldn't eat and you were sure that as soon as you'll be walking down the aisle, you'll run away with Bon Jovi playing in the background. Steve even offered you that he can ’kidnap’ you so Hopper would have to find you, but you said no that offer, no matter how fun did that sound.

The first of July was the worst day you have ever endured since you had to get up pretty early and you didn't even have a bachelorette party. Hopper left to your parent's place while Robin, Joyce, Nancy, and your mom with Lena gathered at your place. You heard Robin asking your mom if you're fine when she saw you getting up from the bed - your mom had to explain to her that you had a problem with getting up since the day you started kindergarten.

You puked through the first hour they arrived, spending it on the toiled, bawling your eyes out. When they managed to get you out, robin made you do the basic things, like taking a shower, brushing your teeth, and drink at least a cup of coffee to raise your pressure. You were looking like you were about to faint for the last hour and a half.

"If you don't want to marry the man, you shouldn't accept the ring is what I'm saying." - Your mom told you while she and Jules were making a hairstyle on your head. You looked puffy, tired, and not well at all. Nancy was sitting on your bed, reading some girly magazine as well

"I do want to marry him, I just really don’t feel good." - You told them, clearing your nose with a tissue.

"I think it's the nerves that are fucking you up." - Robin got up and stood behind Nance so you could see her in the mirror too. She was speaking in the most boyish manner possible, she never fucked around with you or Steve and that was why you liked that girl so much. - "Read it in my mom's Cosmo." - She shrugged her shoulders, sending you a small smile. You nodded, earning a curse word from your mom who barely cursed.

As soon as everyone made sure they have everything, like dresses, jewelry, and stuff, everyone got into two cars - Eleven, Max, Nancy, and Lena were in one, while in the second one, there was you, your mom, Julia, and Robin. Mom told you that you're even prettier than she was on her big day. Robin knew how to crack you up with her jokes and how to bitch you down in case you had any side thoughts - that was why you chose her to ride with you. Both of your best friends didn't go exactly easy on you and that was why you adored them.

When you saw the church closer and closer, your hands started shaking and your forehead got wet like a helter-skelter. It all felt so right, yet so wrong at the same time. You knew Jim for three years almost and there were occasions when he proved to you that he’d go to hell for you. Not even that made you sure if it was all a good idea or not. Take on Me was playing in the background while girls were speaking about the flowers and decoration, so you decided that it was time for a little walk.

A little walk to Bloomington maybe? To run away from all that chaos inside of you? Or something like that? Just when your palm circled the door handle, Robin and Jules walked out of the preparation room. You leaned into the door innocently, having a smile on your face. Both of them knew what were you thinking about, so they walked to you from both sides, both of them entwining their elbow with yours. - "You are not running away. You are not going anywhere, milady. What you're going to do is that you'll dress up to the white dress, look like a princess and you'll make one old grumpy idiot very happy once you say yes." - Robin told you, dragging you back inside the room.

"And then, we'll have a party and you'll drink your ass off with us, understood?" - Julia asked sweetly too. They were two crazy sons of a bitch, so they made you exactly what they said you're going to do. Not even hour from that, you were marching in the back room dressed in white, having too long high-heels on with a veil over your face. You heard Jim coming - it was quite hard not to hear the men arriving. He had a few shots of Scotch or something your dad had at home since he was louder than usual.

As you heard more people, like Karen Wheeler who came in to wish you luck, coming in, you understood that it's happening. You will be a wedded woman in less than an hour. And that was... Surreal. The clapping of high heels intensified as you started to imagine all the horror scenarios again.

"Heard you're having some trouble here." - Jonathan and Joyce snuck into the room to say hi. Joyce was looking breath-taking in the lilac-colored dressed you've sent her to Maine. And that hairstyling? She was killing it. Jonathan was looking breath-taking too, yet his eyes were all over Nancy.

"It's just some slight turbulences." - You chuckled nervously, letting her hug you. After that, she stepped away, taking in the sight of you.

"My oh my, you're something." - Joyce chuckled, hugging everyone in the room as well. - "Hopper is really lucky these days, I mean, look at you. I know you're nervous and all, but as soon as you'll stand in front of him, you won't even remember that, trust me. I've done this too." - She chuckled, making you chuckle nervously as well. Jonathan then patted her shoulder, telling her that they have to get into the right order. She opened up her mouth and giggled excitedly, biting her lip after that. - "See you in ten, baby." - She hugged you for the last time and went outside. Everyone was going outside and you knew that the only person who will be waiting for you once you have to go there too will be your dad.

And he was smiling when you did so.

"You look just beautiful." - Was all he could say when you held the skirt up a bit so you wouldn't fall flat on your face. A smile was all you were capable of before you entwined your elbow with his, looking at the door leading outside for the last time.

"I know what you're thinking about." - He chuckled, looking at the door as well. - "Are you sure about doing it, though? Do you realize what consequences would that have, honey? You'd leave him in there alone, standing in front of all of the people you and he would look like a fool. Jim would be... I wouldn't say angry but disappointed for sure. Maybe he wouldn't talk to you after that for all I know." - Your dad took a deep breath in, straightening himself, making sure he's looking good.

"Believe it or not, I thought about running away too, so that's some genes here. Your mom would never, but I was scared like a little boy. But we’re twenty-six years in and I have never regretted marrying that awesome lady." - He looked down on you. For the first time that day, you were smiling without having some other chaotic feelings inside your head.

"And I mean... I wasn’t the happiest with Hopper at the beginning, but as time went, you two showed everyone in this bloody town what love is supposed to look like. You separated here and there, yes, but you also gave home and love to a girl who needed it. He taught you patience and you taught him to love. That's how it is, baby. And as far as I can say, I think you're doing the right thing. There's no need for second thoughts, no need for looking for a chance to escape because you'll be fine this man no matter what." - Your dad finished and you both had tears in your eyes.

"You’ve been drinking, haven't you?" - You asked to stop yourself from crying, snickering your old man with a burst of honest laughter. He didn't answer, but you saw on his eyes that he had a few glasses with Jim. - "I love you." - You whispered just before the door opened up and the cannon started to play. Everyone was standing up for you and you could see your mom and Jules weeping in the first row. You, one of the craziest and toughest sons of bitches were getting marries. Who would d have thought that it would happen so soon?

It felt weird to walk there, looking everyone you knew in their eyes. Karen and Tim were smiling at you, having Mike by their side and when you were in the middle of the aisle, you heard Joyce started crying as well. She was telling everyone that she's sorry, but everyone was just smiling, having tears in their eyes themselves. No matter how happy everyone felt, you were numb. Completely numb. All you could concentrate on was not falling, on your pulse, and the rhythm of your breathing.

Jim was standing there with his palms entwined in front of him, giving you the warmest smile he ever had. It was there. The last stop where you could turn around and run away from everything. It wasn’t that you didn't love him, for the love of God, you just... You were scared. Even if it wouldn't change your day-to-day life, you knew that it will have an overall impact on everything. When your father gave your hand to James, tears in your eyes could be seen. And Jim knew that these weren’t happy tears.

He remembered the wedding he had with Diane. He felt like throwing up until the ceremony was over, he didn't know if he chose to do the right thing or not, he was fighting himself. And now you were doing the same thing. It was natural and James understood everything since he had gone through all of that once. Marriage was one big unknown. What happens once you'll walk out of the church like a wedded couple? That was a thing no-one, including you, couldn't be sure about. But Hopper knew that this time, he has chosen the right person to go through all of these shenanigans with.

You had endless patience with him - and when James said endless, he meant endless. Eleven, the Russians, the Demogorgons... You absorbed all of that. When he was at his lowest, drinking and taking too many drugs, you made him stand on his feet. When he was acting like a jackass, you acted like one too until he calmed down. When you met, you looked past his temper issues and impressive love life to see him for the man he was. When it came to the terms of having a partner, you were the best person for Hopper. The best one had ever met.

"How you're doin’?" - He asked with a boyish smile when the wedding register spoke to the guests. You nodded, gulping quietly, looking at his palms holding yours. Jesus, he was looking good. He was looking great. If you'd have the chance, you'd undress him as soon as could.

"Pretty good, you?" - You whispered back, finally starting to smile. You didn't know shit from what the man next to you was talking about, the only thing you could see was James just... Smiling. Something about vows woke you up from the trance, looking around to see Steve handing you the cards you have written. Neither of you wanted to have some normal-ass pathetic vows. With your sense of humor, it was clear that this will make a lot of people chuckle.

"James Hopper." - You started, already having a nasty grin on your face. - "We already know that we can make it at our worst and our best. We already tested that we can go through both healthier times and even the times when things aren’t... Exactly good. I promise to occasionally fold your clothes if you'll promise me to start my car in the winter. I promise that I’ll cook you a warm dinner every evening as long as you'll promise me that you'll even come home." - You finished, cracking your mom again. She had her eyes already completely red and Hopper didn't even start. No-one knew what you're talking about, but that was what made the vows even funnier.

"Miss Y/N Y/L/N, soon to be Hopper. I know that I already promised you a lot of things and there will be more things to come, for sure. I have promised you a bed and I delivered it to you. I now promise you in front of everyone that I will repair you the gramophone every time you manage to break it again, I will paint every room in the pomelo color if you ask me to, I will fold my clothes and maybe try to do the laundry sometimes and mostly, I won't ever let anyone hurt you." - He looked you in the eyes, having you on the edge of crying as well. - "And if they will, I will hurt them back."

You both were shaking when you were putting on the rings. Hopper had almost broken your ginger, having you burst out with laughter. When you finally had it on, he kissed it with a warm smile, looking you in the eyes. You’ve done the same thing once you managed to slip it onto his hand. And the sweetest part was when you were finally allowed to kiss him. It was a miracle that you didn't swoop him off his feet since you pulled him down hungrily. They were right. Once the formalities were over and once you signed the piece of paper with both your former surname and the new one, the stress faded away. Happiness overtook the ruddle, having you live your best life.

And when you finally took the dress off, changing into a pair of jeans, your old Converse shoes, and a nice shirt, you were finally feeling it - not until the first dance, of course. The golden ring was looking spectacular on your left hand, being put directly above the silver one you've accepted twice. It also felt heavy, but that was a thing that will go away.

The party started great with you and Hopper taking all of the traditions that came with weddings - cutting the cake, breaking a plate, throwing your flower into the crowd of women, eating from one plate, dancing with Jim and your dad, opening the presents and cards... And of course, there there were the speeches.

Hands down, your parents’ speech made you cry. Aiden made you chuckle. The kids had the most chaotic speech of the evening, six of them trying to talk at one time. Jules told you not to be dumb and to listen to James, at which you rolled your eyes. Joyce made herself cry and Jim’s eyes water, while Jonathan and Nancy’s speech was more about wishing you luck. But Steve Harrington, boy oh boy, wasn’t he something? His speech left you crying.

"So, good evening everyone, my name’s Steve and I’m living in Hawkins since... Ever. And the thing I'm notoriously famous here is the way I was trying to win Mrs. Hopper for years. For your information, I was the best friend of her dearest brother and she often reminds of the times when she saw me running naked around their pool, so, thanks for destroying my self-confidence because no-one is better at it than you." - Steve started on a comedic note, having you laugh into James’ shoulder. He was laughing as well, smoking. - "I won't tell you more about my romantic failures, since, this evening is supposed to be a happy one." - Steve smiled and made you a toast. Nancy was worried that maybe, since he wasnt the best at this type of activity, he’ll say something about the second world war or that he'll start talking about his grandpa, but Jonathan just chuckled at that.

"And I can fell that it is a happy evening for everyone here. The food was great, the ceremony was sweet and you guys are the most adorable couple I've seen ’till this day. Thank you for allowing me to be here with you." - Steve ended and drank a bit of his champagne and so did you. But as always, there was something off about the taste. You frowned, trying to figure out what is wrong with it.

"What's that face for?" - Hopper whispered, kissing the top of your head.

"The wine and the cake... I don't know, Jim, it tasted way better when we were picking it." - You said honestly, having Jim nodding at your remark.

"If you don't like the taste, don't eat it and drink it. What about dance now when we’re done with the speeches? It was lovely, but my ass hurts." - James whispered again, having you laugh and nod. You danced the whole night, not having a single alcoholic drink. But Jules was a different story. Steve from biology had to walk her home because she wouldn't make it on her own. Most you loved dancing with the kids - these lunatics had such dance moves that you didn't know where they got it from, especially Lucas and Dustin.

It was a long day, but once Hopper carried you inside the house, you made exactly what newly wedded couple is supported to do once they arrive home. Eleven was staying at Wheeler’s, which was kind of a gift they gave you. Without telling too many details, you fucked in almost every room in the house, which left Hopper destroyed, laying in the bed at four a.m.

Yet you couldn't fall asleep. Why? Because while your hubby slept in your bed, your face was inside the toilette the whole time. And something on the back of your head was telling you that maybe, it isn't the nerves as Robin told you.

[courtorderedcake]

Hallow : ch V - CSSNS 2019

“The Goblin King was prepared to host the Darkness, stealing Fae women away to their corrupted lands underneath the ground as concubines. The Darkness chose another in his stead, but not before this selected vessel enacted a devastating attack in its vengeance, revealing its hatred & rage. The battle was a lesson the old kings had forgotten; never underestimate an opponent.

Many more lives were lost as they razed over any who dared defy The Goblin King’s will. Only the pure love of our rulers united in matrimony, breaking the Vorpal Dagger, sealed the darkness and the Goblin menace away. The light flourished under their fair rule, and the queen bore a child as pure as moon beams, swan feathers, and starlight. They lived happily ever after, and shall be written in history as Heroes for All Time.”

This is the history Princess Emma memorizes from the day she is born, paraded about and presented only with the highest protection. The palace is a cage she wishes to escape, desperately. Not careful what wishes she made, Emma discovers history is written by the victors - The Dark One has an entirely different version of the events that took place.

Read on AO3 here.

Rated E for explicit themes, Mature situations, and Fae fuckery.

Written for @cssns

Ch 5 / ?? - In which shit goes to hell

Emma did not see Killian again for over a week, which was almost a blessing in its own right. It allowed her to fully gain Elsa’s friendship and respect, a fact which delighted both Ingrid and Anna in turn. At first. 

They soon discovered that Emma and El sa were a pair to be reckoned with, though, which ended with Anna shrieking and throwing pillows at them when Elsa discovered a poem from Anna’s long term boyfriend.

“An Ode to Anna, Princess of Reindeer,” she read, as Emma laughed and Anna tried to snatch the piece of colored, smooth parchment back. “‘While one has antlers and in the forest hides, I only wish I could lay a crown as lovely, before you were my bride.’ Oh Anna, how romantic, Kristoff has outdone himself. I especially love the part about how he wants to ride you as well -" 

Anna went scarlet from forehead to fingers, the blush making her eyes blaze as they wrestled. Emma knew she was missing the butt of some joke, but it still took a few passes for them to explain - and by them, of course, she meant Elsa only, as Anna was too scandalized to contribute. 

"We’ve been together for decades, it’s cold here, and we aren’t getting any younger!” Anna protested. “Plus, he’s dreamy in his coat, his nose is always warm, and his pockets fit both of our hands with a sandwich to boot. Perfect man." 

Emma was rapidly discovering that courting was very different than even the most modern standards at home. Here, relationships were loud, heady, and were what Anna called 'the most progressive in modern history’. Elsa only rolled her eyes, and muttered about it being about time that women could wear pants. At Emma’s pressing, they showed her another glossy photo book similar to the one that Ingrid had given her, this one a 'Fashion Magazine’. 

Pale women graced the pages, sporting large teeth - some gapped, much to Emma’s fascination - stick-like long eyelashes, and long pin-straight hair falling to improper lengths. They wore the same long dresses in floral patterns that were similar to those in Emma’s wardrobe back home, only with no bodice, petticoat, or undergarment. Elsa flipped the pages to show Emma a woman with a bright pink bubble in her mouth, her eyelashes long and rimmed with kohl and a shockingly bright cobalt liner, her hair piled high on her head behind a thick white band like a cone. 

"A beehive. They’re all the rage. I guess that even Twiggy, Jackie O, and Mia Farrow have been spotted with them.” Elsa flipped a page to a skinny woman in a scarf, shiny white boots, and a scandalous dress. Emma sucked in a breath, feeling like a child being caught with illicit materials. The other women didn’t bat an eye, Anna flipping until the page displayed a darker, olive skinned woman with freckles and cloud-like curly brown hair wearing a shirt and breeches made of denim material. Emma’s mouth fell open in surprise; pants apparently were breeches, and not made of supple leather or soft calico, but of cotton denim. 

“It’s soft, I have a pair. They wash them so they aren’t scratchy like cattle sacks,” Elsa supplied. 

“I prefer skirts myself, still. I like to model myself after Audrey Hepburn or Grace Kelly. The classics, you know,” Anna said, and Emma tried to nod in agreement though she was terribly confused. 

The week dragged on like this, no one too worried about Killian missing. 

“He’ll show up when he decides he can forgive himself, so we can forgive him in turn. Or when he wants to be fed,” Ingrid said on the fourth night, as they settled in to watch a horror film playing on what they called a 'television’. Her voice fell to a teasing bitter tone, and she gave Emma a wry smile. “It’s why we don’t go and get a cat; it would have competition. He wasn’t always this intense, but even before that parasitic leech he needed space to realize what an idiot he is.”

They ate popcorn and drank hot chocolate, Emma convincing them to try it with cinnamon. It was a hit with everyone, especially when the movie became terrifying and they huddled behind pillows. Emma had never seen any Fae that terrified her, but this was a monster and not a Fae at all, and a swamp monster at that. Its dead, cold eyes as it tried to catch its young victim made Emma feel ill. They reminded her of Nil. 

Emma’s sleep that night was difficult and filled with shadows, shapes she couldn’t discern or make out, and hallways with no end. Waking with a start, she was relieved when she found all of them asleep under a blanket, together on the couch. 

Life dragged on and the comfort of a routine helped some as Emma tried to make sense of everything new all at once. Killian was still nowhere to be found, an absence Emma sorely needed to collect her thoughts. She needed time to plan her next moves. Ingrid, Elsa, and Anna were ready to help with anything they could, armed with advice and suggestions. 

Chewing on a piece of chocolate cake, Anna addressed Emma over the books she was reading. Nemo had a large study full of books on the old lands and their culture, along with detailed notes. Taking advantage of this Emma spread them over the table and studied them for anything that might be of use. “So, when he comes back, don’t let him treat you any less than what you are. You need to treat him like the asshat he is. Build up some walls and armaments, you know?" 

Emma sighed, resting fingers on the bridge of her nose. "I have walls, Anna. I have armaments. I don’t like that I have to trust or rely on him any more than I like being away from my home.”

“Do you think he knows that? Challenge him. Challenge us!” Ingrid said, smirking. “Take no shit, Emma. You’re a princess, and your own general now. Your own commander. That demands confidence and respect.”

Elsa pulled the piece of cake from Anna, earning her a playful slap, as she joined the conversation. “Be like your mother. Assertive and dangerously graceful, ice and fire.”

Emma thought of her mom, how quickly and quietly she could dominate a conversation to turn it in her favor. How hard her gaze could be, how her brows furrowed as she asked a question that ensnared her prey. Her face of triumph when she was using a bow during target practice or on a hunt, or using her tongue to land centering marks in a debate. Feared and adored, respected and admired. 

When she tried to imagine that on herself, it felt wrong. How could she ever compare? 

*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ

Killian let himself stay away longer than normal, an eerie feeling of being followed something he couldn’t shake off. It had started in a dark cave somewhere in Africa, as he lurked in an antechamber waiting until he could move somewhere less damp. 

It persisted through his next changes in locale, before he finally sat down in a dusty bar in the rolling plains of what was now called America. Nothing about the name America made any sense; however, after some light reading and chats with the Arren women, he had come to conclude nothing about America made much sense at all - least of all, why it was not called what the Indigenous or Northmen had named it. The bar was named even more nonsensically; a squat shack that was more rust than anything else in this neverending dustbin of nothingness was not exactly a 'Tree House’.

Killian ordered two glasses of rum, sliding one over slightly, the person who had followed him sitting down without hesitation. Her skin was tan, but her eyes were tired under her cropped blonde haircut. 

“Tink,” Killian grunted slightly, her dagger’s point pressing hard into his groin. “To what do I owe thi-" 

"Listen. I’d like to make this quick and easy enough for both of us. I know you have the princess within your grasp. I have a friend who wants to ally with her. It’s complicated, but I trust you. I will be here, on these nights. Come see me. Dress nice.” She drank her rum in a flash, leaving a hearty tip and a business card, then disappeared as if she’d never even been there at all. 

He drank his own glass before picking up the business card. In ivy green ink, the front stated boldly 'Tink Rebel - Siren - DJ’; on the back were a few sporadic dates and an address. There was no way to trust her, but it was better than any other lead he’d gotten. 

It’s the only lead you’ve gotten. Magic is all but forgotten or mere banished remnants here; it should be easy to get the shard.  

“And it should be just as easy finding someone else to watch over the princess as well? Do you think we can find some ponce to pawn her off on, so we can be free of this?” Killian asked wryly, slipping the card into his pocket before stepping into the night’s shadows. 

That too. The further away she is from us the better. See if Tink can recommend a short cliff with a long fall. 

“Aye.” He disappeared again, leaving a long trail behind before returning to the nearest point he could that would get him to Ingrid’s. The walk was long, but not unwelcome. 

When he arrived it was dusk, a note on the door explaining the stillness of the house: Ingrid and Elsa were delivering a wedding cake, Anna was with her paramour, and Emma was 'practicing’. Elsa had even scribbled a little note for the princess, telling her that there was salve in the cupboard. Practicing? What could she possibly have to practice? Elsa and Emma were now on a first name basis? What all had he missed? 

Killian found Emma on the patio, the night air cooling as her she focused intently on repetitive strikes with a sword. She did not seem to notice his arrival at all, continuing to practice blocking an enemy, then parrying. 

Clearing his throat she turned with surprise, her body immediately in a well practiced defensive stance. Interesting. The princess was not a novice in swordplay. 

“Care to duel?” he teased, raising an eyebrow. 

She lowered the weapon, shaking her head. “You’re not worth it." 

His blood lit, temper flaring. "Oh? Well, don’t you sound confident. Haughtiness doesn’t suit your temperament; aren’t you supposed to be good at needle point? Swordplay is quite a bit out of the wheelhouse of the 'demure’ princess act." 

"My father is the best swordsman in the realms. He wanted me to be better, and I…” She got a far off look in her eyes for a moment, then shook it off. “I just wanted to spend time with him. I like to think that I am very good at it." 

"Thinking that you are,” he smirked, letting the Darkness ripple through his skin and muscles, picking up a discarded cutlass from the pile Ingrid must have provided, “does little to prove that you are. Shall we test your mettle, Your Highness?” Killian raised the cutlass in an attacking stance. 

To his great surprise she did not flinch or seem prostrated by this bravado, only shrugging and changing her stance to defend against his chosen style. 

“I don’t go easy on anyone, especially if they underestimate me. Are you sure you want to spar?” The calmness in her words set his teeth on edge, and he answered by throwing himself forward. She didn’t even act surprised, moving in a subtle side step that left her in his previous position, her footing incomparable. 

Killian laughed, more surprised than anything. 

“This might actually be fun, especially since there’s no welcoming party for me tonight.” He circled her, and she mirrored his steps in their defensive opposite. “I thought all of you might have missed me a bit more. My ego is wounded.”

“You left without much more than a word,” she huffed and dodged a low arc, parrying away as he dodged to strike her side. She moved quickly, adjusting to try to attack his flank. “They were worried about you. You should apologize. Your ego deserves a good, sound beating anyway." 

"They should worry less. I see that you and Elsa are thick as thieves now, though. There’s that.” Emma fluidly rolled to move in close to him, throwing him off balance and forcing him to fall back in retreat as he regained his footing. Her furious volley made him feel young again, green in the ears. Liam had given no quarter when they practiced either. 

“Elsa is great. She might forgive you if you genuinely apologize,” Emma said quietly, sword against sword, pushing with her weight as he slid the metal blade down towards her neck. He wasn’t a lad practicing with Liam anymore, and the Darkness sang in his veins reminding him of that fact. His blood boiled hot as her advice was drowned out by the buzz in his head. 

You are so weak, so beyond help, that even this castle coddled, custard fed, soft boiled, princess has you on the ropes. She’s the reason Elsa was mad, she’s the reason why all of this is happening, and what would Liam say - 

“Shut up!” Killian swung up in an arc and went after her like a madman, his attacks relentless as she played defense against them, the metal clanging sharply, enough to make his jaw smart. He spun into an attack, kicking out her leg, barely hearing her shout of disapproval. “Shut up, shut up, shut up -" 

With his back turned towards her while he was fighting with the voice in his head, Emma pushed up slightly, kicked hard, and took his legs out from under him, resulting in Killian landing on his back. Emma used her sword to smack his fingers, making him release his sword as he cursed. Killian growled at her as she took both swords and held them crossed in front of his neck. Her face was cool, expression entirely detached from the task in front of her. She had trounced him as if he was half asleep. 

That would not do. 

An outward kick of his boot aligned to connect with her knee, sending Emma falling back a step, while she was knocked out of her concentration by his crooked move. With a well practiced turn he let her sword slide against his shoulder, ripping the cloth of his shirt and digging deep into the flesh, listening with a delighted sense of malice to the horrified sound that came from her mouth. 

She doesn’t know what you are capable of. What the world is capable of.  

Emma was frozen, her breathing unsteady, her hand shaking as he yanked the other blade free of her grip. It fell with a clatter to the tile, and with another kick it slid into a flower bush while Emma looked on helplessly. 

"Do you know,” Killian circled her, her hand jerked free from the pommel as he shrugged the sword from his shoulder and kicked it away, “what people will do to you? Any of the Mortals or Fae that think that you could be a stepping stone, what they’re thinking of? They’re not going to play fair, or think about bad form . Do you think they will stop hunting you, just because of a wound? You’re going to have to fight to the death, Princess." 

Emma made a noise of rebuttal, but it was lost as he pushed her forward against one of the patio’s stone walls. Pinning her there to look in her fearful eyes made the strength the Darkness gave him pulse in his veins, its steady beat a call for more. How could he merely whet his appetite and not feast? 

Make her pay, you cowardly poltroon. Make her hurt. Make her suffer! 

Her hands fumbled, pushing him away as if she could, her movements no stronger than the touch of a butterfly. He caught one of her wrists in his hand with an iron grip, marveling at how dainty it was; it would be so easy to break, the voice in his head loud, so many voices that they were a whine covering any plea she might give.

Emma shifted slightly, eyes changed and no longer panicked as they stared up in fury. Her other hand twisted to reach the chain around her neck, taking the dagger shard that hung there and made a long slash down the hand that trapped her own. 

Killian’s brain registered two things at almost a second apart. The first was that he did not feel the slash of the dagger piece immediately. In his experience, that could mean it was such a precise and quick blade that he had not felt it, or that the pain from the newly made wound was so great, his body could not process it all at once. The second was a brutal confirmation of his thoughts, the answer arriving in an abrupt, agonizing pain that wrapped around the end of his left arm like a venomous snake. 

He threw himself away from Emma, all but shrieking as she approached with concern. 

Emma looked furious, but also terrified, her voice shaking. "I - you can’t do that, how dare you do that! Why would you do that, what is wrong with you! And I - I didn’t cut you that deep -” Her hands reached toward his forearm even as he tried to flinch away. The cut was slight to the point of barely bleeding. She was right; she had barely nicked him in the trail she made down his hand to his wrist, and then a bit longer. 

It felt as though she dipped his hand in fire, while someone rubbed jagged glass up and down his nerves. Killian saw white, the world taken from him in bright flashes that made the Darkness screech. His hand was burning, the world was burning. 

As soon as it had come, it was gone. The same delicate wrist twisted to let slender fingers on her cool hand slide across the scrape, all pain gone, disappearing to next to nothingness. Light poured into him, light that was so vast, so intangible, so heavy in ways that were not bound by any laws Killian knew. The Darkness fled, hid away from what it knew was something ancient that followed no arcane limitations. His shoulder wound closed up as she laid a hand over it, the knitted flesh without an ache or scar that the Darkness would have left. 

The moment she was done, Emma scrambled backward and so did he, the distance as they both caught their breath warranted. 

Killian examined her, watching her shoulders shake and her hair fall in a curtain around her face. There was a dull ache in his hand briefly, but the Darkness was only a far off murmur. It was far too weak to protest when he moved closer, muttering an apology in her direction. 

“I don’t - M'sorry.”

For her part, Emma nodded as she shrank away, before she stood to stare down at him. “You always have so many apologies, Killian. So many times when you could have just been…” Emma trailed off, biting her lip and fighting back emotions. She collected herself with another breath. “You could just try to forego apologies, to try and get it right without having to break someone first. What did you - what did it want you to do to me? What would you have had to apologize for if I hadn’t…”

He could not think of a reply, and if he had, he would not have given it. Emma was right. Watching her walk away, his hand throbbed. Looking down at the long mark, Killian noticed it was reopening, the dull ache starting at the top of his palm making his fingers stiffen and bend. With the princess’s departure, the Darkness crept back in slow increments, and he waited for their own dark magic to do its healing work on his crooked fingers. 

The Darkness pushed at the scrape, its powerful magic attempting to imitate the light that had healed Killian’s shoulder. When nothing happened, the Darkness howled, strange emotions running through it and its vessel. Among the heaviest of them was the Darkness’ terror, and Killian’s feeling of a deep, burning regret, laced with shame. 

*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ

Emma managed to avoid him in ways that grew more cunning with each day that passed. The date was set for their meeting with Tink and entry into the club, preparations being made by everyone in the house as they focused on Emma. He hadn’t even told her about this potential meeting, she had to learn of the development through Elsa, the coward. It was easier for him to disappear that way, his own form of avoidance from the way Ingrid’s ever-knowing eyes immediately narrowed in on the way Emma and he pretended that the other didn’t exist 

Elsa dug out a dagger to match the sword they found for Emma, which Anna helped her practice with. Anna was a surprisingly talented blade fighter, and he could see Emma’s tension ease when Anna volunteered to help her train. He had also seen the quick look of panic at the thought of having to partner with him again. 

She’s scared of you, this goes in our favor. The look of fear there is -  

“Enough.”

You weren’t going to hurt her, just instill a bit of real world fear. We only listed some suggestions of things to tell her, not things to do. Those were ideas, just that. You didn’t act on them, even if you could have. You could have, but you weren’t strong enough. You frightened her and look at how well it worked! 

Killian snorted, scrubbing up his face before giving up and resting his head in his hands. Weak enough? He was plenty weak enough, and the Darkness knew it too, had whispered into his ear things no one should experience, justifications wrapped around each act. ’ She deserves it ’, 'Make her suffer’ , ’ She’s your greatest foe ’, ’ She can’t stop you ’, all hissed over and over, every word made to sound so enticing. The urge to retch came over him, the old pew creaking against his weight as he stood to pace, his bad hand throbbing from its use in his hurry. 

His bad hand. That was the only thing the Darkness seemed concerned about besides the ever-present need for the shard, its few words on the subject curt and bitterly sharp. It had never seen a wound like this. The dagger was meant to control the Darkness, to bind it to a vessel full of vengeance. It could kill the vessel, transferring ownership to another as had been done in ancient times, but that required ceremony. His hand had gone from a dull uncomfortable twinge to throbbing sharp shooting spasms that caused his fingers to stiffen into a  claw like form. He kept his palm wrapped in gauze, alarmed to find the scrape, now a cut, leaving bloody stains. 

Arguing with the Darkness over this was no use. It was its own pain, its own form of torture on top of his penance for attacking Emma. That and the constant echo of Emma’s voice rang in his head like a church bell, sometimes louder than the cacophony that was the Darkness, other times only a gentle tone. If this was his punishment, it was his to suffer alone. The small abbey somewhere in the mountains was far enough to cover their tracks, changing locations to make it harder to use a location spell. It seemed fitting, too, to search for penance in this quiet, snow filled hall, the stained glass and belfry crumbled onto the rough floor. 

You can’t have your freedom without her absolute compliance. She’s not ready for a battle, not ready for the world. If you’re not willing to train her properly, the Goblin will - 

“Please, enough.” Thoughts of the Goblin Prince and what he might do, how close Killian had come to acting like the creatures who had taken Milah, swirled in another deep pull of his gut even as he paced in the cold cathedral. 

She was safe, and you should make sure she learns this lesson. We need her not completely broken, but close, so close, to gain our freedom. And shouldn’t the sheep know that the wolf is -  

“I said enough! Enough.”

Silence finally came, except for the gentle cadence of Emma’s words.

“You could just try to forego apologies, to try and get it right without having to break someone first." 

"What would you have had to apologize for if I hadn't…" 

Killian promised himself that he would never find out. Disappearing with a puff of smoke, he appeared miles outside of town, and began the long walk down the mountain to the shop. Even as the Darkness squirmed under his skin like electric eels, he focused on crafting an apology to Emma to vow that regardless of their dislike for each other, he would never violate her, couldn’t even lay a finger on her without permission due to the dagger’s magic. 

Every word seemed wrong, and by the time he arrived at the shop front to quietly slip back onto the patio, he realized that he was in a deep bloody mess of it. 

*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ

Emma was well accustomed to avoidance. It was an important part of palace survival when everyone wanted you nearby for their vanity, prestige, or to mite out a point in a quarrel, or your least favorite tutor was trying to teach you your least favorite lessons. To think she’d give a king’s ransom just to see Regina’s cross face with her eyebrows almost pinched into one straight line again, to go back to when translation of ancient runes was her greatest worry…  

Someone avoiding her while she avoided them, though, that was new. This was new. Emma found it refreshing as she tried to spin the positives of working with a sociopath. He knew what he’d done, what he’d broken, almost as much punishment as the nightmares he introduced with his actions, or the thought of Nil’s threats made good creeping up on her without warning. Sleep no longer came between worries for those who she left behind to Nil and the Goblins’ wrath and those who she cared for here, further haunted by thoughts about who might be lurking nearby. Elsa or Anna found her asleep in strange places at strange times, Ingrid picking up on the tension immediately like some hunting hound, and all three of them tried to chase down the creature Emma feared. 

How could Emma ever tell them it was Killian? That her fear was how he might lose control because of the demon voice in his head; how he had looked at her and their struggle before he retreated, how he made her feel in the few seconds that he took away her own limited control? 

Elsa and Ingrid continued to push, and Anna watched quietly, observing until she asked Emma up to her room. It was almost dark, dusky colors painting the glimpse of the sea into a rainbow when Emma took Anna’s hand and helped both of them out of her window and onto the roof. Anna had brought a basket full of blankets, a thermos of hot chocolate, and chocolate covered orange peel for both of them, making Emma squint in suspicion. 

"Emma, my family… Well. It’s hard to be the less exceptional one in some ways. Ingrid, Elsa, my mother, and Olaf were all gifted with incredible talent, ice magic passed down through generations. My father had normal or average talent, and I followed after him,” Anna began, handing Emma the thermos cup, laden full of the steaming beverage. She held up a finger to indicate just a moment, sprinkling a small container of cinnamon over the drink. Emma smiled. 

“The thing about being ordinary, or I suppose I should say not extraordinary, is the difference in the sets of problems my sister and I faced, and as such, the way we see the world. Elsa is brave, she’s daring, and she’s far beyond outspoken. Ingrid is the same; they don’t see the purpose in not beating down doors to find what’s behind,” Anna said, nibbling on the orange peel. “For me, it was never that easy. I learned instead to watch, to wait, to listen and learn before rushing ahead to leap. I know that sometimes force is not the way to help." 

Emma tried to interject, but Anna shook her head, laying an arm around Emma’s shoulders. 

"Emma, anyone can see you’re trying to be strong, but I can see you’re hurting.” Emma flinched in her hold, and Anna gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. “It’s okay. You don’t have to tell me anything. You don’t have to say anything, or talk about specifics - you can vent, you can talk, I can talk, or you can ask for advice. I just don’t want you to feel alone, and I want you to feel free to tell me if something happened with no worry of anyone else knowing. I’ll listen, even if it’s just to silence.”

“Anna, I -” Emma began but couldn’t finish, instead crying onto her shoulder in a sudden onslaught of tears. Her hiccuping gasps left Emma feeling like her lungs didn’t work, but Anna was patient, only stroking her hair and soothing her, giving her soft paper handkerchiefs from a box in her basket. 

Emma heard a noise, both of them turning to see Killian pacing the patio, talking to himself as was usual in the evening hours. 

“Emma, I’m not going to pry, but I know that he did something awful to you. I know that he can be truly a terrible person, and that we sometimes protect him too much.” Anna looked from Killian to Emma, her lips a straight line in concern. “I will be damned, though, if he touched you, if he acted in any way less than a gentleman; I will gut him myself -" 

"He didn’t. Not really. We were sparring and he was suddenly so angry. It was like a switch went off, he just lost control. He scared me. He terrified me, because I thought he might do something, I thought he’d be like Nil. He stopped -”

“I’ll kill him myself if you like; he’s bound to never hurt any of us, that disgusting -" 

"No,” Emma started, reaching for Anna. “That’s just it. He stopped, and he looked just as terrified as me. I don’t think… I think he’s losing a battle too; I think that thing is grinding him down. I could almost hear it, and it’s a constant scream. It’s torture, Anna. I - I don’t think - I think whatever safeguard he has for you, Elsa, and Ingrid, is holding what’s in his head on a tether. I don’t think he was going to hurt me, but I think that thing inside of him wanted me to be afraid. It wants him to doubt himself, to keep him scared too.”

“It’s still not OK, Emma, he still -" 

"It’s not right, and I know that. However, nothing happened and I… This situation we’re in, he’s been alone with that thing in his head for a long time. It’s not the first time I’ve seen him struggle for control and win. I don’t think he would ever do anything to betray the last vestiges of humanity in himself.”

Anna mulled over Emma’s words, weighing them. “Elsa says there’s still good in him if you look for it, but I admit this only to you - that thing is definitely getting louder. I’ll think of something to keep you two away from each other for now.”

“Thanks, Anna,” Emma whispered, resting her head on her knees. 

They went to bed soon after, after Emma accepted Anna’s offer to train with her in the morning instead of Killian with great relief. With her mind focused elsewhere, Emma almost forgot about his existence as they spent the morning and afternoon practicing stances and blows, until Ingrid asked them to go drop off a package at the harbor. 

“No,” Killian said flatly, without looking at Emma. 

As Anna raised her palm and started to speak, Ingrid gave her a withering look that Anna returned with her own glare. “I’ll go, it’s not a big deal -" 

"You have chores to attend to, and are minding the shop. The princess has not seen our harbor, and needs a chaperone. Specifically, her chaperone, and the one that is charged with protecting her while she is in our care. Unless he has decided to forego protecting her, in which case I will personally make sure that he cannot step foot in this home again.”

“It’s fine,” Emma shrugged. “It’s not a big deal. To the harbor and back, maybe an hour or so. Let’s not make a fuss.”

Emma walked away to fetch her shoes before anyone could start up again. Waiting outside, she found herself entirely unconcerned with who would be joining her; regarding the sea up close and personal was an experience she needed to count as a win. The sea was a primordial part of what created magic, an element of nature that had long been fought over by many different species. Peace had been hard won for those in the ocean’s depths, and here it was again in danger. If this might be her last chance to see it before either the beginning of a war or her abominable marriage, she would not let anything stand in her way. 

Killian stalked out a few minutes later with nothing more than an affirmative nod at her. She followed in silence, his exasperated body language becoming more and more noticeable. He cleared his throat a few times as if he had something to say, only to end up more tense than before while furiously picking at his ear. Emma had finally had enough with the entire debacle after he practically ran into another woman while mulling his thoughts. The drop off itself was quick, but when she did not turn in the direction of home immediately, he began to press her. 

“We’re done here, aren’t we?”

“I have other things I’d like to do,” she replied firmly, with a slight shrug of dismissal. “Go back, or do something else if you like. It doesn’t matter." 

"No. If I show up without you, Ingrid will throw me out on the bloody streets! Do whatever it is on your own fucking time, princess, I’m not -” Killian’s voice grew louder, but Emma interrupted with a sigh. 

“Killian, I’d appreciate it if you could just…” Emma trailed off, her voice tired. “Just try and be a good person, a gentleman, just until I get to see the ocean, finally. I’ve already forgiven you, and I can’t have you ruin this for me too.”

Killian sputtered, his face turning from calm to angry in a flash, then almost just as quickly becoming impassive once more. It would have been amusing, if she had been willing to tolerate his behavior. He stayed quiet, unsettling so, as she took in the sea. The silence itself was surprisingly companionable, both of them sitting on the pier’s edge, the port bustling with brightly colored fishing boats. The sun dipped lower, finally settling into the sea and spreading out blankets of pinks on the horizon. 

“Thank you,” Emma whispered, and Killian grunted. Emma refused to turn to look at him, but let her words spill over into the darkening water. “We don’t have to like each other, but that - when we were sparring - that can’t happen again Killian. I need to trust you enough to know that you would never -" 

Killian made to start speaking and Emma waved her hand in an attempt to make him stop. 

"No. Listen. I am not saying that - I know that wasn’t your intention when this happened. You caught yourself, you didn’t - You didn’t let it push you into becoming someone you aren’t, even under all of… you didn’t let yourself. I just need the promise that you won’t let that thing take over you, that you won’t let it master you when you have control. That thing wants me destroyed.”

Killian swallowed hard, and took a moment before answering. “I don’t know if I can promise you that.”

“You need to. If we are going to be allies, you need to.” Emma sighed. 

“I found a potential ally for you. I can promise for now that I want to be free, and I will not find freedom within the Darkness.”

Beautiful lies. Let’s see how perceptive the princess is, hmm?  

“For now, that will have to do.” Emma sighed, and stood up, finally ready to return. 

*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ

Being around humans was grating enough when Killian was not in a hurry, but being around humans while under a time crunch, especially ones that tried to flirt or were too nervous - it was hell. 

The styles of human fashion had changed markedly in the time that Ingrid had resettled with her nieces, allowing Emma several wardrobes to choose from in both past and present clothing. Ingrid was taller, but with a quick hem all of her clothing fit the princess well enough, and Elsa or Anna’s outfits fit her perfectly. 

Killian could find nothing that fit in what was left of Liam’s or Nemo’s clothing, and even if he could, breeches and a tufted tunic did not seem to be 'en vogue’. With a little research and a brilliantly orchestrated bribe of the women getting to dress Emma, he’d found a shop in the city that carried the newest trends in what this ruddy century considered clothes. They called it post-modernist, or mod - the contrast of black, white, and primary colors or prints more of a headache to Killian than cohesive. 

The saleswoman had been tinted red from the second she came to help him with his measurements, pulling out an animal print suit that he immediately refused, then another in an itchy fabric she called corduroy. After many attempts, he settled on a few garments, and hoped that Emma didn’t have nearly as much trouble with whatever Anna or Elsa cooked up. 

Killian heard her protests behind the door as he adjusted the neck of the damned clothing that this world had made popular. Anything called a 'turtleneck’ shouldn’t be a mainstream garment, but here he was wearing one in black, tucked into charcoal and blue checkered linen trousers with a matching 'sport’ coat. Plaid, was the word for it, the saleswoman had informed him of its pattern name, completely flustered by him when he walked out from the dressing room with it on in the shop; his hope that this would be inconspicuous was already in question.

Emma protested loudly again, and he heard Elsa and Anna laugh brightly while Ingrid made clucking sounds with her tongue. 

Stepping closer, Killian tried to separate their voices. 

“There’s nothing -” Emma stammered, her voice high and wavering. 

Elsa soothed back, voice dangerously sugary, her preferred way of convincing a customer to try a new dessert. “That’s the style. It’s Modernist, all the rage in the cities.”

“My legs! - and arms! No, no way Elsa, and these tall slippers are -" 

"Heels, Emma, they’re heels ,” Anna supplied. “You look amazing, and I mean it. In this realm, this is a deal maker and what the women wear out -" 

"There is nothing to this! I can’t possibly convince someone to ally with me wearing -" 

"Oh, you’d be surprised. I almost put you in my go-go boots before deciding on the heels. And it will get you inside, which is what matters. If you have to, you can find more clothing. Plus, Ingrid did some light enchantment work on your bag. Your sword is in there should you need it, and I put in some hair pins and lipstick,” Elsa said matter of factly. “Now then. Come on, let’s get one last look at you -" 

There was movement behind the door again, along with more protests, before the door swung wide open in front of Killian - much to his surprise and Emma’s shock to see him waiting. 

Emma stood at his height, or maybe just below, dark kohl lining her eyes and making them look like cut emeralds in their sharpness, contrasted with a soft pink color on her cheeks and lips. Her hair was pinned up loosely and messily gathered in the back, strands pulled loose over her shoulders and by her temples, the ends falling on the simply cut blue of the dress she wore. Strange slipper sandals with impractical straps climbed just above her ankles, the heel far too high for any sort of work, and she wobbled dangerously in unsteady excitement. A sharp 'V’ in the fabric neck of the blue dress let her collarbones brazenly peek out with the top of her breasts, no corset or undergarment evident, with a dropped waist that slightly flared out to end abruptly at her thighs, showing off long legs that seemed to never end. Her shoulders were bare as well, sun-kissed skin everywhere on display as she tried to pull the fabric down with one nervous hand. 

Focus! What is wrong with you?

The Darkness was ignored and unheard. Killian found himself unable to speak for a long moment as Emma’s cheeks reddened deeply, the flush spreading down her chest so quickly he could follow its path, making his mouth dry. 

"I can’t leave in this if he is going to make faces and mock me the whole time -” Emma began, growing even more flustered when the other three women burst into peals of laughter. “Please, there has to be a longer gown than this -" 

Killian cleared his throat, unsure if he would be able to speak without his voice cracking, leveling a glare at Elsa. "I agree. This - this won’t work. She needs to be able to move, to not stand out -" 

Mumbling something, a flash of magic caught Emma’s shoes with a silvery hue. "There. Stability charm.” Ingrid nodded. “High boots were all the rage in the Court for some time. This charm saved my neck before. You should be just fine now.”

“As for moving and standing out,” Elsa purred, holding Emma’s shoulders and giving Killian a salacious look of amusement, “the charm and her bag should be just fine for any trouble you may run into. She’d stand out if she didn’t wear something trendy, especially with it being such a warm spring. Or are you implying that Emma stands out for another reason?" 

The air crackled between them, the bait in Elsa’s questioning apparent to everyone but Emma, who looked perplexed.

"Killian, I don’t like it either. I can find something in their closet that is -” Emma began, reaching her hand towards him. He flinched away, Elsa giggling once more before Anna gave her a sharp pinch. Even the Darkness stayed quietly observant, as unsteady and unaware as Emma in this regard. 

Killian scrubbed a hand over his face furiously, giving them all a thin smile. “No, no, Elsa knows best about these things. Come on then, shall we? I don’t want her getting any more bright ideas .” Emma stepped around him, looking back confused as she stepped down the stairs to head outside, all of them giving her encouraging looks. When she was out of reach, Ingrid simply shrugged and excused herself, while Elsa grinned widely. Shaking her head, Anna watched bemusedly as Killian mouthed he was going to kill them, and Elsa mouthed back Good luck . 

Emma waited for him on the terrace, glowing softly in the star light, bag clutched tightly in hand. She bit her lip, anxiety written across her face. 

“We don’t have to do this, love. If you aren’t ready, that is. We can train longer, work our way up to this, or have them meet under other circumstances.” His whispered attempt at reassurance fell flat to his own ears, so it was no surprise when she shook her head. 

“I’m done waiting. I can’t wait any longer; every day that passes means it’s more likely that…” Emma looked down, taking a deep breath. “Let us be done with this.”

“Aye.” Offering his hand, she slipped her own palm against his and curled her fingers to rest interwoven with his. They took a step together and were gone. 

*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ

Emma was unprepared for the combined smell of too many people, urine, and acrid smoke when they landed on the strange hard ground that made her teeth rattle at the impact. She gripped Killian tightly, resting her head against his chest as his jacket fluttered against her cheek in the wind and he let his arms hover inches away from her before lowering them to his side. 

“Princess?” he asked gruffly and she sighed, pulling away to steady herself on her own. 

Emma pressed a finger to her temple; there was another beat that came through the ground, far more unsteady as it rose up. The thumping noise made her feel off kilter. “Sorry,” she murmured, looking around. 

Across the street, lights swung back and forth, lighting in different colors and patterns to what Emma was now realizing was a beat. She stepped towards it and saw a line of people waiting near a single entrance, strange words swimming across a black panel of lights. People jostled her as she tried to get closer to read what the lights said, but it looked like they were in a different language. She looked for Killian to ask, but he was nowhere in sight. 

A blaring noise came from her left, two large lights approaching quickly, too fast for her to stop. What was this beast - 

Hands pulled her roughly back onto the crowded walkway, a pair of blue eyes under wildly curled blonde hair incredulously staring at her. 

“Are you trying to get killed, lady?” the other woman hissed. Emma blinked, staring at her. “Watch where you walk, okay? You’re going to get flattened by these asshole drivers if you don’t. Your boyfriend there should have warned you." 

Killian came into view, staring at both of them with annoyance. 

"Bloody hell, Emma, I looked up for two seconds and you were gone -" 

"And in the middle of the street, looking up,” the stranger pointed out. 

“And in the middle of the street looking up, at gods know what -" 

"Where I saved her from a car hitting her,” the stranger added again. 

“Where she saved you from - Bloody brilliant, you almost got hit by a motorized contraption. Taking you to the city was an awful idea, I should have - ugh. Because that’s just a bloody brilliant way of making mates -" 

"So this isn’t your boyfriend then. This is your father?” the strange woman questioned, and Emma felt her cheeks flush deeply, Killian looking at both of them in disgust. 

Emma tried to stammer out a few nos, but not before Killian supplied something suspiciously sounding like 'bugger all’. 

“If he’s some sort of sugar daddy, that’s fine too, no judgements. It’s the 60s babe, free love and love free, ya know? Just making sure he’s with you, should be watching a pretty lady like you -" 

"She’s nothing to me,” Killian stated harshly. Emma sucked in a breath, but the stranger only shrugged unperturbed. 

“Right then. I’m Alice. Since I saved your, er, nothing person here, if you happen to be heading into the Never, do you think I can get in with you? You both look very posh I must say.” Alice said, giving Emma a little spin. “M'own not 'nothing person’, we call them a girlfriend, is in there somewhere. I haven’t seen her in weeks, and she hasn’t been home or to the usual or unusual places. You catch my drift?" 

"Yes, we’ll get you in!” Emma replied, laughing lightly. 

At the same time, Killian issued a firm, “No." 

Alice sighed deeply. "I hate to beg, but I will. Please. Her stage name is Cheshire, but her real name is Robyn. I’m desperate." 

Emma looked at Killian, her eyes pleading. He shook his head, crossing his arms. "Absolutely not. You’ve already almost died out here; we’re getting in and out of here as quickly as possible without any more of your nonsense. Now come on.”

Pulling Emma’s arm roughly and walking across the street as the cars stopped one by one, Alice scrambled to follow. The line parted around them, leading to two large guards at the door with name tags on their bulky, overly large black suits: T. Dee one stated, the other T. Dum . Emma wondered how two different people could look so entirely like each other, and be so vastly but unnameably different. 

“We’re on the list,” Killian gritted through his teeth, the noise and heavy beats of the music making it difficult to hear. “KJ and E.”

Alice tugged on Emma’s bag gently, pointing out the marquee above, the black banner with its blinking lights. “It says in Greek, 'Θαύμα Ποτέ Νησί’. Never Worry Land. Never Wonder Land.”

Despite the heat of the evening, a chill ran up Emma’s spine. 

“Yep. Yer right here,” one of the men said, pulling aside a red velvet rope while the other opened a door for them. 

Squaring her shoulders, Emma spoke as firmly and loudly as she could. “She’s with us too,” nodding at Alice. The woman’s eyes went wide, and the guards at the door narrowed their squinting glares. Killian’s nails bit into her flesh until the two guards looked at each other and shrugged, letting them all enter. 

Past the entrance, Alice launched herself at Emma, laughing and crying at the same time. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, you beautiful woman. I - we, me and Bynni, we owe you.” She turned to Killian and stared at him, almost like she could see right through him. “We owe you too, so consider this: be nicer to her. Μπορεί ακόμα να σας σώσει." 

Killian bristled, letting go of Emma in contempt. The inside of the club was dark, but the bars and dance floor shone with bright and strange combinations of lights, sound, and color. Women writhed in cages that moved around the large dance floor, the size of which was comparable to a small ballroom. 

Elsa had been right about her attire. If anything, Emma was modestly dressed compared to the strips of fabric some of the women were wearing, hips and buttocks on complete display as they undulated. Killian motioned for her to listen, and she peeled her eyes away to regard his face. 

"No more bullshit, Emma. You have to listen now.” She nodded, and Killian seemed to relax more, staring at their surroundings. “I have to find our contact, Tink. She said she would be at the far end of the dance floor, so stay here. I’ll be back shortly.”

“Yes sir. No more disobedience.” Emma gave a mock salute and he bristled even more. 

“Just stay here, look pretty, and act nice. You know,” Killian smirked and let his anger volley in a faux sympathetic tone. “What you’re good at.” Emma looked as if she’d been struck, and he smiled a pitying grin, her glare following him. 

He made it a few steps away before returning, remembering his dire warning. “This is the most important thing, I almost forgot.” His voice was deadly serious in contrast to the smug sarcasm he had just displayed. “Do not drink or eat anything they give you. Not a morsel. Do you understand?" 

Emma nodded, and Killian raced off towards the dance floor. 

  The music of the club was overwhelming, thrumming through her body. She watched Killian disappear into the mass of people, heading towards a raised platform with large speakers on either side. A woman stood, raising her hand with a strange ear warming device on her head, a short green dress that was covered in glitter fitted to her like a second skin. 

Killian had instructed her to stay where she was, so she leaned against a tall chrome stool watching everything with interest. A man with a saccharine smile grinned at her from behind the counter, the walls behind him filled with various colored bottles of spirits. He seemed too young to be there, a child-like mischief behind his smile, but one marked with a strangely malicious intent. Emma shivered. She didn’t like the way the man’s eyes gleamed as he looked at her with that same look that pricked at a familiar uneasiness.

“Can I get you a drink, Miss?” he said, and his voice was like sweet cream. “On the house.” She didn’t see him make any movement, but a drink suddenly appeared in front of her. It smelled of vanilla, strawberries, honey, and sugared plums. Killian’s warning played over in her head.

Do not drink or eat anything they give you. 

A tag was on the bottom of the drink. Had that been there before? She pulled it between her fingers, almost upsetting the martini glass. A picture of two rabbits sitting on a flower bed while toasting drinks was etched on the yellowing paper, inky ornate cursive flowing along the bottom. Drink Me . Strangely, if she put the tag down, the image from afar looked like something else entirely but her brain could not place what. 

Emma put it down and went to move away when a gaggle of women pulled her to the dance floor. Emma was spun, twirled, and swallowed by the dancing crowd. The music had changed, moving through her body like a delicious current. Her dress suddenly made sense - everything was hot and slick, the scrap of a dress almost too much fabric on her skin now. In front of her, a pair of brown eyes met hers, and a woman ground against her, gyrating her hips into Emma’s to the beat of the music. Hands behind Emma grasped her hips, and another woman, a redhead with dull gray eyes stroked up and down her sides. Emma felt overcome, the movements overwhelming. Swaying slightly, she tried to press through the crowd and back to the bar, but could not move through the group that seemed to only knit tighter around her. 

The world twisted again, and a muscular, lean, dark skinned man grabbed her in a dip, hands low on her thigh as he brought her leg up in the air. Pulling her close again, they spun in an elaborate tango before he twirled her into a tanned blonde man that made a cat-like purring noise, the dancers around Emma moving closer and making movements that left her breathless. Martinis were being passed again, tags being thrown in the air and raining down on sweaty skin. A waiter with the same gleaming eyes as the man behind the counter smiled that same saccharine smile that belied something dark just below the surface.

“Try a drink, Miss.” He had the exact same voice as the other man, and she backed away. “Just a sip, they’re delicious.” 

Emma refused again, now pushing against the flow of the throng of writhing bodies. Another group of women pulled her into a grind, the pressure intense, their hands roaming free on her body. Everything felt deliciously good, and she forgot why she was so frightened before as soft, gloss covered lips kissed a trail down her neck. Behind her, two women touched trails down her sides with rough finger pads, one gently tugging her hair, the other alternating small nibbles on her ear lobe while running nails down her exposed shoulder. They were all whispering at once, and Emma’s mouth was so dry.

“Have a drink, try a sip. Drink it, it tastes amazing!” 

Emma’s knees went weak as it felt like thousands of hands were on her, stroking her in exquisite torture. Scratchy moans turned to whispers and breathless gasps of the same words.

“Have a drink.”

Pleasure coursed through her body as Emma rolled her body and spun to the music. Her head was blessedly empty, she had no worries, and what would one drink do? It couldn’t hurt; Killian wasn’t exactly the most trustworthy, so it very well could be she should drink it. 

Something in her mind wriggled, and she realized that her eyes were closed. She opened them to see Killian struggling to get to her, Alice with him looking horrified as he tried reaching out his hand and shouting words that she couldn’t hear over the music. 

The dagger around her neck glinted, reflecting the bright lights that littered the ceiling. Light hit a dancer, the redhead with the dull eyes, and to her growing terror, Emma saw that the woman was falling apart. A skeleton with dripping remnants of flesh jumped with the crowd and ground her hips with a decaying man. Bodies pushed hard against her as she tried to reach for Killian. She saw more of the waiters giving out drinks, the liquid sloshing in their glasses. The redhead threw back a martini after clinking it against the decaying man’s glass, and suddenly they were young again. Emma screamed but could not be heard over the din. 

Killian tried to grasp her outstretched hand, fingers barely touching her own, but several of the suited waiters were surrounding her. The man behind the counter held out a drink, and with the illusion broken, she could see the viscous, bile yellow drink in the glass, noting the sour smell it permeated the air with. Emma couldn’t hear anything but the music and the chanting of the men with their gleaming eyes, the same four words somehow superimposed over the music.

“Have a drink, Miss.” One of the waiters tilted her head back, another held her arms, a set anchored each leg, and one secured her jaw open. Killian tried to fight to reach her, but the crowd clawed at him from every angle. 

“Lost Boys! Leave her!”

The man behind the counter smiled as recognition dawned on Emma, her panicked noises swallowed by the song.

The yellow liquid poured down her throat, and as soon as the glass was empty she could hear the moans and screams of agony in the music’s shrill tones. Her body felt tired, leaden, and the room spun as she felt what could only be described as a thread being cut in her solar plexus. A force pushed her deep into her mind, swimming through darkness towards a small window of sight, watching her entire body move under someone else’s control. 

A low, oily, familiar, voice spoke from the depths of the darkness. “Emma? How amusing, it feels like ages since you and I last spoke!” It laughed, and through the window of what should have been her eyes, she watched erratic movement that must be dancing. She could now see the truth of what this place was, the glamour lost as some strange magic controlled her. “Well Emma, you’re mine now. A Lost Girl, one of Pann’s very own menagerie.”

A memory swam through her mind.

Granny had told her grandchild legends to scare her into bed at night. Granny would never deign to tell such tales in front of Emma, but Ruby on the other hand was happy to oblige. When they snuck out at night and drank honeyed wine on a secluded balcony, Ruby would try to scare her with the stories of the olden times. 

“So then Granny said,” Ruby hiccuped softly, “that the Fae that got banished, they used to make these circles.” She swayed, making a circle in the air with her finger. Emma was warm and felt herself swaying in the warm winds, looking out over the orchard below. “They made ‘em out of mushrooms, and if a human walked through one, BAM!” She clapped her hands together, and Emma jumped with a giggle. “Part of their collection. The magic would catch the human, and they’d dance forever - you’d see these Fae with humans following falling apart, cursed to dance until they were dust.” She wiggled her fingers for added emphasis, and Emma laughed along with her, imagining a skeleton trying to dance. 

Here in this otherworldly place, humans, creatures, and Fae came to dance under the lights, surrounded by walls painted in strange runes; they came like flies to a glittering spider’s web, eager to be trapped. Dancing without end in pure pleasure, extending their lives as their bodies rotted then renewed again. Forever lost, Lost Boys and Girls for eternity. 

Emma could still feel sensation, but as if through layers of thick wool. Something sticky and wet touched her as she spun, and she felt bony fingers grab her wrist. As if commanded, she looked out to see a skeletal figure gripping her, both of them swaying to the beat. It downed a passed martini glass, becoming a heart faced brunette with glazed eyes, her fingers once again soft on Emma’s wrist. She mumbled quietly, and Emma strained to hear what her own voice repeated back. 

"Have a drink. Have a drink. Just one. Have a drink.”

Pann’s laughter was all around, almost overpowering the sensation of Killian’s arms dragging her away and fighting to free her from the throng. Nails were sharp, blows against them both coming from all sides as Killian pulled her to a door, her purse tight against her, spilling hair pins that he picked up and bent with his mouth. Jamming the pin inside the door’s lock, it took a few wiggles before the door knob turned, the crowd pressing the door closed as Killian held her in the darkened stairwell that lay behind it. 

Emma willed her body to move, only to feel sharp zaps of electric fire race through her, making her shake from the exertion. The only thing she wanted was to go back to the crowd, to drink and dance, her mind fuzzy and warm like a favorite blanket. She couldn’t hear Killian’s frustrated yelling, or feel how he had to grip her shoulders; she only saw his eyes staring at hers in sharp focus as if she had woken from the deepest sleep. 

His hair was askew and his suit was ripped on the shoulder, the sleeve dangling slightly, but Emma could only fixate on the blood that dribbled from his lip. Another long rivulet trailed from his forehead and fell between his eyes. It was closer to the right side as he faced her, one of her trembling hands twitching up to smooth the lines of worry away - 

Emma fell back, her body convulsing violently with the same electrical shocks of pain she had felt before, closing her eyes in an attempt to keep the voice out of her head. 

“Now now, don’t make a fuss, Princess. You are such a prize, I’m so happy you could join my collection instead of someone else’s. The whole United Realms is looking for you! It seems that the Goblin prince is quite taken by your beauty.”

It was like nails on a chalkboard, someone screaming and clawing at her face while Pann laughed. Behind it, Emma felt her weight being pulled, a voice she begrudgingly trusted whispering not to panic.

“Let go. Let go, I’ve got you. Don’t fight it, just rest,” Killian repeated, dragging her body upwards.

Pann’s laugh quieted while Emma faded away, her eyes open and glassy, the world going golden for a brief moment, then dark. 

[wiggly-blue-shite]

First scene of DND Musical

Give me your honest opinions (this is like the second draft of this scene)

Mental casting

Ozzy - Nick Lang

Blake - Jon Matteson (Udoen is his character)

Udoen (Paladin or normal fighter) - Dylan Saunders (more important later)

Peter - Brian Holden (Panril is his character)

Panril (Rouge) - Jeff Blim (more important later)

Mia - Lauren Lopez (Mara is her character)

Mara (Barbarian) - Jim Povolo (more important later)

Eddie - Joey Richter (Stri is his character)

Stri (Bard) - Brian Holden (more important later)

Elliot - Corey Lubowich (can’t spell, Eilnys is his character)

Eilnys (wizard? Some kind of magic user) Rachael Soglin (more important later)

Charlie - Robert Manion (Carella is his character)

Carella (cleric?) - Meredith Stephian (still can’t spell, more important later)

Mom - Jamie Lyn Beatty

Mariah - Mariah Rose Faith (she’s not in this scene but yeah, also that’ll probably not stay her name)

Scene 1. Act 1.

[Various fighting sounds. Lights up. Rad fight sequence upper level, between STRI, MARA, PANRIL, EILNYS, CARELLA, and UDOEN against some orcs. Everything freezes]

OZZY: Your move Blake.

BLAKE: Can I stab this orc, Ozzy?

PETER: I don’t know can you?

MIA: Shut up, Pete.

PETER: Can’t make me!

OZZY: (audibly annoyed) Yes you can stab him.

[lights up on the rest of the set. Lower level, EDDIE, ELLIOT, MIA, PETER, CHARLIE, and BLAKE are sitting around a table. OZZY is at the head of the table. After a moment MOM walks into the upper level from stage left, and starts cooking around the CHARACTERS like they aren’t there]

BLAKE: (rolls d20) 18!

EDDIE: Nice! (High fives)

OZZY: ok now roll for damage

BLAKE: (rolls two d6) 10!

OZZY: ok. (Writes something down. Upstairs UDOEN stabs ORC. The ORC falls to the floor) and he is dead.

EDDIE: (pumped) Three down! Two to go!

OZZY: Charlie it’s your turn.

CHARLIE: I use Sacred Flame on the guy. (points at one of the figurines on the table)

ELLIOT: Nope! He’s out of your range.

CHARLIE: Oh. ok.

OZZY: You can move closer.

CHARLIE: Right. (moves figurine) Now I cast sacred flame.

PETER: (skeptical) Really?

CHARLIE: Yes really.

PETER: (shrugs) Ok.

CHARLIE: Ok? (reaches for the dice. Looks back at PETER, nervously)What is it?

PETER: What is what?

CHARLIE: Exactly!

MIA: (Growing impatient) Go already!

CHARLIE: (sheepishly grabs the d20 and rolls it) Twelve.

OZZY: That hits.

CHARLIE: (Rolls d8) 5 damage. (moment of silence while OZZY writes something down) Nothing happened.

PETER: Yeah.

CHARLIE: Then why were you being all weird!

[PETER shrugs, CHARLIE makes some pissed off sounds. Upstairs CARELLA shoots some magic at an ORC]

OZZY: Mia it’s your turn.

MIA: I think I speak Orcish, can I talk to them?

ELLIOT: Well, they are in fact orcs, they probably speak Orcish.

MIA: (sass master) Well, I’m not going to assume, El!

OZZY: They do speak Orcish.

MIA: Sweet.

PETER: Hey Mia, what’s your Charisma again?

MIA: (a fun mix of embarrassed and pissed) Seven.

[PETER snickers]

OZZY: So what do you want to say to them.

MARA AND MIA: Listen man, we already killed some of your friends. We don’t want to kill you too. So if you could just leave that would be great.

OZZY: Ok roll for… Intimidation I guess.

MIA: (Rolls d20, looks down at die ashamed) Damnit.

EDDIE: Wait what’cha roll?

MIA: Nat one.

[PETER laughs, MIA kicks him under the table]

OZZY: So you saunter up to this orc. You give your speech.

MARA: Listen man, we already…

OZZY: But in the heat of battle this Orc forgot his native tongue.

BLAKE: As one does.

[MOM starts down the steps with snacks in hand]

OZZY: So he thinks you just called his mother a whore.

(All but MIA laugh)

MOM: (outraged/offended) Excuse me!

[During this commotion the spot on the CHARACTERS upstairs goes out and they all exit quietly]

OZZY: (flinches) Hi mom.

PLAYERS: Hi Mrs. Stewarts!

MOM: (sets down snacks on table) No one will be calling anyone’s momma that word. Not in my house.

OZZY: But mom, it was a misunderstanding. No one actually said that.

MOM: You said it.

OZZY: I wasn’t talking about anyone’s mom.

MOM: Sure. (to the rest of the kids, cheerful) I made y’all some snacks! Enjoy! And I didn’t forget, a gluten free cookie for you Eddie (hands him a cookie)

EDDIE: Thank you.

MOM: (walks to first step, grimly) I’m just upstairs, I can hear everything.

[MOM walks back up the stairs and cleans some dishes upstairs. There’s a moment of silence. All the PLAYERS break out laughing]

PETER: (impersonating MOM) I can hear everything. (all but OZZY laughs)

OZZY: Oh shut up.

BLAKE: (fake offended) Such language!

OZZY: Let’s just get back to the game. [No one pays attention, to focused on snacks] Guys we are in the middle of a fight.

EDDIE: And I am in the middle of this cookie.

OZZY: Ok fine! We’ll take a short break. (pushes self away from the table and marches upstairs)

CHARLIE: You guys should be nicer to him.

PETER: Why?

CHARLIE: (hella timid) well this game is important to him, (gets quieter) and I don’t know you don’t seem to take it seriously.

EDDIE: Come on, it’s more fun this way.

[Downstairs lights]

I’m thinking about the title A Daring Campaign. What do y’all think about all of it.

[migleefulmoments]

Has Abby even had a negative Elsie Fest experience? Has anyone truly been unhappy with the outcome of the festival? It's handled/managed the same every year, we're on year 5, I don't see much changing at this point, especially if it's working? He always puts on a great festival with a great lineup. If it was a shitty event every year I'd understand the want for change, but it's fine. She's just upset that he's spending time with Mia

She never has anything nice to say before hand and afterwards all the complaining is about Mia somehow even when Mia isn’t seen by Elsie patrons. I’ve never heard anyone complain about the show itself and the crowd is always energetic...while it might not have sold out, it is always very well attended. 

I decided to see what they said last year-

Cassie wrote said- 

cassie1022

As promised…the Elsie Post.

So, Elsie weekend has come and gone and this one was one that provided much laughter, a few tears, and an amazing experience shared with good friends.

Friday was my travel day, and that went smoothly, thank goodness. Had a lovely lunch with @ajw720 and @flowersintheattic254 and grabbed a short nap before @scorpiowoman1107 arrived and we met up with @delilahdaffodil for dueling pianos, singing and some drinks.

Saturday was a low key day hanging with my girls and Saturday night I went with friends, old and new, to see Anastasia and eat NYC pizza.

The main event was, of course, Elsie Fest. This was my second year attending and first time I did meet and greet. The whole part leading up to getting to see D was kind of a nightmare, but that was all erased when I got to hug him. I had a couple little gifts for him, and he was so very sweet and humble about accepting them. He thanked me for coming out again and I was reminded that he really is just super special. There was a spark and energy to him yesterday that has been missing at time recently. He was relaxed and happy and looked very content. The show was beyond my expectations and D never disappoints when performing live. All of the headliners and guests were wonderful. Have to say, a definite highlight for me was Sincerely Me with Grant and Will. I was also blown away by D’s cover of Maybe it’s Time from A Star is Born. I loved seeing fan boy D when he was performing with Rufus Wainwright. Sutton was…well, what can I say? She was her wonderful self. Joshua Henry and Alex Newell sounded great and Casey Cott kind of blew me away.

I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to thank D (and C) enough for this crazy ride being his fan has taken me on. I’ve made some amazing friends because of my love for him and I wouldn’t know what to do without them sometimes.

Can’t wait to see what 2019 brings, both for Elsie, and for D, and hope that some of the people that haven’t been able to attend yet will get the chance to join us for the magical evening.

ajw720

It was a wonderful weekend!

Cassie also said 

cassie1022

I need someone to GIF the twirl in Sincerely Me from yesterday. Please and thank you.

because stereotypes are so much fun! 

Abby said:

Just had lunch with the ladies and that’s a wrap on Els/ie weekend 2018. I had so much fun from trying vegan for the first time, singing at Marie’s, Empire State, dueling pianos, hanging at the apartment, dinner and Anastasia, and of course Elsie.

So grateful to have made such a beautiful group of friends. Wonderful to see @flowersintheattic254 @cassie1022@scorpiowoman1107 @truthfirst @spreadlovelikecrisscolfer@delilahdaffodil

To D&C if you didn’t give me enough with your talent it is because of you that I have this strong, fabulous, fierce group of friends in my life, both those here this weekend, and so many more that I call friends who weren’t able to come.

I truly hope the love we feel for you and the support we offer makes a difference in your lives just as you both have made a difference in ours.

Looking forward to Els/ie 2019!!!

She answered an ask 

It went well. I congratulated him on his Emmy. He thanked me for coming to Elsie multiple times. Brief but he’s just such a good guy. He really goes out of his way to make you feel special for the short time you are in his orbit. Particularly when you are nervous:)

And he looked so beautiful. So hopefully all of our pictures will be fabulous.

aways a comment about his looks...

Of course anon, you’d have to be blind and deaf not to know she was there at the event. Especially as E/ric P posted a backstage IG, gotta get that ring shot and what better way than to use his other client MM to do it. At least GG and MM both looked suitably awkward about it. And of course there was the JB weird shoutout and the JJ post. No surprises there and nothing they haven’t done before to enable her. 

and Mia . I was there and I didn’t see any sign of Mia. I only heard Jodie Benson thank her and Darren for their work and for inviting her.    

[gdwessel]

Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2019 Night 1 - 9/27/2019; Rush, Dragon Lee Fired By CMLL, How This May Affect NJPW; Where Are Kawato & Oka?; Tonight’s NJPW on AXS: Double Header

The three night East Coast tour Fighting Spirit Unleashed began last night. There was a title match on that show, and we begin to say goodbye to Tiger Hattori.

Fighting Spirit Unleashed 2019 - 9/27/2019, Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, MA

Karl Fredericks d. Alex Coughlin (Elevated Half-Crab, 8:47)

Lance Archer [SZKG] d. Ren Narita (EBD Claw, 7:23) 

Juice Robinson & Mikey Nicholls [CHAOS] d. TJP [FREE] & Clark Connors (NIcholls > Connors, Mikeybomb, 8:04)

Chase Owens & Jado [Bullet Club] d. Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson [FREE] (Owens > Morton, Package Driver, 9:10)

Tomohiro Ishii [CHAOS] & Amazing Red [FREE] d. Shingo Takagi & BUSHI [Los Ingobernables] (Ishii > BUSHI, Vertical Drop Brainbuster, 8:48)

Hirooki Goto, YOSHI-HASHI & Rocky Romero [CHAOS] d. Jay White, KENTA & Gedo [Bullet Club] (YOSHI-HASHI > Gedo, Butterfly Lock, 12:28)

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship: Tama Tonga & Tanga Loa [Bullet Club] © d. SHO & YOH [CHAOS] (Tonga > YOH, Gunstun, 16:43) - GOD succeed their 7th defense

Kazuchika Okada [CHAOS], Kota Ibushi & Hiroshi Tanahashi d. SANADA, EVIL & Tetsuya Naito [Los Ingobernables] (Tanahashi > Naito, Ground Cobra Twist, 20:26)

Naito doing the job here seems a bit shit but Naito doesn’t have a title match to look like a contender for coming up either. Guerrillas of Destiny continue to hang on to the titles and let’s face it will do so until WK14 where they will be beaten by the eventual World Tag League winners. The tag division is trash and GOD are the face of it now. The match may end up on NJPWWorld on tape delay eventually. Chase Owens pins his trainer Ricky Morton, and the Rock’n’Roll Express lose their NJPW debut match. His partner in the match, Jado is 51 years old today.

In the wee hours of the night, something rather major happened behind the scenes in CMLL.

Firstly, Rush defeated Matt Taven at Ring of Honor’s Death Before Dishonor PPV to become the first-ever Mexican ROH World Champion, with his brother Dragon Lee and father La Bestia del Ring (and son, above) in attendance. Rumors had been flying for weeks about Dragon Lee’s status in home promotion CMLL, stemming from Dragon Lee disobeying a directive from CMLL to not work Pro Wrestling Guerrilla’s Battle of Los Angeles last weekend (Barbaro Cavernario was also booked for BOLA, but did withdraw his participation under that same directive; the reason given, is CMLL is once again considering both Pentagon Jr./Penta el 0M and Rey Fenix as AAA wrestlers once more so they are forbidding wrestlers from working with them). From this, Dragon Lee was pulled from CMLL’s 86th Aniversario, which also ran last night.

Within the hour of Rush winning the ROH title, Rush posted a video on his Twitter announcing both he and La Bestia del Ring were now independent wrestlers, and indeed both KAOZ Lucha and The Crash have announced Rush as working there soon as El Toro Blanco, as CMLL own the Rush trademark. Not long after THAT, CMLL tweeted out that they have fired both Rush and Dragon Lee. Dragon Lee posted on Facebook he was devastated by this, and indeed this really seems to be retaliatory. There are reports he may be working ROH’s TV taping tonight. Dragon Lee was also CMLL’s Welterweight champion at the time of his release.

I will stop right here and say that friend of the show/blog TheCubsFan posted a podcast with Rob Viper late last night summarizing this situation and you should listen to it; it’s only 40 minutes, but packed with information.

But it should go without saying that both Rush and Dragon Lee were pretty integrated in their way with New Japan as well. Dragon Lee especially has been pretty popular in NJPW, and of course his story is very well tied in to that of Hiromu Takahashi, and indeed Hiromu tweeted at Dragon Lee this morning. There are reports he was due to be in the upcoming Super Junior Tag League, presumably paired with another CMLL wrestler. but who knows if that can or will happen now. It’s become very murky politically. NJPW could outright sign Dragon Lee (or whatever he calls himself now -- there are reports of Toro Rojo being a possibility) if all parties agree, but he could also go to WWE, or somewhere else. 

It all kinda depends on how strong the relationship between NJPW and CMLL is at this point and whether NJPW values CMLL or Dragon Lee more. There have been signs of strain between NJPW and its partners, ROH and CMLL; the ROH relationship has been the more obviously strained, especially since G1 Supercard at MSG, where ROH’s contributions were, frankly, absolute shite. However, other than Fantasticamania (which is usually a great payday for the visiting luchadors) and appearances in Best of the Super Juniors and Super J-Cup, there doesn’t seem to be much going on with the CMLL relationship right now. The last couple of excursions ended suddenly and without notice, as when Sho Tanaka & Yohei Komatsu were Raijin & Fujin and then... weren’t (Hirai Kawato, I discuss below). Shota Umino and Ren Narita both are on excursion now, but neither went to CMLL, where before it was assured at least one would. Jushin Thunder Liger appeared at Arena Mexico this summer for a retirement show, but Liger is able to make his own bookings without NJPW’s involvement (which is how Liger was able to wrestle Tyler Breeze at the 2015 NXT Takeover in Brooklyn). Consider that around this time last year, Kazuchika Okada, Tetsuya Naito, EVIL & BUSHI all made appearances in Arena Mexico. This year, there were no NJPW wrestlers at the CMLL Grand Prix, where usually there is at least one or two, even if it were the likes of Michael Elgin, Satoshi Kojima, or even David Finlay. As NJPW broaden their global profile on their own, there seems to be a gradual withdrawal from their partners. As I said, which do NJPW value more, a continued partnership with CMLL, or Dragon Lee on their roster?

Then there’s the other elephant in the room: the status of Los Ingobernables. Straight up, CMLL own the trademark, and always have. There’s a CMLL trademark on LIJ shirts. The unit started in CMLL, between Rush, La Sombra and La Mascara. La Sombra is now Andrade Cien Almas in WWE, and the other two have been fired for various reasons. Los Ingobernables as a functional thing in CMLL is now dead, unless they want to do the typical lucha promotion business where they just shellac other wrestlers onto a popular gimmick after the original wrestler(s) behind said gimmick leave - indeed, it’s how Rush & Dragon Lee’s brother became the second Mistico. (His status is unknown, assumed not leaving, but who knows. If he does, Caristico can reassume the Mistico identity, which would make the Arena Mexico crowd happy.) There is a possibility that CMLL could keep Los Ingobernables alive with Terrible and some others, but I can guess how well that’s going to go over. 

Los Ingobernables de Japon has to end, at some point. It’s just inevitable. Rush is still in ROH until at least 2020, so there is a possibility that Naito and the boys will reunite with Rush (although the last few times Rush and LIJ members were on the same ROH cards, they deliberately kept them apart, even at meet & greets). If the NJPW and CMLL relationship is starting to disintegrate, a very large part of NJPW’s current identity, and merch money, will be going away soon. Rush being shown the door by itself doesn’t mean LIJ is over just yet. It is not the first time the NJPW branch of a famous stable outlasted its home company. But this could be the harbinger of that unit coming to an end, until LIJ goes into its TEAM2000 phase.

Long story short, shit is wild, and complicated, and political, and who knows what ripples this pebble in the river will produce.

Above, I mentioned Hirai Kawato and his excursion in CMLL as Kawato San. I’ve been teasing a piece for weeks, and, well, here it is. 

Hirai Kawato has not worked a match since 7/28/2019, a Sunday night show at Arena Mexico, teaming with Dark Magic & Misterioso Jr. in a losing effort v. Rey Cometa, Flyer & Dulce Gardenia. Prior to that, on 6/30/2019, Kawato had bested Audaz to win the CMLL World Super Lightweight title vacated by (ironically) Dragon Lee. Since then... nothing. 

Apparently, according to TheCubsFan (him again), Kawato got seriously ill and had to go back to Japan for recovery. There’s been no official word about his status at all, including whether or not he will return to Mexico. It’s a real shame, as his excursion looked to finally be working, evidenced by getting a title, and it looked like they might begin an actual program with Audaz, but such is not to be right now. I hope he is recovering OK, no matter what happens next for him, as it sounded serious enough for him to go home.

Tomoyuki Oka is another one who’s been MIA. Last seen in RevPro UK under the gimmick of Dominator Great O-Kharn, Oka has not wrestled a match since his appearance as the only Japanese talent at the ill-fated New Beginning USA shows, beating Harlem Bravado on 2/2/2019 in Nashville. There is even less info about his whereabouts - his last tweet was on 3/4/2019, advertising the NBUSA shows on NJPWWorld. (FWIW, Kawato’s last tweet was on 7/26, and last Instagram post was on 7/3.) 

I wish I had more, but I simply don’t; I don’t have sources or anything like that. But it’s a little disconcerting when not one but two Young Lions have gone missing in action whilst away. Makes you wonder what the future holds for Shooter and Ren.

(Whilst we’re here - David Finlay is still recovering from injury and surgery. He is still pretty active on social media.)

Ideally I should’ve posted this earlier but there were no posts and we’re here now. After taking last week off, NJPW on AXS returns tonight with a double header of episodes, all taking place from various Destruction shows from a couple of weeks ago. Advertised matches are:

9pm EDT / 8pm CDT - RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) v. Zack Sabre Jr., Destruction in Beppu, Oita Beppu B-Con Plaza, 9/15/2019 10pm EDT / 9pm CDT - Tokyo Dome IWGP Heavyweight Challenge Rights: Kota Ibushi v. KENTA, Destruction in Kagoshima, Kagoshima Arena, 9/16/2019

There will be other matches as these alone are not enough to fill an hour of TV each. It’s also preceded by an all-new WOW Women of Wrestling. Incidentally, it looks like AXS’s new owners Anthem are moving their own wrestling company, Impact, to Tuesdays later this month, so there is some assurance of them not actively messing with NJPW, at least, not yet.

Of course, you are spoiled for choice of watching NJPW tonight, as tonight’s FIghting Spirit Unleashed show from the Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC is live on NJPWWorld. Show starts at 7pm EDT. Once again we have a title match tonight, too, although... let’s face it, we know who’s winning this.

- 9/28/2019, Hammerstein Ballroom, New York City, NY (NJPWWorld)

Ren Narita v. TJP [FREE]

Karl Fredericks v. Lance Archer [SZKG]

Juice Robinson & Mikey Nicholls [CHAOS] v. Clark Connors & Alex Coughlin

Rocky Romero, SHO & YOH [CHAOS] v. Tama Tonga, Tanga Loa & Jado [Bullet Club]

Hiroshi Tanahashi, Ricky Morton [FREE] & Robert Gibson [FREE] v. Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI [Los Ingobernables]

Hirooki Goto [CHAOS], Tomohiro Ishii [CHAOS] & Amazing Red [FREE] v. Jay White, Chase Owens & Gedo [Bullet Club]

NEVER Openweight Championship: KENTA [Bullet Club] © v. YOSHI-HASHI [CHAOS]

Kazuchika Okada [CHAOS] & Kota Ibushi v. SANADA & EVIL [Los Ingobernables]

[placetobenation]

With WrestleMania firmly in the rear-view mirror and Money In The Bank on the horizon, it looks like the WWE is starting to get a big more comfortable with the new pandemic world that we’re living in. And for the wrestling world, it’s being a bit more creative, out of the box thinkers and doing it all for the folks on tv and social media instead of in the arena.

With that, we’re getting more and more vignettes, character development and something a bit more entertaining than in recent weeks. Here’s hoping they keep it up because after all, it’s tough creating seven hours of network tv content without relying on a live audience to react off of and to give the show a quality feel.

Making Drew McIntyre the focal point of RAW makes obvious sense with him being the WWE Champion, of course. I’m not entirely sold on Seth Rollins getting that first PPV title shot, but I’m willing to give it a shot. I’m hoping they make it more than a one-off because I already know it will work in the ring, but I want to see what it looks like outside the ring and the build-up too.

I don’t understand at all having The Miz & John Morrison continually lose on television. After a fast build to the titles with a returning Morrison, the duo has done nothing but lose every since. That’s no way to treat two of your top-tier stars on the brand.

Star of the week: A goof if you will. I give it to the guy who took Triple H’s water on the way to the ring to celebrate his 25th Anniversary in the WWE. A funny moment that made me laugh in the midst of some really trying times. And that in itself, is a win!

RAW

RESULTS

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Aleister Black defeated Austin Theory

Shayna Baszler defeated Indi Hartwell

Ricochet & Cedric Alexander defeated Shane Thorne & Brendan Vink

Nia Jax defeated Kairi Sane

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Apollo Crews defeated MVP

Liv Morgan defeated Ruby Riott

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Rey Mysterio Jr. defeated Buddy Murphy

Non-title NXT Women’s Championship Match: Charlotte Flair defeated Kayden Carter

Non-title United States Championship Match: Andrade defeated Akira Tozawa

Non-title WWE Championship Match: Drew McIntyre defeated Angel Garza

.@Zelina_VegaWWE's plan may be coming together in this BATTLE between @austintheory1 and @WWEAleister for a spot in the Men's #MITB Ladder Match on #WWERaw. pic.twitter.com/srfk70BWBW

— WWE (@WWE) April 21, 2020

Things I stopped to watch on RAW:  Aleister Black – Zelina Vega on commentary

Things I don’t get: Kairi Sane fed to the wolves for the second straight week against Nia Jax – Liv Morgan with no direction

.@WWEApollo is headed to #MITB!

pic.twitter.com/gR5i1u9Qne

— WWE (@WWE) April 21, 2020

Things That Were Just Good: Apollo Crews getting a shot at the Money in the Bank match. Good for him to finally get a shot in a big PPV match

Things I Could Do Without – Bobby Lashley flipping tires. I swore Hornswoggle was coming out of that tire!

Things I Want To See – A triple threat match between Garza vs. Andrade vs. Theory just for fun

Odd: Austin Theory and Angel Garza NOT attacking Drew McIntyre at Zelina Garza’s request.

WHO WANTS NEXT??!?!#WWERaw @DMcIntyreWWE pic.twitter.com/T5NHGAz3nv

— WWE (@WWE) April 21, 2020

Knod to HBK & Burt Reynolds – Drew McIntyre’s Playgirl pose

NXT

RESULTS

Dakota Kai & Raquel Gonzalez defeated Shotzi Blackheart & Tegan Nox

Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship Tournament Match: Jake Atlas defeated Drake Maverick

Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship Tournament Match: KUSHIDA defeated Tony Nese

Mia Yim defeated Jessie Kamea

Interim NXT Cruiserweight Championship Tournament Match: El Hijo Del Fantasma defeated Jack Gallagher

Velveteen Dream & Dexter Lumis defeated Adam Cole & Roderick Strong

"I'm fighting my opponent and myself… maybe everyone was right about me." – @WWEMaverick #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/KQRBEJjoFZ

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 23, 2020

NXT felt like a more streamlined show this week. Simple with lots of action, especially in the NXT Cruiserweight Championship Tournament. Loved the backstory with Drake Maverick, who was already released last week but is still being shown in the tournament. It’s heartfelt and personal. One of the best parts of the show.

"You know what? I'm not going to eat second anymore." – @CandiceLeRae New hair, new attitude. #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/8XKAdjWjjl

— WWE (@WWE) April 23, 2020

Short segment videos with Rob Stone & Chelsea Green and dinner with Candice LeRae and Johnny Gargano were interesting! What’s up with “the cup” at the dinner table? Yuck! But, we do love LeRae’s new look!

Ever since Keith Lee won the North American Championship, it seems like the buzz is off him a bit. Maybe it’s just me. Having him booted from the main event by Damien Priest, only to be replaced by Dexter Lumis seemed an odd thing so we’ll see where it goes.

No Finn Balor to take on The Velveteen Dream was utterly disappointing.

Weighing in at 204 pounds this morning, @hijodelfantasma LEAPS through the air in his #WWENXT in-ring debut!!! @GentlemanJackG pic.twitter.com/uOYCENaLXw

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) April 23, 2020

El Hijo Del Fantasma is highly entertaining! And yes, he avoided getting kidnapped!

Finally, the build to Tommaso Ciampa vs. Killer Kross continues to get better! I don’t want to see them in the ring for a while. Let them continue to fester for a bit with Scarlett Bordeaux stirring the pot!

SMACKDOWN

RESULTS

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: King Corbin defeated Drew Gulak

Sheamus Daniel Vidot

Money In The Bank Qualifying Match: Lacey Evans defeated Sasha Banks

Lucha House Party defeated The Miz & John Morrison

Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross defeated Carmella & Dana Brooke to retain titles

Tell us how you really feel, @ShawnMichaels…#SmackDown #HHH25 @StephMcMahon pic.twitter.com/sjvVzmIkQq

— WWE Universe (@WWEUniverse) April 25, 2020

First things first. Most of Triple H’s 25th Anniversary celebration with Shawn Michaels and Vince McMahon was an inside rib, but I didn’t mind it at all. It made me laugh and that was the point! Good use of the cell phone to with Stephanie McMahon and Ric Flair making cameos! And yes, we forget how many times Trips has lost at WrestleMania putting others over. Thanks HBK for reminding us!

Corbin vs. Gulak was really good and we need to see more as soon as next week when we get Daniel Bryan vs. Corbin.

As I said last week, I don’t get what Sheamus’ beef with Michael Cole is. Continuing it with no seeming pay-off is getting tedious.

Lacey Evans beating Sasha Banks helps on a few fronts. It gives Evans a needed win. It keeps the Banks-Bayley possibility alive. It also kept Tamina in the conversation with a well place superkick.

THAT JUST HAPPENED.#LuchaHouseParty just DEFEATED @mikethemiz & @TheRealMorrison! #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/mrl18foIWU

— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2020

The push for The Forgotten Sons continues as they get some heat with The New Day, The Miz & John Morrison and the Lucha House Party. Expect many variables of those combinations over the next two weeks. Here’s hoping they actually let The Miz & Morrison win again on TV someday. Just don’t get the LHP win Friday night.

Just a part of @BraunStrowman's past he's trying to forget… #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/6VtuQ11Z25

— WWE (@WWE) April 25, 2020

Good use of Braun Strowman’s history with Bray Wyatt to hype his upcoming Universal Title Match at MITB with The Fiend. Please don’t give me a contract signing anytime soon!

Parting shots:

WWE stock rose over $5 this week after the company’s Q1 conference call on financials. That’s a much needed boost for Vince McMahon after a few weeks of bad news. With no live events on the horizon other than the TV and PPV tapings, here’s hoping they hash out some long-term booking and creative ideas to help solidify those stock prices too!

The WWE’s strength is in video production and content creation. That should be the bulk of their tv time moving forward. Being able to control the environment will serve them well going forward with no instant crowd reaction.

Thanks for letting us share our thoughts! Shoot me an email at jcrowe567@gmail.com. We’d love to hear your comments and suggestions! You can also check out my blog, The Crowe’s Nest as we delve into more pro wrestling, sports entertainment and the World of Sports. My apologies ahead of time – I AM a Patriots and Red Sox fan! If you’re not down with that, I’ve got TWO WORDS for you… NEW ENGLAND!

[allmyluckwentintofacebookpoker]

Cara Mia

i wanted to write about this so I don’t ever forget it because it was such a wonderful experience i didn’t ever want to forget it

Tuesday night, 27th of August

I went to leave and you came to my car, I’ve already forgotten if you were planning to drive back to your Dads or just head back inside, but you sat in my car while some music played, we spoke lightly, I remember I told you about how I was going to message you with some not so fun thoughts when I got home because I didn’t want to leave you on a negative note but I wanted to be open about the things that I experience. You were supportive of it, you always are, we made a few jokes, it was sweet, I asked you something to gauge if you wanted to come with me or go back inside, I didn’t know what I was thinking at first, there was some heavy song playing (el chapo?) and I felt like driving fast, you were in my car and I didn’t want you not to be, so I thought hey, I might as well start driving.

I felt a bit funny, I knew that too much time together could be dangerous, or so I believed it, and was ready to go, but truth be told I knew I’d miss you, always hard saying that goodbye, maybe it’s not just that, or it’s not that at all, and all it is, is the fear of letting a good day end, no wonder we didn’t let any end for days and days and days

Then I said hey, how about Lancelin, we had to postpone days earlier because we were having too much fun swapping out a tyre and used up all the daylight, and I don’t know that even for a second you stopped to think no, and just like that we were going to Lancelin, we weren’t really prepared, mentally physically or financially haha but we had eachother and that seemed just fine, it seemed like that was all we really needed. So we drove, hit the gas station first, got some goodies, I remember something about you making a skink meme, very nice very nice, I remember being happy having you there, I got two monsters, you had one off the bat and said you liked it. We went into KFC to get some last minute food for our little road trip, we waited long enough they gave us an extra large chips and I remember we sat in the parking lot eating it.

It’s funny to me the moments you love someone, it’s not necessarily when they’re beautiful, when they’re shining, when they’re at their best or trying hard, it’s just moments like that, sitting in a car at 10pm having KFC with them, and they’re just telling you about their life, and their thoughts, and everything they do is simply - them; that’s when you’re reminded you love them, I think that that’s very real, or maybe that’s unique to me and that’s what love is for me. I loved you, and I loved that moment, funny to me that of all the moments to think back on that night, that was a great one, sitting in my car with your pink pajama pants.

So we started driving, and we got to talking about some pretty interesting things, mostly questions based off of that political compass quiz, and we were discussing our thoughts on all these different questions and I loved it all so much, I think that was such a unique experience that I wouldn’t be able to have with anybody else, whether it’s the way you asked the questions, the way you’d listen to my answer, we’d discuss, talk it out, express our opinions but come together always, that was lovely, all on such a gentle drive, I had the music muted I remember because your voice was faint, and for most of the time I didn’t want to touch that volume dial because your faint and gentle voice was too sweet to be drowned by music, I wasn’t going to risk tainting that insightful experience with you.

There was a construction crew a ways up towards Lancelin, an event in progress maybe, we took a detour up Cowalla road then to K.W, something about it was lovely for me, a change of pace, something new, exciting, backroads and new sights, how quiet the roads were out there, I really enjoyed the experience, I felt like I was exploring the world at large, and I felt good doing it with you by my side

I remember throughout the night how we’d have little spouts of excitement from the spontaneity of going to Lancelin, we spoke about it in the line at KFC, I think we spoke about it as we left the freeway, getting closer to Lancelin we spoke about it again, how exciting it was to just drive, and when we got to Lancelin I remember feeling hyped with you, excited, we’d done it.

I think that people show emotion differently, some can put a filter on it, some can channel it, some have power over some emotions and some don’t have power over others, some embrace that raw output of emotion, and I think there have been plenty of times when I’ve seen you smile, where I’ve seen you light up with positivity that makes me think, it makes me feel your happiness, that’s heartwarming to me, seeing you happy at something

And we got there, and I remember how pretty you looked in my passenger seat as I pulled into that park by the shops, how I thought of you, the way you looked up at me in that seat. The sprinklers turning on about 0.2 seconds later stopping us from laying on a blanket out in the park, looking at the stars, but that’s finneee, I still had you.

Goes in the same way we were talking about the day before (the day of?) at Ikea, about how anything is good with your partner, as long as you’ve got one another it’s all well and fine, and even if it started raining, and the car broke, and we couldn’t call anybody, I felt in that moment, with you there, everything and anything would have been just fine, I find myself happier facing obstacles lately, I think that’s the effect of love, quite powerful for the soul, I think everybody deserves something to love and something about them to be loved, if not their whole self

We started wandering around, I thought there might have been a water fountain nearby we could have used to fill up the water bottles for our little sandboarding trip, I remember how pretty you looked with my business coat over your top, and those pink PJ pants below, very, very adorable, I remember your face, you looked sleepy, in a cute way, you looked comfortable, you looked so beautiful, anyway your dumb ass came up with the idea to make some cursed images which were pretty fucking fun hahah, kinda impressed with our ability to make those I think maybe we oughta change careers huh

Bit of kissing, bit of hugging, bit of loud idiots waking up people that live nearby (probably) (sorry), we went back to the car, headed over to the dunes, I remember the way that I’d ask you how you were feeling and you’d bounce with energy through your whole body and a heartwarming smile saying you were excited, whether that was for sandboarding, or lancelin in general I can’t remember, but the image I’ll thankfully always remember, we parked up, got our goodies, I put on my classic gym shorts for my elite sandboarding moves, which obviously were too good for you because you couldn’t stop commenting on my golden thighs obviously out of jealousy (obviously) and slowly walked to the dunes haha.

It was fun, we spoke about how you could write a horror movie about the open dunes in darkness, our torch was even flickering, you kept being sweet and asking me how I was walking bare feet on the rocks, I’m just glad I had the thongs for you really, we hit the dunes and you were obviously way more badass than me because here I am ready to go down a little one and you were keen like you were in the major leagues, kinda hot. Anyway, I left the wax in the car like a fuckass and we failed to go down one a little one, got stuck about 1 metre down it, came back, you went down a big hill and talked about leaving the torch there? something arather, I put the backpack down (in case I was gonna stack it), and you said we could roll down the hill together, which was totally ridiculous, but hey I went down on the board, got stuck after a metre, and your cute ass came and jumped me and we started rolling, together, in my arms I loved you so very much in that moment, I remember saying who thought rolling in sand could be so romantic.

We went back slowly over the rocks again, you tried giving me a single thong and I said NUP, I remember you had all these funny accents you were showing me, I loved the english one, you sounded like an entirely new person, like my girl had vanished and been swapped out with a young english chav that’s gonna steal my cash for cigs, loved that too, you’d apologize a lot for it as if I didn’t like it, I couldn’t help but wonder if maybe you’d been in such shoes before and hadn’t been as appreciated, it didn’t matter in that moment nor does it matter now, I appreciated it, I appreciated you, I hope you know that I always do, and always will appreciate you, plus I thought the accents were pretty great, you also kept walking in front of me which was adorably misguided.

We went back to the car, and drove to the beach with sand all through the car, found our way to a carpark and debated, in the cold of the night, how good skinny dipping would be. I think truthfully we’re both inherently idiots because of course, we decided to go and /check it out/, bringing a towel, we got there, put down most of our stuff, I remember you were pulling up your PJs to above your knees so we could test the water with our feet annnndd, I decided I’d come up to you and just take off your PJs, cute girl in her underwear on an isolated beach under beautiful stars, how absolutely lovely that memory was, we tested the water thinking it’d be horrible, I looked at you and you were looking at me, we both said it wasn’t so bad, I remember what you looked like, that whole moment, it all looked like love

We started running back, I ran past and tried to grab your hand in that frantic run to get our clothes off and get our little skinnydipping session started, I remember hearing you laughing as I ran past you, even as I write this I’m smiling, we got there, got our clothes off, you were gorgeous in the moonlight, I’ll never forget that, we were naked but all in all I remember your face, and I remember your eyes, I remember how gorgeous you were, a million times prettier than the first time we met on another beach, and even then, you were as pretty as a man can describe. We ran back into the water, holding hands, I remember you screaming because of how much colder it was when the water started to splash - and it was cold, we went up to the height of our hips, maybe a bit higher, I remember we were laughing and laughing, and then we got close, for just a moment, and I held you, and it just felt so good, everything was just great, we bolted ass out of there to get warm again.

I don’t think we were in there for any more than a minute. I remember my briefs were covered in sand so I just put on my thin gym shorts and the wind had its way with me whether I liked it or not, you looked nice and snug, we walked back up the path and I felt very content, funny the things that feel good when you’re in love, going in the water at 2 in the morning cold, for love, and god was it worth it.

Got in the car, heater to full, You were getting sleepy and I remember saying you could fall asleep if you wanted to, we started driving back home, the construction was gone so we went the main road back, listening to very gentle music, the kind of music that might have made me sleepy, but I believe I was happy in a deep level enough that I didn’t even let myself be tired, I also felt quite a sweet sense having you rest your head in my passenger seat, you were awake, but you were so cute, I kept looking at you, putting my hand on your thigh, again, a moment I fall in love all the more.

Told you once about a time where I was driving lots of people back home after their driver had crashed, and they all fell asleep and a unique sense of what I imagine is a parental pride to protect them comes over you, like you gotta look after them, it’s kind of sweet, I had that for you in that moment, you were at such rest and I wanted to make sure you were comfortable, you felt safe, that you were happy to close your eyes and fall asleep right there and then, I wonder why it is I have that thought, you told me you had a similar experience driving someone and feeling that funny feeling (which prompted me to tell you about my experience), I wonder if it’s the same sort of thing for you, I wonder what it is that makes us feel that way, people are so curious

We got back to Joondalup, we hit mcdonalds and I remember all you wanted was an icecream cone, their machine was cleaaninngg and so I said we could go to hungry jacks, after saying its okay a hundred times because you are wonderfully modest you changed your mind breaking out with a laugh and a cheeky smile asking for a caramel sundae at hungry jacks, we went there, it was lovely, I love you, just having that spontaneous thought, not sure that you’ll read this far into this hahah but I’m just, good vibes good vibes

Dropped you off, was a lovely night, it really was, as I write this I’m even thinking I wish I was in bed writing this on a laptop with you laying across my lap, Love you as ever Cara Mia

You know, we had been hanging out for a few days at a time, and when it came to me leaving I went to the car and you moseyed to it, and sat in it, and you didn't sit in it for me, you sat it in because your mum was away and you didn't want to be lonely in a house, so I went for a drive and you just happened to be there, and then we went to Lancelin. It was a distraction for you; I didn't enjoy your presence at the start there, I think you were sick of me, or you needed to get your energy back to be social, I don't know, maybe I just didn't like who you really are, but I didn't act any different because you were my girl, and I wrote all of this because of that too.

If I think of my life as a romance then I get to live out a romance, right? No, obviously not. I just extracted the nicer parts of that night. I think I need to react more to my gut when those moments come up, that would be good.

[nalgenewhore]

Aelin was fluttering around her, fixing anything she found fault in. She muttered little words that Elide chuckled at, focusing on the presence of her sister to calm her rising panic even though she had nothing to panic about. 

She loved him and he loved her and they were getting married. 

She repeated the words like a mantra, her fingers running over the bodice of her dress, the pleated chiffon soothing her. The whole room seemed to stop and stare at her incredulously. 

“What?”

“El, love. Are you ok?” Nehemia stood, her silk bridesmaid dress falling elegantly around her. “You don’t have to do this, you know. He would understand.”

Elide realized then she had been speaking aloud, her words filling the room. “I’m ok, just some people are being ridiculous and are stressing me out and making me nervous.” She glared at Aelin who grinned sheepishly.

“Shit, I’m sorry, baby. I just want everything to be perfect ‘cause it has to be.”

Elide reached out and grabbed her sister’s hand, rubbing her thumb over the back of it. “It will be, ok? You did an amazing job, Ash.” 

Aelin chuckled tearfully, wiping her eyes. “You haven’t called me that since we were little.”

“I know,” she pulled a crying Aelin in for a hug. “I love you, the most. And stop crying, you’ll ruin your makeup.”

The blonde laughed, pulling away and taking the tissue a grinning Lysandra held out to her. “I hate you, I’m crying and all you can think about is my makeup.”

They all laughed and brushed away their own tears. There was a knock on the door and a curly head of golden locks popped in. 

“Ready, E? Remember, it’s not too late to run away with me, I got the car all ready.” Fenrys stepped into the room, going to Nehemia’s side and kissing her cheek softly.

“Don’t even, Moonie. Lorcan would kill you after Mia was done with you.”

He chuckled and stood still as his girlfriend fixed his tie, straightening it and tucking it back in, patting it in place. “How’s it looking, Mi?”

“Perfect. Now, let’s get our Ellie married.”

He smiled and walked over to Elide, holding his arm out for her. “You look beautiful, E. Salvaterre’s a lucky man.”

Elide laughed, letting Aelin and Lysandra fuss over the train of her dress, pulling it out and fixing it just so. Manon stepped forward this time, tucking a stray curl away. “Is that a tear I see, Blackbeak?”

“Yeah, I was imagining having to be married to Lorcan and it was just too sad.”

Elide smiled, knowing exactly that’s what Manon would’ve said. “But you’re happy for me, right?”

Her friend stopped, looking directly into her eyes, the gold of her eyes brilliant and piercing. “I’m so happy for you, Lochan. You deserve this, this happiness.”

She smiled, a real smile, gratitude for everything Manon had done for her and she silently mouthed Thank you as Manon stepped back and Nesryn stepped up to hand her a bouquet. “You look stunning, El. Ready?”

Elide nodded, stepping off the little pedestal to slip her arm through Fenrys’ elbow, her tattooed arms on full display. He leaned down to whisper something in her ear as the rest of the girls walked in front of her, holding the door open. “You look so badass, Ellie.”

She laughed, her head tilting back. “That’s what I was going for, Fen.”

“Lorcan’s gonna love the lacy unmentionables you have on.”

She laughed again, delight shining in his eyes as they waltzed to the little space before the aisle, hidden from view. “Who said I was wearing any at all?” 

He smirked, the jabs flowing easily between the two of them as the instruments started and her bridesmaids started walking down the aisle, the chiffon gowns they wore making it seem like they were floating down the path. 

The music changed and Fenrys squeezed the hand resting on his arm, “It’s now or never, El. I’m serious, I have the car ready to go.”

Elide laughed, squeezing his fingers back. “I’m good, Fen. I don’t want to face the wrath of our dear Mia.”

He smiled and then they started walking down the aisle. 

The entirety of the room looked at her, her ivory dress. She loved her dress, it was off the shoulder and showed off her full sleeves of ink, black the only colour she had on her pale skin. It cinched at her waist and flowed down to the ground, the chiffon skirts gliding around her. The train was short, pooling behind her and trailing over the petals sprinkled on the ground. Her dark hair was curled and pulled back into a low bun, silver stars strung around it.

She didn’t see their guests and closest friends look up at her. She didn’t see the flowers hanging down from the trellis, the beauty that Aelin had woven in the space. Her eyes were on Lorcan, standing at the altar, looking better than anyone had a right to in his navy suit, smiling softly down at her as she walked up to him. His hair was half up in a bun, the other half grazing his shoulders. She could see he had shaven but left just enough that it shadowed his jaw, making it seem even more sharp. His nose piercing was still there, a little silver hoop in his right nostril. Rowan was next to him and leaned in to say something in his ear, more silver hoops in the soft shell. He moved his lips, speaking to his brother but his eyes didn’t leave hers for one second. 

It seemed like a millenia later when she arrived at the end of the aisle, Fenrys leaning down to kiss her cheek softly and whisper once more, “I could just pick you up and sprint back up. I’m too fast for him.”

Elide laughed again, tearing her gaze from Lorcan’s to look at her friend, her brother of sorts. “One of these days I’m gonna say yes and we’ll have to say goodbye to everything we know and love to be free from Lorcan and Mia’s revenge.”

He scoffed, “I can take them.”

She rose a brow and kissed his cheek, “Thank you, Fen. For everything.”

He winked and stepped up onto the altar, standing on the step beneath Connall. Elide turned to Aelin and passed her the bouquet, gathering her skirts as she stepped up to stand beside Lorcan. She looked up at him, noticing the tears in his eyes. She lifted a hand and cupped his cheek, running her thumb over his cheekbone. “Don’t you dare cry ‘cause then I’ll cry and Nesryn didn’t spend all this time on my makeup only for you to ruin it.”

He chuckled and turned his head, kissing her palm. “I won’t.”

“You better not.”

Lorcan laughed again and held up his hands for hers. She smiled at him, just so incredibly gone for him and placed her hands in his. Asterin cleared her throat, a wickedly happy light shining in her eyes. “Can I start?”

They both rolled their eyes and nodded, the grins on their faces not fading for a second. She didn’t really tune into what her friend was saying as she recited Blackbeak wedding vows. Elide instead surveyed the man standing before her, seeing the swirls of his tattoos peaking above the white collar of his shirt and looked down at their hands, seeing the lines that cascaded down his arms on the strip of bronze skin at his wrist, the navy blue of his suit making his skin glow. Her hands were so pale in his, black inking her fingers and the backs of her hands, crawling up her arms and onto her back, leaving her chest bare. She looked back up at him and saw his eyes tracking over her tattoos, smiling at the memories associated with them, his gaze becoming softer as he looked at the ones he had done on her, the ones he had drawn for her. 

He tilted his head to her cousin and she grinned, turning slightly to pay attention to Asterin who had that knowing light in her eyes. Evangeline stepped up next to her and passed her a ribbon, black in colour. 

Asterin smiled warmly at the girl, kissing her brow before she stepped back, dutifully standing beside the altar. Her cousin turned back to them and wrapped it around their hands, prayers in an ancient language tumbling from her lips. 

The rest of the ceremony was a blur to her and then Asterin spoke, instructing them to untie the ribbons so they could exchange rings and vows. They did so, with little difficulty and Evangeline stepped forward, offering their rings and taking the ribbon away. Lorcan went first, his eyes boring into hers. “Lochan, I have loved you since the moment you walked into my life, platform Docs on.” She and her friends laughed at that. “You are the true and only owner of my ancient and wicked heart and I promise to handle yours with care for as long as you will allow it. I love you, forever and always.” 

He slipped the ring onto her finger, a thin band of onyx, matching the stone that sat on the other ring she wore. Elide’s vision blurred, tears pooling in her eyes. Lorcan smiled, “Don’t cry, baby.”

She said, laughing as she spoke, “Fuck you, Anneith help me smite this man.”

He chuckled and she turned to Evangeline, cupping the girl’s cheek and kissing her forehead, “You look like a fairy, my love.”

“Thank you, Ellie. Here’s your ring. You look like a fairy too”

She smiled again as the girl passed her an identical band of onyx, this one slightly heavier and thicker than hers. Elide turned back to Lorcan, taking his hand as she gazed up at him and spoke her vows. “Salvaterre, you are what I’ve been looking for my entire life, not what I need but what I want and there will never be enough words to describe the depths of my love for you.” A single tear rolled down his cheek as she slid the ring on his finger. “I will love you, forever and always.”

They both looked expectantly at Asterin as she breathed the last of the prayers and then, “You may kiss the bride.” A cocky smile carved her lips as they turned back to each other, almost nervous but he wrapped an arm around her waist, tugging her in to him and she rested her hands on his chest and they moved as one.

Time seemed to slow as he tilted her chin up with a knuckle and leaned her over, pressing a savage kiss to her lips. Her hands slid across his broad chest to hold onto his biceps as she gave into the kiss, the claiming behind his lips.  She could vaguely hear the cheers of their friends and family but the feeling of his hands bracing her waist, pulling her flush against him drowned everything else out. He nipped at her bottom lip and they smiled, pulling away, a sort of happiness she had never seen before shining in his eyes. “I love you.”

The words were too low for everyone else to hear them but she felt them brush over her face and her heart tightened in her chest. “I love you.”

A small grin appeared on his face at her answer, the only answer he would ever need. Gradually, the cries of their family bled back in and he held out his hand, bowing slightly, “Milady?”

She rolled her eyes at his dramatics and paused to take his hand as her sisters came into view and hugged her, Aelin wiping away tears once more and Manon had tears running down her face, not one ounce of shame in her golden eyes. They fixed her dress once more and then she was able to take his hand as they walked down the aisle, smiling widely as they went. 

When they had gone passed the aisle and were hidden from view from their guests, Lorcan dropped his head to her ear, talking in a low voice that sent shivers down her spine. “We have two hours till pictures.”

She grinned wickedly and let her eyes sweep over the hallway, the two of them the only people in it. She spied a door and tugged him behind her as she walked to it, “Whatever shall we do with all this time.” 

She turned around, leaning her back on the door and using her free hand to twist the doorknob but his hand covered hers, stopping her from opening it. He lowered his head, trailing his lips down her neck and licking the hollow between her collarbones. A soft gasp left her lips and heat pooled in her core. “I’m not fucking you in a closet.”

Elide whined softly, his teeth grazing over her pulse. “You’ve done it before, what’s different about this time?” 

He growled at her, “I’m not fucking my wife in some random closet.” 

She smiled at that, him calling her his wife. “Fine, then where?”

Lorcan smirked at her and took her hand, walking quickly down the hallway to a door at the very end of it. 

Elide trailed her eyes over her new husband, over his broad shoulders, the cut of his suit, his ass. “Stop staring at my ass, baby.”

She blushed slightly, “I’m not even looking at it.”

He turned, walking backwards to the door and opening it, dragging her in with him. “Really?”

She rolled her eyes, kicking off her heels. “I mean, you can’t really blame me, it’s right there.”

He laughed, his head thrown back as he let go of her hand to take off his suit jacket and tie, unbuttoning the first few buttons of his dress shirt, the ink on his chest peaking through the opened collar. 

She tore her eyes from him to scan the room he had led her in and noticed the bed behind him, crisp white sheets on it. Bringing her eyes back to his, she smiled coyly and pushed him to the edge and he sat down on the bed, the mattress dipping under his considerable frame. He smiled right back at her, tracking his eyes down and up her body, heat flaring in his dark, dark eyes. She turned, showing her back to him, “Buttons.”

He chuckled at her command and did as she told him, his fingers easily slipping the buttons undone, trailing his lips down her spine, over the sword tattooed on her back, ravens and wyverns on either side. The three faced Mother was at the base of her neck and she raised her arms to unpin her hair, letting it fall down her back, nearly to her waist, the strand of pearls falling to the floor as her dress slipped from her body and pooled on the floor. She wasn’t sure if he was breathing as she stepped out of her dress and turned, letting him see the new tattoo she had gotten in secret, Manon had only finished it the day before. His eyes were wide, his face awestruck as he looked at it, the moon cycle between and continuing on beneath her breasts. 

The face of Hellas was beneath her right breast and Anneith was nestled under her left one.

Elide reached behind her to undo the lace cupping her breasts but he stopped her, flicking his eyes up to hers. “Let me.”

She smiled softly and turned again, sweeping her hair over her shoulder. His fingers trembled slightly but he opened the clasp, pushing the straps down her arms and she spun back, drawing the straps the rest of the way down her arms and then let it fall to the ground, her skin pebbling in the cool air of the room, the tension around them weighing on her shoulders. Elide slung her arms over his shoulders and straddled his lap, lowering her lips to his. “Scared, are we?”

Annoyance flashed in his eyes and then he flipped them, pinning her to the bed. She laughed darkly and ran her fingers down his front, unbuttoning his shirt and pulling it from his pants, pushing it off his shoulder, her eyes on his copper skin, marked with dark ink, almost none of his chest left untouched. Lorcan’s hands left her waist so he could throw his shirt to the ground. He leaned up off her to take it off and as soon as the white fabric left his hands, she was pulling him back down to her, kissing him as he lifted her, her legs wrapped around his waist and moved further up the bed, undoing his belt and taking off his pants, his shoes and socks landing on the floor next to them until the only thing separating them was her lace panties and his briefs. 

He started to kiss down her body but she pulled him back up, snarling, “Play later.”

He smirked and shifted her panties, groaning at the wetness his fingers felt and drew his hand away, slipping his fingers between his lips. His eyes fell shut at her taste and he bowed his head. 

When he opened his eyes again and looked up at her, she felt herself drip at the heat and desire blazing in his eyes as he hooked his fingers in her waistband and pulled the soaked lace down her legs until she was bare underneath him and she moved her hands to push his boxers off him, Lorcan lifting his hips to help her shove them down until they were skin on skin and his forehead rested on hers as she took his length in her hand and guided him between her folds and whispered, “Please, I need you.”

Lorcan pressed his lips to hers, swallowing her long moan as he pushed into her, his mind blanking at the feeling of being buried in her, soft and warm and wet and tight.

He bottomed out and her head fell back, curses in an ancient language leaving her lips when he shifted slightly, moving inside her. 

She moaned again, hitching her leg higher on his hip and met his rolling thrusts with her own until he flipped them, still sheathed inside her and Elide braced her hands on his chest, right over the Terrasen knot over his heart and the words in the Old Language that crawled up his right arm, creeping onto his chest and the side of his neck.

She circled her hips and his head dropped back, a whispered string of curses falling from his mouth. She rolled her hips into him, her clit grinding against his pelvis and her head fell back, the ends of her hair grazing his thighs. Lorcan managed to half open his eyes, wholly black, his pupils blown wide in pleasure. Her face was tilted up to the skies and all he could see was her throat bared to him and the tattoos on her pale skin, freckles dusting her shoulder and chest. 

He felt something foreign on his chest and looked down, seeing her iron nails digging into the skin of his chest and the new ring that sat on her finger, a matching one on his own finger, his hands circling her waist and he guided her up and down.

Lorcan sat up, sliding deeper inside her, a broken cry tearing from her throat as she shifted in his lap, his hands drifted to her back, pulling her closer to him as she let him take control and push up into her, her cries becoming more and more shattered with every thrust into her. 

He took one of his hands away to tilt her chin back down, nearly unable to see the molten brown of her eyes, her pupils widening. He gripped her jaw in his hand, keeping it where he wanted so he could claim her lips, his tongue slipping into her mouth to tangle with hers. 

Their mouths moved in tandem with their bodies, complete harmony and he let go of her jaw, dragging his hand down between her to rub tight circles around her clit, her walls fluttering once around his length. 

He bit her bottom lip and trailed his lips over her jaw and down her neck, sucking a mark on the dark ink of the Maiden’s head that peaked over her shoulder. He bit her skin and she dug her nails into the skin of his shoulders, drawing blood as her hips circled once more and she came undone, release tearing through her body, her cries stuttering as she clenched around him and he pushed up into her until she was coming again and pulling him over the edge with her, moaning as he spilled his release in her and their movements calmed until he was still inside her, their skin gleaming with a sheen of sweat and their chests heaved as Lorcan fell back, rolling them over and shifting out of her, flopping onto his back beside her. 

Elide slung her leg over his waist and he could feel his release dripping from her folds. 

Lorcan pushed her leg off, kissing her lips softly before kissing down her body, pausing to suck identical marks on the undersides of her breasts, over the god of Death and his consort. 

He continued on, swirling his tongue over the little dagger on her hip before settling between her legs, slinging them over his shoulders as he licked up her, licking their combined juices from her folds over and over until she came again, his tongue deep inside her, her legs shaking beside his head. 

He chuckled darkly and flicked his eyes up, seeing tears fall from her eyes, the sensation too much for her. Her hands pulled at his hair, his bun falling out, tugging him back up. 

He rose above her and claimed her lips, letting her taste what was on his tongue. 

She sighed and pulled away, pressing at his shoulder until he lifted off her and she sat up, kissing his shoulder softly before slipping off the bed and strolling into the bathroom. 

Lorcan stood and flipped the sheets back, lying down, rubbing his eyes and trying to calm his racing heart, images of her in his lap and coming undone under his tongue burning in his eyelids. He drifted off to sleep and a few moments later, a body joined him, curling into his side. “Forty-five minutes till they send a search party, Salvaterre.”

He didn’t even bother opening his eyes, wrapping his arms around her waist to pull her to him, opening his eyes when he didn’t feel the familiar softness of her skin, seeing her in his dress shirt, unbutton. He growled, low in his throat.

Elide laughed softly, sighing as she melted into him, tangling her legs in his, the two letting that sweet oblivion drag them away. 

Forty-five minutes, a search party did indeed burst in to drag her away from him, cursing his name for undoing all their hard work.

creds for the idea goes to @the-regal-warrior thank you lovely

@myfeyrelady @schmlip-scribble @kandasboi @rhysands-highlady @city-of-fae @westofmoon @empire-of-wildfire @highqueenofelfhame @rowanwhitethornss @the-regal-warrior @shyvioletcat @tangledraysofsunshine @alifletcher2012

[le-noire-beaute]

Chapter 26

 Day 398. It had been a year and one month since she’d been taken against her will, and forced to become Decarlos’ trophy. She refused to refer to herself as his woman, even if he did so himself. She hated him. With every fiber of her being, she despised Decarlos Perez.

He treated her like a queen, despite his spouts of anger. She tried to avoid angering him most times, because he could get violent when provoked. He never laid a hand on her, but came close on many occasions, and the last thing Brooklyn wanted was to add physical abuse to her long shit list.

Whenever he did let his anger get the best of him, Brooklyn would wake up to a random bouquet of flowers and an expensive gift, his apology for acting out. She could care less. She hadn’t had any contact with her family or friends in over a year, so there were many nights she would cry herself to sleep.

On the other nights, which were most nights, he wanted to be intimate. The first few nights she was in Cuba she flat out refused to let him touch her. But after a while he became fed up and reminded her that her family’s survival depended on her. And just to prove that he was deathly serious, he had her father’s older brother killed. Horrified, she cried the entire time he was inside of her. Afterwards, she knew she’d never be the same.

Some days she’d even contemplated suicide. Maybe ending her life would keep her family out of harm’s way and free her from being a prisoner in Decarlos’ enormous mansion. But anytime she got even close to doing it, she’d chicken out.

The only thing she could do now was to pray………

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

Like every evening, Brooklyn sat at Decarlos’ enormous dining table, enjoying a well cooked dinner prepared by his live-in chef. It was something that Decarlos was very adamant about; they ate together every evening, no ifs ands or buts. Brooklyn guessed it made him feel like they were a real couple, but it honestly made her sick to her stomach, as did anything pertaining to the man.

“How was your day?” he inquired.

Mentally, she rolled her eyes. She was not allowed to leave his house without his personal body guards flanking her, and acting as her chauffeurs everywhere she went. Everything was reported to him hourly, so he knew exactly how her day went.

“Fine,” her answer was short and dry.

“Did you enjoy the farmer’s market?” he cut into his steak, then made eye contact with her as he waited on her answer.

She shuddered at the intense look in his eyes. “I did,”

He chewed before giving her a soft smile. “I think it is quite admirable that you eat so healthy. It will be beneficial to our child.”

Brooklyn paused, looking at her abductor weirdly. “What?”

He never broke eye contact with her. “After we wed, you will bare me an heir.” The seriousness in his tone made Brooklyn’s stomach drop.

“Absolutely not,” she stated firmly. “You got what you wanted, I’m here.”

He studied her and at that moment she knew he was displeased with her. But she could care less! He abducted her, forced her into another country and kept the threat of killing her family off to keep her compliant. She’d be damned if he forced her into a marriage too.

“Hablas como si tuvieras un opcion,” (You speak as if you have a choice in the matter)

She glared at him. “no me voy a casar contigo. y nunca voy a teine su hijos (I am not marrying you. And I refuse to carry your spawn).

Decarlos calmly rose from his chair and walked towards the foyer leading to the west wing of the mansion. She held her breath; maybe she would get through the night without a fight.

She felt him snatch her up, making her chair topple over and slam her against the wall. He was seething.

“Perra….debes seguir probando mi paciencia, (Bitch…..must you continue to test my patience) ” he hissed in her face. This was the first time he’d ever called her out of her name, so she guessed she hit a nerve.

“Por que deve probar la mia? (Why must you test mine?)” she retorted defiantly.

Decarlos laughed suddenly, his grip on her chin tightening. He let out a sigh, but smirked.

“Tu abuela esta muy encantada esta noche,(Your grandmother is looking quite lovely this evening).” he finally said. Brooklyn felt her entire soul run cold.

Tears welled up in her eyes but she refused to let them fall. She would never let him see her cry again.

“ahora dime mi amor, cuantos meimbros de el cuerpo necesitar para que hagas lo que digo? (now tell me my love, how many limbs will it take for you to do as I say?) Que cortaremos primero? Una pierna? Un brazo? Quiza podamos cortarla y cosechar un organo? (what shall we cut first? A leg? An arm? Perhaps we can cut her open and harvest an organ?”

His grip loosened. “Te odio. Rezo por el dia que quemas en el abismo mas profundo del infierno, (I hate you. I pray for the day you burn in the deepest pit of hell.)” She spat, breaking out of his hold.

Turning on her heel, she bolted from him and the room, keeping her tears at bay. But once she reached the small study in the west wing, the tears flowed freely and she found herself sobbing.

[cake-faceshawty]

If you remember my first travel post (Bienvenido a Cuba!), I shared my promise to myself to visit at least one new country each year. And being the birthday diva I am, what better way to kick off twenty-nine twenty-fine than with a girls trip to somewhere new. And thus,

#DESTINATIONTWENTYFINE

was born.

Upon my return from Havana last July, I instinctively started searching for my next vacation spot, and was drawn to the beautiful beaches, exciting adventures and delicious food DR had to offer. I therefore had no doubt that #DESTINATIONTWENTYFINE would be in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

I know what you’re thinking – what is this chick’s obsession with Spanish-speaking countries? Honestly, I’m not sure either 😂 (aside from my love of Hispanic food), but keep in mind that my birthday is in the dead of winter, so travel options are limited due to the weather.

Being the lunatic that I am, by the end of July I had presented my closest girlfriends with a full on PDF document that had everythangggggg (I do my homework, okay!). I had decided on travel dates, given airline options from each person’s point of origin, accommodation options, a full on itinerary and a budget for the entire trip.

However, similar to my Cuba planning, I found limited information online. Even harder, was finding out anything beyond the confinements of all-inclusive resorts. Perhaps it’s because I’m from a popular tourist destination (so I know how it goes), but the thought of staying in a hotel and ONLY experiencing what they present to you at the resort does not excite me. I want to explore the cuisine that hasn’t been watered down to satisfy the palates of tourists; I want to interact with locals and explore beyond the resort walls. And while Punta Cana is known for being a resort town, I knew there was more to be seen than the hotel disco and food buffet.

Within three months, three girlfriends and I had booked flights (catch flights, not feelings okurrrrr), secured a beautiful bungalow via Airbnb and committed to a fully packed birthday getaway to D.R.!

We spent 6 days exploring Punta Cana, eating way too much rice, consuming wayyy too much alcohol and collecting memories to last a lifetime.

Of course I couldn’t limit you guys to just glam shots on Instagram! So, here are all my tips for planning a vacation to Punta Cana.

My follow-up post will have more on where to go, what to eat, what I wore (you know I love a slaycation) and things to do. I hope these posts will answer all your questions!

About Dominican Republic

The Dominican Republic is a part of the second biggest Caribbean island, Hispaniola, which it shares with Haiti. From a tourist’s perspective, the island would seem to be simply beaches and palm trees; however, they also have mountains, deserts and a rich history.

The official language of DR is Spanish, and while some might assume based on the popularity that Punta Cana is the capital of DR, it is actually Santo Domingo.

Their currency is the Dominican Peso, however, USD, CAD, Euros and GBP are accepted in most places in Punta Cana.

Punta Cana

Punta Cana is one of the most popular destinations in the Caribbean and therefore has tons of resorts and villa options. It encompasses Cap Cana, Macao, Bavaro, El Cortecito, Cabeza de Toro, Uvero Alto and Arena Gorda. From the picturesque beaches to the epic nightlife, Punta Cana has become a prime vacation spot if you’re looking for a luxury vacation, some kind of turn up or just want to slay relax on the beach all day – and of course learn a little about the country’s culture!

The beaches and surrounding area reminded me of Jamaica’s north coast – beautiful white sand, lush grass, palm and coconut trees, and warm locals willing to accommodate you despite the language barrier.

What you should know before traveling to Punta Cana

While US passport holders do not need a visa to enter DR, there are visa restrictions for some countries. Jamaicans can enter DR without any visa requirements, however, if you are travelling through the US, you will of course need a US visa. Multiple blog posts had warned of a $10 visitor fee that must be paid before going through immigration, however, we were not required to pay any additional fees. Perhaps that fee is now outdated or included in the ticket fee, but no cash payment was required at the airport from any of us – and we traveled from different locations on different airlines.

Arrange your transportation beforehand: whether you plan to rent a car or need a driver to take you to your accommodation, make these plans before you travel to avoid unnecessary airport stress and get the best prices possible.

About 90% of the resorts are all-inclusive: if you want that resort life and prefer to pre-pay for accommodation, food, alcohol and entertainment, one of these resorts may be your best bet.

Most places in Punta Cana accept USD, Euros, GBP and CAD, so there’s no reason to change your money to pesos. Major credit cards were accepted most places, however, I recommend you bring cash (mostly small bills) for some excursions, tips, and other small purchases.

You can book a lot your excursions in advance online, so you don’t have to worry about them getting sold out. We tried to book as much as we could beforehand in order to efficiently plan our itinerary.

The weather app isn’t always right. The day before we traveled, I was getting a bit nervous because all I saw were rain clouds and possible thunder storms on the Weather App. However, since this is a tropical place, occasional rain clouds appear for short periods. It drizzled maybe twice during our stay and none of our plans were affected by these rain drops.

As a mostly Catholic country, nudity is illegal! So save your topless tanning for elsewhere. If you really want to avoid tan lines, spend some extra dinero on a room with a private pool.

SIM cards with unlimited data for a week are available for $10 USD through Claro, so save on roaming charges and just purchase one at BlueMall (literally less than 10 minutes from the airport) to stay in the loop. Most public places also have Wi-Fi, so you’ll be able to instagram all your amazing pictures in real-time.

What to pack…

As previously stated in my Cuba post, I am not a light packer – I embrace the slaycation lifestyle completely and commit to the slayage – which you cannot do from simply a carry-on. I simply must check a bag when I travel! I’ll try to stick to the basics because  I will have a follow-up post on how to pack for a slaycation, so stay tuned!

Passport. Duh, for any international flight this is necessary – but it always has to top the packing list. I can’t imagine driving all the way to the airport only to realise I left my passport on the bed.

Money. Get your coins ready – and whatever cards you’ll be carrying.

Bags. 1 carry-on, 1 checked bag, a backpack/tote, appropriate bags for outfits.

Toiletries. I’m a naturalista, so of course I have to pack shampoo, conditioner, styling products and a spray bottle. But, you’ll also need toothbrush, toothpaste, mouth wash, first aid kit, any necessary medication, deodorant, sunblock, tanning oil, lotion, tampons/pads, makeup, razor, bug spray and makeup. The good thing about this destination is that Supermercado Nacional in Punta Cana has most things you could possibly want: from Advil to Andrews to Herbal Essences. So if you forget any toiletries there’s no need to fret – you can get most of your necessities at the supermarket.

Electronics. Cell phone, iPad/tablet, camera, portable charger, charger cables for all devices, earphones, blue tooth speaker. I opted to leave my laptop at home to resist any temptation to work while on vacation.

Clothing. Underwear (my standard is 2/day plus extras), shorts, cool clothing (it is a tropical destination), swimsuits, a sweater/jacket, sneakers, sandals, flip-flops, heels/dress shoes, “fancy” clothes, sleep clothes and a hat. Once again, Punta Cana is a modernized island so if you need anything, you can probably pick it up at a mall. BlueMall has a huge Zara, Nike, Aldo, Levi’s, Under Armour, just to name a few. So if you forget anything or want to change an outfit, you can always go shopping 💁🏾.

Travel

We booked our tickets online through our preferred airlines. I use an app called Hopper where you can put in your destination and dates to see flight price predictions on various airlines. You can also watch the flight to know when the right time to book is in order to get the most affordable ticket. If you prefer to stay at an all-inclusive resort, you can find flight + hotel options on aa.com, Expedia, Travelocity, etc.

Traveling from Kingston, Jamaica, Justine-Renee and I booked on American Airlines (my preferred airline). The flight was from KIN (Norman Manley International Airport) to MIA (Miami International Airport), then to PUJ (Punta Cana International Airport). The flight from MIA to PUJ was about 2 hours and the entire travel time was about 7 hours. We left Kingston at 7:49 AM and landed in Punta Cana at 3:15 (DR is 1 hour ahead). The cost for my ticket was $715 USD, which is kinda pricey considering I booked it from October, but I digress…

Please note that the flight prices were probably higher than usual since it is a tropical destination and February is right in the middle of peak season.

My friend Tamara traveled on Jet Blue for less, but her travel time was longer as it went from KIN to FLL to SJU (Puerto Rico) to PUJ. Her return flight, however, only had a layover in FLL.

Christine traveled from North Carolina on Southwest Airlines; her travel time was a bit longer than ours and went from RDU to ATL to PUJ. Her return flight stopped at FLL instead of ATL.

Estimate the ticket price to be anywhere between $500 to $800 depending on your city of origin and when you book the ticket.

Accommodation

As previously stated, I wasn’t too keen on the idea of staying at an all-inclusive resort, plus based on the size of my group, it was more economical to stay at a villa/bungalow. However, there are a wide range of resorts to choose from, especially in Bávaro.

Cap Cana, which is less than 20 minutes from the airport, is a gated resort area containing luxury condos, resorts, beaches and entertainment options.

We rented a villa that was absolutely amazing! It was safe (you need a pass to get through the Cap Cana entrance and to enter Green Village where we stayed), spacious, beautifully decorated, and just perfect for our girls’ trip. It had an outdoor shower and bath tub, and our own private pool and barbecue patio with an expansive backyard (not to mention a beautiful view!). We were also close to the shopping mall, supermarket, restaurants and Scape Park so the location was perfect. Our host, Carlos, was very welcoming and checked on us often; he gave us wonderful recommendations for activities, beaches and restaurants, and replied quickly if we had any questions.

For 5 nights, our villa was about $1400 USD total, which wasn’t too bad when split 4 ways.

Check out our home in paradise (thank you Carlos) here:

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/plus/23742780?guests=1&adults=1

How to get around

One thing that had us anxious when planning this vacation was transportation. While Punta Cana does have public transportation (taxis) and tour buses, we felt it would be easier on our schedule (and pockets) to rent a car. I can honestly say we found the least helpful information as it related to car rental.

First of all, you must know this: the people of Punta Cana drive like taxi men in Montego Bay, so if you can handle that, you can handle Punta Cana. As for people used to “safer” driving conditions, I can understand your reservation – you may want to stick to taxis or private tour operators. I’m pretty sure we only passed two stoplights around downtown Punta Cana; otherwise, it was just a bunch of roundabouts (they really love roundabouts) and wildness a bit of a free-for-all.

I highly recommend you reserve your car prior to your arrival. We reserved our Alamo rental a week before (no deposit required) through Expedia. While I did pay for the collision insurance through Expedia ($11/day that you pay upfront), I think you can pass on that. The insurance company offers a good insurance package and we opted to get all the recommended insurance since we were driving in unfamiliar territory.

Originally, in trying to keep within the budget, I had reserved a midsize sedan. However, we reached an agreement that the four of us AND our luggage would not be comfortable in a Tiida (A TIIDAAAA!?!) so we decided to upgrade to an SUV upon arrival. Fortunately, they were out of the immediate upgrade option, and for the same price as a Suzuki Vitara, we were able to rent a full-size SUV. For 6 days and the full insurance package, we paid $418 with no hidden fees or surprises. The only request was that we  bring the car back with a full tank of gas.

The full tank the car came with was sufficient for 6 days of driving all over the place! We didn’t have to get gas until we filled it right before the return time. The cost to fill the tank was about $75USD.

One thing to note is that in order to rent a car, the person renting must have a valid driver’s license and credit card with the same name. You don’t pay for the car when you first rent it: instead, the company will put a hold on the credit card for $500USD and upon return of the car (provided no damages or accidents), they will subtract the cost of the rental from the $500 hold and return the balance to your credit card. This was a relief for us as we were under the impression that they would be charging the rental fee AND putting the hold for $500 all at once.

Overall the rental experience was hassle-free with no hidden charges, and driving in Punta Cana wasn’t a bad experience. Plus, whether you are roaming or purchase a SIM card, you can use WAZE or Google Maps to get around easily.

  The cost

It’s safe to say that Punta Cana is a pricey vacation spot. I mean let’s face it: it is an area developed for tourism. However, plane ticket and accommodation aside, it wasn’t too bad on the pocket. Grocery shopping is so affordable, we were actually in shock! During our first supermarket run, we bought food items, more alcohol, toiletries, and just so much stuff for the four of us, and somehow the bill was only $120!!! If you live in Jamaica, you can understand how cheap that is for a full cart of things for four people.

There are many affordable options for dining out. Depending on your budget, you can spend anywhere between $10-60 on a meal (sometimes including cocktails). Just do your research beforehand and explore your dining options. We were also happy to have a place to cook in so we could budget our meals efficiently.

I had initially placed our total budget (airfare, accommodation, car rental, food, excursions, “braffing”) at $1700-$2000 USD per person. And while we did upgrade the car rental, we stayed within that budget range.

  My tips + thoughts

Get a Spanish dictionary app. Know the basics! I’m not going to lie, I felt like I experienced more of a language barrier in DR than I did in Cuba. Some do know English, but we did experience several service persons who did not speak a lick of English. Just because it’s a tourist destination, do not expect everyone to know Enlglish!!! You are in a Spanish-speaking country!!!!

Purchase the SIM card. I don’t care how much of a shella you are, once your phone is unlocked, purchase the $10 SIM card from Claro. $10 is so affordable and it’s unlimited data for a week. Like… where [else] dey do dat at????

Buy your alcohol in Duty Free when you land. If you plan on getting lit like we did, get your alcohol (especially champagne, Hennessy, tequila) in the duty-free store because it’s so much cheaper! They had some great deals (like 2 bottles of Moet for $120USD) and they had these delicious fruit-infused spirits. You can sample them literally as you step out of immigration. We bought the Papaya-infused Tequila and the Mango-infused Rum. The only downside is we did have to mix some Appleton in the cocktails because those spirits are only 20% alcohol and in Jamaica we’re used to 40% Appleton and 63% White Rum so you know how that goes…. 😁.

Drink bottled water. While the water is relatively clean, depending on where you’re from, you can still get traveler’s diarrhoea or some kind of stomach reaction. I prefer to keep it safe – especially after getting sick in Cuba 🤦🏾‍♀️.

Do not wait until the last-minute to buy souvenirs! We waited until the morning we were leaving and headed to Bavaro to find some souvenir shops. A lot of those places don’t open until midday, so we couldn’t wait and ended up with the limited (and overpriced – $9 for a shot glass 😒) airport finds. Try to actually visit some local stores outside of the airport.

Be open to new experiences – especially food! While you will find American chains such as Wendy’s and Pizza Hut, do not travel to a new country to only eat French fries and pizza! Try some local cuisine – explore the food options!

While it is disappointing, there is a chance you could experience some racism or prejudice while in DR. I don’t want to bash the entire island for 2 instances we experienced, but I do think it is 2 too many. However, if you’re familiar with how some Dominicans think about black people and people of Hispanic descent who don’t speak Spanish, you’ll understand why we weren’t exactly surprised; we were more taken aback that this could happen in a tourist area like Punta Cana, when so many tourists from all over the world come to visit year-round. Anyway, please don’t let those two incidents discourage from seeing all that Punta Cana has to offer. We had a wonderful time otherwise and were met with warmth and hospitality from the other locals.

  Tips for planning a group trip

Plan your trip at least six months in advance. This gives people enough time to bail on plans to commit to everything.

Be cautious of who you invite on a group trip: personalities clash and nothing is worse than spending a ton of money to go see a new country only for a spoil-sport to rain on everyone’s parade. Take into consideration personality traits and rooming arrangements (don’t invite a neat freak and a messy Betty and have them room together – that’s an argument waiting to happen).

Plan your budget from the jump and set a reasonable timeline for that budget. A good thing to do is to mark up all costs, so there’s some wiggle room in case things come up or prices go up (or if you live in Jamaica, you can work with the fluctuation of the dollar). It’s better to come back with some extra funds than to have an insufficient amount while overseas.

Pay for things as you go along to avoid having to fork out a lump sum. Since the budget for this trip was kinda steep, I made sure we paid for things over the six month period, so that by the time the trip came around, any money spent would be on going out and other trip expenses. We started by paying for the Airbnb from September (you can pay 50% upfront and the balance 2 weeks before your trip), booked the flights in October, shopped for outfits between November and December, paid for excursions in January and by the end of January we paid the balance on the villa. By the middle of February our only costs were things paid for in DR. This was so much easier than forking out $2000USD one time! After all, my friends and I don’t have sugar daddies are not big ballers (YET!).

Try to make an itinerary beforehand: this way, you can have an idea of what each day will be like (what will the wake up call be? will the lunch spot be close to the activity we’ll do in the morning?), and you can efficiently plan your outfit options based on what you’ll be doing. I’m a foodie, so I also like to check restaurant reviews and menus before I go so I don’t waste money on bad tasting food. Not to mention, this will help you stay within your budget so you don’t end up going to restaurants with four dollar signs and have no money left in the budget for activities. But keep your options open: certain places may not pan out, so it’s important to have back-ups. I’ll be sharing my psychopathic  PDF with you guys at the end of this post.

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Have you ever been to Punta Cana? Are you planning a trip there? Comment below and let me know. Feel free to ask any questions also ❤️

Be sure to follow me on my other social media platforms:

@tiffanysamantha_ (blog)

@beatsbytiff_ (makeup artistry)

@cakefaceshawty (Twitter)

@tiffsamlaw (Snapchat)

¡DESTINACIÓN PUNTA CANA! If you remember my first travel post (Bienvenido a Cuba!), I shared my promise to myself to visit at least one new country each year. 3,648 more words