#we were trying to go swimming but the pool we went to was booked up so we had to drive around while calling places

[fingertipsmp3]

It is SO funny and honestly kind of alarming when you realise a small child is starting to adopt your turns of phrase

[banj0possum]

umm is it possible to get a yandere! male!siren x shy!gn reader?

Fish Bait

Yandere!Siren x GN Reader

CW: Kidnapping, assault, minor stalking, murder, thalassophobia maybe?

🌊 You are quite shy when it came to talking to people. You found the whole 'socializing thing' a bit overwhelming considering how rough and loud the rest of the people in your academy was.

🌊 You much preferred staying by the shore with a nice book or drawing book to enjoy the sound of the waves with. The ocean breeze and wailing of seagulls never failed to relax you.

🌊 One day, you heard the strange sound of splashing by the tide pools along the more rocks area of the shore. You thought it was a fish or some other animal that got stuck in one of the pools after the tide retreated and got up to help it out.

🌊 But what you saw was no animal, well, half animal. In one of the pools was a man with the lower half of a fish, his scales glistened wondrously as it splashed in the water.

🌊 The man looked at you with wide eyes and froze. You put your hands up to show you meant no harm.

🌊 "Please! Spare me! I just want to go home!"

🌊 "Calm down! I won't hurt you!"

🌊 He shook with fear as your hands drew closer to him.

🌊 You then pulled him up from the pool and carried him to the sea, he stares at you as you gently lowered him unto the water.

🌊 As soon as his tail was submerged in the sea, he swam out of your grasp and went a distance away from you, part of his head peeking out of the water as his red eyes looked at yours.

🌊 "Well...safe travels.." You mutter, wading back to shore, but the merman peeks his mouth out the water and shouts to you.

🌊 "You're not going to ask anything in return?"

🌊 You look back. "Uhm..no, I'm fine, thanks anyway.."

🌊 "Hmm, you know...you can come with me to my home. I'll grant you the power to breathe under water and you can enjoy the treasures I have there. What do you say? It's the least I can do for what you've done for me!"

🌊 "Nah, I'm good. Be safe though, I heard theres pirates that hunt merfolk nowadays..." You continue your way to shore but the merman swims quickly to your side.

🌊 "Don't you want to be rid of those insolent fools you call schoolmates? I can give you a life people only dream of!"

🌊 "I'm not really..interested..."

🌊 "...You're not?"

🌊 "Yeah..."

🌊 "...Oh..uh..ok...wow-um..well, bye I guess..." The man stutters before sinking his head back into the water.

🌊 You sigh, that was some encounter. You doubt you'd run into something like that again...

🌊 Boy howdy you were wrong.

🌊 You'd spot the strange boy again and again, always hiding back behind the rock or piece of driftwood he was watching you from.

🌊 Sometimes you'd also find trinkets and beautiful stones laid on the shore. You never took them though; you didn't want to take something someone probably lost. The merman would grumble to himself every time you ignored his baits.

🌊 You'd also see him again trapped in the pools, feigning sorrow that poor little him got stuck again during another low tide. What ever shall he do?

🌊 Your days would go on like this, the merman desperately trying to lure you into the sea but to no avail due to your shy and polite nature.

🌊 Him basically stalking you turned to him directly talking to you and trying to get you to go with him in the water.

🌊 "Oh dear, I've been stuck at this reef for ages! I just can't get out! Could you help me please? I promise not to drown you!"

🌊 "No thanks, I'm on the last chapter of my book..."

🌊 "My, my, it's so lonely in the ocean, not a playmate in sight, come down with me so we can really get to know each other yeah?"

🌊 "I don't really wanna get my clothes wet..."

🌊 What you thought was a potentially dangerous creature of the sea became a whiny, attention-seeking drama queen.

🌊 Eventually, you'd learn his name is Caspian. He gave up a bit on trying to lure you and settled on making small talk with you.

🌊 Most of your conversations would revolve around your cultures, how you two lived compared to eachother.

🌊 "So those silver things with teeth aren't combs? Interesting...tell me more!"

🌊 He more or less looked up to you because of the knowledge you'd tell him, even though it was all basic things ever human knows, but he wasn't a human so, I guess it's alright.

🌊 He'd try to crawl onto shore to see what you were reading or drawing. You'd have to scoot away from him because he was dripping wet, and you didn't want your paper to get soiled.

🌊 Please read to him! He loves it when you read out loud the books you bring!

🌊 Life seemed pretty content with you having a friend to talk to, one who's not judgmental of your quiet personality.

🌊 That was until one day, you heard laughing and shouting from your usual spot.

🌊 You saw your classmates, waist deep in the water trying to drag Caspian to the shore, the merman snarling and biting the air around him angrily as the bullies degrade and laugh at his attempts to wriggle out of their grasp.

🌊 "Look at this, boys! With this ugly thing we can buy the whole pub if we wanted to!"

🌊 "H-hey! Leave him alone!" You shouted, dropping your things as you ran to help your friend, but one of them punched you with in the face and grabbed you, about to hit you again.

🌊 "What? You're gonna let this siren kill everyone that comes to this beach? God you're dumb! No wonder why you have no friends!"

🌊 He was about to give another blow when you both heard a shrill cry from the ocean.

🌊 The water pooled with crimson as only the splashing of limbs can be seen form the shore, cries and gurgles are heard from the writhing gore. Your classmate rushes into the water to save his friends before the violent splashing stops and the red patch of bloody water extends towards him and around him until you see him get yanked below into the water, a splash of a fish tail verified in your mind that it was Caspian.

🌊 You could feel your heart pounding as you see the siren lift its head from the water, his blood red eyes staring at you again with razor sharp teeth bared.

🌊 "P-please...don't hurt me..I didn't lead them to you I swear!" You cried as he crawled to your shivering form.

🌊 You held your breath as he pulled you in a wet hug, your clothes getting stained by the salty, bloody water.

🌊 "Oh my darling~ I know you would never hurt me~ But we're not safe here anymore..I fear I'll have to take you somewhere safer...somewhere away from those disgusting creatures."

🌊 You couldn't even react before you were pulled into the water forcefully, you kicked and swam all you could to get him to let go of you, but soon enough, your whole body was under the water. The only thing that was left of you were your things by the sand, and bubbles that rose to the surface before stopping.

🌊 "You'll be safe here my love, my most wonderful treasure~"

this one was by far one of my favorite bois ive written, he's so mhmhmghghghmmmhmhmmhhh

[kentosbabes]

Pool time

Best friends older brother trope with Gojo (smutty af)

Gojo, your best friend’s older brother, fuck this is going against every girl code in the world. You grew up with them, your families were close so you spent every summer at their grandparents and they came with you on holiday. And to be fair, you never saw him like that anyways, that was until this summer. Usually, he’d be stuck in hisgaming with friends or outside playing basketball. You stayed with your mother for the first half of the summer, and you were invited to stay with their family for the rest as she had a holiday booked with your father and Gojo’s parents abroad. It was just like normal, except well it was evident that he had a really good summer.

Walking into the living room and dumping your bag on your best friends bed, you went to get a glass of water and some snacks to watch some tv with. But there he was, hair annoyingly perfect and my god did he have abs now? Sweaty, shirtless and glistening. You could’ve had an aneurism right there and then. “-n, Y/n?” Spaced out of course you did, “Hey! How have you been stranger?” He throws a signature smirk your way and did your stomach just flip flop?

This isn’t right, you should see him like a brother or at the very least a very platonic friend. You both conversant with each other, it was like no time had passed- he still teases you and you still get playfully annoyed at his dumb remarks. You explain the situation, that you’re staying here until both of your parents come back from their vacation. “Well, it’s good having you around it hasn’t been the same without you.” You couldn’t tell if he was flirting with you or just playing around.

Days turned into weeks, and your time at the Gojo house proved to be an adventure of its own. There was an unspoken tension between you and Satoru that made you confused the most. It was the late-night conversations on the rooftop, stolen glances across the dinner table, and playful banter filled the air. There was an undeniable magnetism pulling you and Satoru closer together, yet the fear of jeopardizing your friendship held you back.

With each passing day, the bond between you and Satoru grew stronger, and the line between friendship and something more became blurred. The forbidden desires that had remained dormant for years began to surface, igniting a flame that couldn't be extinguished.

One scorching afternoon, as you lounged by the pool, the heat seemed to intensify between you and Gojo. Your friend left to hang out with her boyfriend so it left the both of you to try cool down in the pool. Beads of sweat trickled down your temples as you watched Gojo emerge from the water, his toned physique glistening.

You shook your head, unable to tear your eyes away from him. The air was thick with an unspoken tension, and your heart raced in anticipation.

“Do you feel this? Tell me I’m not crazy,” he starts to swim closer to you, “We can’t do this, you’re my younger sisters friend,” Gojo is looking at your lips and deep into your eyes.

“Yes, you can, I’m eighteen and she doesn’t need to know and if she finds out she can get over it.”The heat is unbearable, the tips of your noses are touching and you’re breathing in synchronicity. “Fuck,” he pauses, “I guess we are.”

Closing the gap between your lips, kissing you in the pool, underneath the water, his fingers are already slipping inside the lining of your suit, long, insistent. “Gojo,” you plead.

Sitting on the edge of the pool step, you settle in his lap- your chest still underwater but your head available for his miscreants. As you settles over his lap, a growing bulge you pretend isn’t there, like his dick isn’t burying itself up in your skimpy suit. “Please, Gojo,” you whine, you start to ache- unconsciously grinding on him. “I gotta say, I love hearing you say my name like that.” Kissing your neck and bitting the love of your ear, sending shivers down your spine.

“You’re already wet for me right now, I can tell the difference between the slick your pussy makes and water.” He pulls the bikini bottom aside and his cock slides between your soft thighs, up against that wet flesh. Prodding. Teasing. Hard.

As he stretches you open, the initial thrust inside is slow and pleasantly sharp. He's big, shifting his hips slowly for you to take it all in. He feels unlike anyone you’ve ever been with; there's a sadistic edge to his slowness, dragging each stroke as if he wants to slide over every nerve in the tight confines of your cunt. “Fuck, I know you like this so let me hear it, she’s gone to the shops and won’t be back for a while.”

Moaning louder and whimpering his name like a mantra you listen well to his commands.

You gasp into his mouth, unconsciously raising your leg up to wrap around his waist as he supports you with his arm, your fingernails clawing at his shoulders as you feel yourself reach your high, the coil in your tummy snapping. Water rushes around your waists, splashes between your bodies, and you feels so warm, so weightless. Blissed out and fucked out.

“Gonna cum? I know you are I can feel it, it’s ok I’m right here, you can do it, don’t act like you don’t want me to fuck you even harder than this. You’re clenching and squeezing my fat dick that’s buried in your cunt, I’m right here babe. Come for me baby. ”

“Y/N? Gojo? I’m back! What’s up?” Your friend of five years asks, Gojo drapes his arms around you like he’s giving you a hug, innocent, friendly. “Nothing much, it was too hot in the house and we wanted a dip in the pool,” you quickly added.

“Ah, well I have an assignment that’s due tomorrow so I can’t join you but I put the ice cream in the freezer so feel free to get one.”

Gojo’s sister leaned in to theatrically whisper, “But if I catch you eating my Ben and Jerry’s cookies and cream ice cream I’ll kill you.” You shifted yourself further back into the pool to avoid her seeing what you two are doing, immediately regretting it because Gojo’s dick hit a spot that sent you a little haywire. Causing you to gasp. Your friend looked at you in concern, “Just stood on my foot wrong” reclaiming your composure.

Gojo started to rock his hips, pushing back into your soft body, ass bouncing against him underwater, before the door hushes over the frame again. Quietly shushing and grabbing a handful of your soft ass, squeezing and rubbing. He buries his fingers into your flesh till you feel that you’re going to be bruised. At this point, his cock is so hard that the friction of it inside of you makes you feel so full, that it’s so achingly deep. You cum fast and hard, ducking your head under the water and covering your mouth lips with his hand.

“We need to do that again. Fuck.” He whispers into your ear.

[devoutekuna]

A summer day

Includes- Toji, Sukuna, Nanami, Gojo, Geto

Sukuna-

His daughter inherits his love for food, always taking some whenever she had the chance, you didn't understand how she wasn't fat at this point, always stuffing her plate with meat. So when she found out that there was something cooking on the grill, she instantly went for it, leaving the comfort of the shade from the blazing sun as she ran for the open grill. Standing on the stood only for her to accidentally burn herself with the instance she accidentally touched the grates. She hadn't even noticed for a few seconds till a small burning feeling became. "Papa!" See, her father always told her if someone was burnt or on fire to throw it in water or something like that, she didn't have that good of a memory. Soon enough she was trying to stay on the unicorn floaty dipping her hand in the pool water which was practically boiling due to the sun, which didn't help much, resulting in her father having to come save her.

Nanami-

He loves the sun, but would prefer to be in the shade right now, laying on the grass staring up at his book. But always looking back towards the pool to see his daughter swim, she had floaties on and knew how to swim so he trusted her, but not enough, that's why you were there. Sat right beside the pool water as she kept trying to swim towards you. "Kitty!" Screaming towards the poor cat that kept coming around their house. "Come here" swimming towards the cat as it ran away from her.

Geto-

"Oh no" the waves washing away her sandcastle, she should've listened to her father when he said that it was silly to build it so close to the water. "I told you baby" picking up the sandcastle mold as she sucked over the pile of sand. "How about we go do something else?" It was getting dark and he wanted to go home, especially since his whole body was covered in sand. "Ice-cream?" Trying to still build the castle once again. "Ice-cream or the fancy restaurant?" He shouldn't have gave her that option as she'd surely pick the ice-cream over the restaurant. Grabbing her hand as he pulled her up. "Ice-cream!"

Gojo-

Feeling an ounce of sun and he's already got the bright idea to have a water fight, normally he'd use water guns, only the balloons. But he was feeling devious and wanted to get back at his son for last summer. "Just don't come in the house with the guns or balloons." Locking the males out of the house, keeping an eye on your son as he was close to the pool. Water already being spirited onto his son's head as he tried to refill the water balloons. "Hey!" turning around to shout only to get a face full of water. Laughs filling his ears as he reached for a water balloon throwing it blindly into the space. Unfortunately for him, his father had turned on his infinity which wasn't even fair yet.

Toji-

"Daddy Daddy!" Running up to the man who was sat on the beach stuffing his face with watermelon, ignoring her mother completely as you laid face down under the umbrella. "Look!" Accidentally throwing the seashells onto his lap. The main one being a big conch shell, picking it up and shoving it in his face. "It's like moana's daddy!" Grinning and everything. "Yeah" he wasn't that interested in seashells but he loved to see his little girl smiling. "Show your mum" leaving all the small seashells on his lap as she woke you up.

[wosoluver]

There's a place for you hc

Part 3

Claudia Pina Masterlist

Patri Guijarro Masterlist

Between the three of us

──✩₊⁺⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧──

"Finally!" you said jumping on the bed you saw in front of you.

You, Claudia and Patri were traveling together this summer, just for a couple of days until you had to meet with your other friends. You had booked a villa and getting there you guys did the usual 'first to get to the best room gets it' and you were the first to enter it.

"You cheated!" said Patri, coming in to the bedroom.

"I didn't, you were the one who offered to carry our bags in!"

"Yeah, she's right. Also let her be, she never wins anything!" said Clau laughing.

"Hey!" you faked offended, throwing a pillow at her, who easily dodged it. "I don't know about you two but I'm going for a swim!" getting up to look for your bikini.

"What about lunch though?" asked Patri.

"We can cook something!" said Clau exited.

"Count me out!" said the midfielder.

"What? Your the one who brought it up!" argued the forward.

"I'll help! We are better off without her, she can't even fry an egg." you said poking some fun at Guijarro once again.

"You are so lucky I'm not in charge of food, I would poison you!" she yelled while the two of you disappeared to the kitchen.

──✩₊⁺⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧──

"I think I need a siesta after that spaghetti." said Clau.

"That makes us two."

"I'd say it makes us three but I'm going to clean the dishes. I'll be right back." said Patri.

"Do you need any help?" you offered.

"No. Just make sure you don't fall asleep in the sun again! You look awful as a shrimp."

You only looked her way and showed her your tongue as usual, as Clau only laughed and shook her head. Moving to lay by the pool.

"Here let put some sunscreen on ya."

You only followed her request, lying on your back as she softly massaged the cream on you. Making you shiver under the 30°C sun, just with her touch.

Again, only doing best friends' things. So why did it feel so much more intimate than that?

──✩₊⁺⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧──

The three of you spent the rest of the day there, enjoying the weather and the water. When the sun started to set you decided to go in for a shower.

when you came out into the bedroom Clau was sprawled over the big bed.

"You showered already?"

she nodded. "You're the only person I know who takes one hour showers at least twice a day."

you gave her a small laugh as you layed down next to her.

"Why does the water makes us so sleepy?"

"And hungry! What are we ordering?"

"I don't know, wait till Patri comes out of the shower. She'll probably want something different again."

You both laid there peacefully, for another 20 minutes.

"Hey! What are you guys doing!" said Patri throwing her hair brush at the two of you lightly.

"We're just chilling." Clau answered her. trowing a pillow at her.

"What about me?" she argued back with a big pout, throwing the pillow across the room again to hit the other.

"Don't fight! My heart is big enough for the two of you and so is the bed." you said jokingly trying to reason with them.

But soon you realized they went a bit quiet.

"Ay, what's with the faces? It was just a joke!" you say again, looking between the two girls, Claudia with a somewhat serious look swallowing hard and Patri with a slight panicked face. "What are ordering for dinner?" you asked trying to change the subject.

──✩₊⁺⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧──

"Good morning." said Pina walking into the kitchen, going to give Patri a small peck in the lips.

"Be careful!" she whisper yelled.

"Don't worry, you know she'll probably only wake up in a couple of hours.

She's the most not morning person to ever exist."

"I don't know how she manages to make it to training." she said pouring herself a cup of coffee. "Probably only because she gets paid to."

Pina agreed. "Yes, but I think we need to talk about something."

"About?"

"Y/N."

"She keeps hitting on us."

"I'm not bothered, are you?"

"Of course not. But we should've told her already."

"I know but what if she gets upset? What if she distances herself? I don't want that."

"Me either, but she deserves to know."

──✩₊⁺⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧──

By now you guys might know what they are up to, no? 🤫🩷

like & share & request!

[david-talks-sw]

For a lot of fans, the "Jedi lost their way" take really comes down to:

"I never saw the Jedi Council genuinely be kind to Anakin in any meaningful way, so I just filled in the gaps and assumed they were dicks to him".

From there you get the myths that the Jedi manipulated him, only cared for him because of his power, forbid him from seeing his Mom, Mace in particular hated him, etc etc.

Well, quick reminder: in George Lucas' script, Anakin refers to the Jedi as his family.

But hey, if "not enough evidence" is a factor, how would we fix that?

PITCH: A five-issue comic book miniseries, featuring self-contained tales of young Anakin's interactions with various Jedi - seen from their POVs - about how they all come around to liking him, only to epilogue each issue with events from Episode III.

Not all of these are fully developed, but just to give you an idea...

Issue #1: Yoda.

Lesson: "letting to of what you fear to lose"

Set only months after Episode I, Obi-Wan is off on a mission, and Anakin is shadowing Yoda, for the day. Both are reluctant...

Yoda is still grappling with Anakin's uncertain future, maybe reeling from Qui-Gon's death and Yaddle's disappearance.

Anakin misses his Mom, and the last conversation he had with Yoda was the elf telling him he shouldn't be scared for his mother (or so Anakin thinks).

Throughout the day, shenanigans ensue.

Yoda takes Ani to a Council meeting and he keeps interrupting by asking Yarael Poof why his neck is so long, or asking Oppo Rancisis if he ever trims his hair. Giggles from all but Yoda.

Yoda mediates a negotiation between Senators and the subject of Malastare podracing comes up, so Anakin hijacks the meeting.

Yoda goes to Thustra to fight off mercenaries for the King and Anakin tags along, seemingly becoming a burden for Yoda.

However, despite their bumpy start (Anakin being a brat and Yoda being a grump) Anakin and Yoda bond and Anakin's input seemingly becomes the key to the mission's success.

Yoda discovers he admires Anakin's outside-the-box thinking and finds kindness deep in his heart. The issue's narrative voice is Yoda talking to Qui-Gon, noting how similar Anakin and Qui-Gon are.

Anakin realizes that Yoda trained the master who trained the master who trained his master... so that makes him his sort of grandpa! That's so wizard!

Once the task at hand is over, Yoda and Anakin have a moment and talk about the idea that Anakin misses his mother.

Yoda comforts Anakin, explaining that his mother let him leave the nest, and in life things come and go, things which they may grow to care for. But as Jedi, they must be able to let go of these attachments, when the time comes.

Anakin asks if Yoda ever lost someone he cared about. Yoda answers that he's almost 900, by now. A lot of loved ones of his came and went. Qui-Gon was one of them. Yaddle, too. Another one (thinking of Dooku)... still hurts to this day.

One day, it'll be up to him to be as strong as his mother, who Yoda adds might've made a wonderful Jedi. And who knows, maybe he'll see her again, once Anakin becomes a Jedi himself.

Anakin smiles.

Epilogue:

Anakin scowls.

We're seeing Yoda's scene with Anakin in Episode III through Yoda's POV. As he did years ago, Anakin still has problems with attachment... but in this case, he doesn't even tell Yoda anything. So Yoda can only give a general answer.

As Anakin refuses to elaborate on his premonitions and leaves, Yoda feels powerless, and can only hope he was able to help this troubled young man who, day after day, reminds him less of Qui-Gon and more of Dooku. Dooku who died yesterday.

Issue #2: Kit Fisto

Lesson: "don't try to be some 'Chosen One', just be yourself"

Anakin undergoes a trial that involves swimming. And he grew up on a desert planet. So of course, he fails. At night, he steals Obi-Wan's breather and sneaks out of their quarters to go to the pool and train.

He puts the breather on wrong and is about to drown but fear not! Jedi Knight Kit Fisto and his dashing smile are here to help!

He shows Anakin how to put his breather on right and shows him how to swim and fight underwater.

Now, this isn't just a pool. It's a pool in the Jedi Temple! So it's filled with a whole lot of marvelous fluorescent flora and fauna, I'm taking Avatar-style stuff.

So the swimming lesson becomes a lesson about the Living Force (who said it should just be Qui-Gon's thing? Lucas certainly didn't), using water as a metaphor.

The overall idea of the issue is that Anakin is concerned... he left his Mom behind, hoping to make her proud, make Qui-Gon proud, make Obi-Wan proud and live up to this expectation of being the Chosen One... but he's struggling at basic stuff like swimming! How's he gonna be this big time Jedi, one day?

Kit reassures Anakin: he shouldn't aspire to be a "Chosen One". All any Jedi should aspire to be is the best version of themselves.

Next day: Anakin passes the trial, Obi-Wan congratulates him, and Anakin completely misinterprets what Kit was telling him in a hilarious way by saying something silly and cocky like: "I just had to remind the water that I'm the best me there is so it better let me float or else."

Which gets an eye roll from Obi and a giggle from Kit.

(BTW, maybe we can have Nadar Vebb help Anakin swim too! Maybe even set him up as passing that trial the first time round with flying colors to contrast with Anakin, maybe he's an antagonist that comes around by the end, I dunno)

Epilogue:

As Mace battles Sidious in the other room, Kit Fisto, still breathing, rises to his feet and takes a few steps, intent on helping his friend despite his wound, but collapses... he's not gonna make it.

He turns around, stares at the ceiling. Is this how it ends?

Anakin appears in his line of sight, looking around at the dead Jedi, shocked. Kit smiles (ROTS novelization reference) as Anakin rushes into the adjacent corridor.

His last thought is the knowledge that everything's going to turn out alright, now that the Chosen One is here.

Issue #3: Mace Windu

Lesson: Control your feelings, don't let them control you.

Simple story. Obi-Wan was captured by a bunch of IG-11 assassins, allowing Anakin to escape and rescue a Senator's daughter. Now, Anakin and Mace are on a mission to get him back.

They make their way through a jungle filled with traps. Anakin is rushing, he's angry at the droids and afraid for Obi-Wan and it's making him do dumb stuff. After it happens a second time, Mace scolds him.

Around a campfire, Anakin apologizes for his impulsive behavior.

Mace comments that it's understandable. He only started being a Jedi, like, 5 years ago. Mastering your emotions isn't an easy thing to do, and in Anakin's case it's twice as hard. Anakin pries: is that why Mace didn't want him to become a Jedi?

Mace hesitates. Then says it, point blank: "yes".

And while he's sorry for being blunt, the fact remains that last week he threatened two of his fellow initiates with a lightsaber to the face.

Anakin points out that they were bullying him because they were jealous of his skill.

Against all expectation Mace smiles and reveals that he can relate to that. His own classmates would bully him for the same reason. You know who'd step in, in that situation? Qui-Gon. Qui-Gon was like a big brother to Mace, always had his back.

After sighing, with a calmer tone, Mace says he'll have a chat with those students. But Anakin needs to double his efforts to keep his feelings under control, lest he become enslaved by them.

The way he went about it was by developing Vaapad. He demonstrates it to Anakin, whose eyes are filled with stars.

Mace concludes that while he did have misgivings, he has faith that Anakin can find the way to do it.

In the morning, Anakin and Mace storm the castle filled with assassin droids. One of the droids sees they're losing and electrocutes Obi-Wan, hoping to unbalance them. Mace orders Anakin to stay focused, Kenobi can take it! And Anakin does!

Once the courtyard is cleared, Mace lifts the remaining droid torturing Obi-Wan with the Force and crushes it into a ball of metal.

As they walk away, Mace lets out a "good work, Skywalker."

Anakin asks Mace if he can teach him Vaapad-- Mace cuts him off with a "Nope".

"C'mooon!"

"Don't push it, Skywalker."

Epilogue:

In the Chancellor's office, Mace reflects the lightning back onto Palpatine's face.

The Sith seems out of commission.

And Mace is scared shitless. He almost died, a few seconds ago. His instinct is to run. He uses shatterpoint, tries to sense the future because Force knows he's got no idea what the hell he should do next. And that's when he sees it:

The various ways Sidious can kill him and Anakin.

Stop Mace's blade mid-air and Force Push them out of a window,

snap their necks with the Force,

crush the crystal in his lightsaber and let it blow up in his face.

Palpatine is faking and there are barely any scenarios in which Mace and Anakin are walking out of this room alive. And even if they do capture him, then

Sidious can bribe judges and Senate officials and supposing that doesn't work either, he can

escape any prison, kill thousands of clones in one night and

set up a new power base, starting from scratch.

This either ends now or the galaxy is doomed.

For a full second, the gravity of it all terrorizes Mace... then he chases his fear and musters his courage.

Anakin argues but Mace knows what he must do. He prepares to end the conflict once and for all, like a true Jedi would.

Anakin argues again, and Mace detects something else. Wait, why is Skywalker scared?

As he falls, Mace realizes the very thing that he feared would happen, a long time ago, has finally come true:

Anakin let his emotions rule him... and it doomed them all.

Issue #4: Shaak Ti

I was thinking for this one, we can have Obi-Wan bring her in as a sparring partner so she can demonstrate Jar'Kai to Anakin.

I haven't thought of a deeper lesson for this one, I just like Shaak Ti, folks, she's awesome :D

If anyone has suggestions, put 'em in the replies.

Epilogue:

(This one will definitely age poorly when The Mandalorian Season 3 comes out tomorrow!)

Order 66 rages as Shaak Ti protects a group of elderly Jedi in charge of the babies. She takes clone after clone down as she escorts them to an escape room the notices one baby left in the infirmary: Grogu.

Suddenly, she senses an overwhelming darkness approaching this wing of the temple. She thinks fast, she takes Grogu, crosses a corridor where 2-3 Jedi are killed (which is what Grogu remembers in the flashbacks)...

... and goes to a meditation room nearby. The shadow closes in and Shaak Ti realizes who it is: Skywalker.

We catch her moments later as she finished recording a message in her Holocron (the one from Star Wars #9)...

"It's up to you now. Don't let our deaths have been in vain. Don't let this be the end of the Jedi."

... then places it in Grogu's pod and hides him in an air vent. She sits on the chair, pretending to meditate.

The door slides open. Anakin enters the room, senses something in the air vent. Shaak Ti realizes he's about to find Grogu and distracts him: "what is it Skywalker?"

He stabs her. She falls.

He picks up her saber as he prepares to engage Cin Drallig and his apprentice with two lightsabers, just as she showed him.

A tear rolls down Shaak Ti's eye.

She looks at the air vent, sees Grogu's wet eyes peer through the grate. At least he's safe.

Issue #5: Obi-Wan

Lesson: Be less cocky, beware of Palpatine, ffs

Obi-Wan and Anakin are on a mission, maybe they're being chased by monsters, maybe it's in the middle of a firefight, maybe Anakin is trying to stop a train.

Bottom line: Anakin gets cocky and tries to do something incredibly stupid, thinking he can pull it off... and almost dies.

Obi-Wan manages to save him, but that hits him like a ton of bricks.

"I almost lost him."

Anakin's justification? Something along the lines of: he told the Chancellor he'd manage to do a triple flip next time he's on a mission, and that he'd try to catch it on a holovid.

So Obi-Wan loses his shit on Anakin, takes his saber and grounds him for a friggin' month.

Privately, he feels guilty. He almost lost Anakin and it would've been on him. His promise to Qui-Gon would be broken, Shmi's sacrifice, wherever she is, would be rendered pointless... and Anakin would be dead.

He talks to Mace and Yoda, who tell him not to blame himself. Obi-Wan takes this to heart and realizes who's to blame.

He goes to see the Chancellor.

And it's awkward af.

Put yourself in Obi-Wan's shoes. How do you tell your boss, the leader of the free world, to back off because he's a bad influence on your kid, in the most diplomatic way possible?

But he somehow manages. He puts his foot down and asks Palps if he wouldn't mind being a bit more hands-off.

Note: for one page, we're on Palpatine as he remembered every time he undermined everybody else's lessons. "Don't listen to Windu, your emotions are what make you human." "Still, a bit heartless of Yoda to not even send someone to free your mother. I'm sure they had their reasons." "Trust me, you're definitely a Chosen One, even if Jedi like Master Fisto don't see it."

Then Palpatine smiles. "Of course!" He even apologizes and agrees to step back for a bit, he understands that he may have inadvertently undermined Obi-Wan's authority. My bad, Master Kenobi. My bad.

Back in Anakin's quarters, Obi-Wan enters and sits next to Anakin on his bed. Silence.

What follows is a scene like this one in The Lion King:

Obi-Wan admits that Anakin really scared him today.

Anakin is sorry, but at the same time, he knew Obi-Wan would be there to save him in case he failed.

Obi-Wan explains that he won't always be able to be there to have Anakin's back. Anakin dismisses that, saying he trusts him.

"As long as we're together, it'll always turn out alright."

Epilogue:

As their dialog from the previous scene continues, Obi-Wan watches as his Padawan, his ward, his brother, his everything for the past 13 years, kneels in front of the Chancellor on a hologram recording.

So yeah, that was my attempt at writing Star Wars ^^' Thank you for making it this far!

Why only 5 issues? Well, it could be 6 issues. Could be 12, released monthly. I focused on 5 because I didn't wanna spend too much time photoshopping collages. Other scenarios could feature:

Saesee Tiin teaches Anakin flying maneuvers and finds he also has much to learn.

Quinlan Vos and Aayla Secura partner up with Obi-Wan and Anakin. Anakin initially finds a kindred spirit in Quin, even wonders if it would be possible for two knights to do a "Padawan swap", but eventually he sees that - as cool and laid back as Master Vos is - maybe he needs a Master who'll give him a bit more structure than the guy who'll let him stay up late.

Anakin and A'Sharad Hett going through a trial together. #Tatooineboys #arooo #kraytdragonsounds

Here's why I wrote these story ideas down:

There'll always be fans who see the Prequel Jedi as corrupt and arrogant, regardless of how much evidence from Canon or Lucas you provide to dispel the notion.

But sometimes, Star Wars transmedia content is used to fix inconsistencies or bolster ideas that were only alluded to in the films, or show a different point of view.

We got this recently with Shadows of the Sith, for example, which helped smooth some plot-holes from the Sequel Trilogy.

Sometimes, the material around the movies manages to re-contextualize and make the characters or the film itself more endearing, to fans. I mean, that's what The Clone Wars did for a lot of Prequel haters.

And I'm just disappointed this approach wasn't used to help the Prequel Jedi's perception among the fandom.

'Cause these are characters that have slowly been reframed as "the corrupt/complacent establishment" by authors who didn't find them likeable when they watched the films, when they were originally supposed to be "the underdogs who're doing their best".

An approach that was being taken during TCW was "let's question whether the Jedi are really all that good and moral and pure".

Nobody ever said they were, it's just that they tried to be their best selves, but whatever, let's play "devil's advocate", sure. Let's get some new points of view.

But skip to almost two decades later, and Star Wars has played "devil's advocate" with the Prequel Jedi so much that seeing them in a negative light is now mainstream.

So, now... how about we explore:

The trauma Mace Windu felt when he was actively seeing people he grew up with get shot to shreds by battle droids on the daily.

The ex-Jedi Knights who come back to the Order to help their former family, instead of focusing on the ones who left.

Rael or Sifo-Dyas calling Dooku out on his ideological bullshit and forcing him to face the fact that he's just a crook who talked himself into betraying his brethren.

The young Padawans whose masters went to Geonosis and never came back.

Plo Koon being attacked by a mob because he "looks evil" and both the Republic and the Separatist's war propaganda reflects badly on the Jedi, framed as “baby-snatching warmongers in their ivory tower”.

How about - instead of focusing on a series set 200 years prior, y'know, Back When The Jedi Were Great™ - we roll up our sleeves and question whether or not the Prequel Jedi were all that bad?

Just a thought.

[thebetawolfgirl]

The Chanel Ribbon: The Wedding

Word count: 1,858

Pairing: Timmy x reader

Summary: Timmy finally marries the woman of his dreams.

Warnings: SMUT! And just pure joy, a bit of laughter and a bit of teary eyed sweetness!

The Chanel Ribbon: The Wedding

Timothée had finally proposed to his beloved y/n and they finally engaged from last month. They were sitting at home discussing wedding plans while laying on the sofa. It was proving to be difficult, because both sides of the respective families all had their opinions and suggestions about what kind of wedding they should have. One of y/n’s cousins thought they should have a big lavish wedding, an old aunt thought they should get married in a church, but although Timmy was half Christian on his dad’s side he didn’t practice.

So they had shut the curtains, switched off the phones and laptops and any other form of communication and shut everyone out.

They were currently talking about their all time favourite movie, as a break from the wedding talk.

‘We should’ve just eloped as soon as we got engaged.’ Timmy suddenly joked from his spot behind her.

Y/n chuckled but her head suddenly began to spin with ideas.

‘You’re hilarious Chalamet, but your mother would kill you.’

‘True. And if Pauline would help bury my body’ he got up asking if she wanted anything from the kitchen he shook her head no going back to her magazine.

But when he disappeared she quickly messaged Mark and asked him to do some things for her. It was a long shot but if anyone could help her with this particular thing it was his father. She sent the message and got a response almost instantly. She wrote down the information given and put it away until she perfected her plan.

Timmy came back in with some snacks and cans of soda and she smiled. ‘I said I didn’t need anything’

‘Yes but if I had just came back with snacks for me you would’ve be eating them all’ she rolled his eyes and grabbed a bag of chips.

‘Listen, I was just thinking, let’s go away for a few days. Just us, you’ll be doing SNL soon then we won’t have time. I think a few days off will be good.’

He nodded as he turned on the tv pulling her against him. ‘That’s actually a good idea, where abouts were you thinking?’

‘Hmm… How about France? Just to get away from all this stress and we can just relax.’ She looked at him nodding while watching tv.

‘We could get our own villa, with a swimming pool and I could wear that new bathing suit I bought.’

His head snapped towards her his entire attention on his fiancée now. ‘I haven’t had the chance to wear it for you with all of this going on.’

‘Uh-huh’ He watched crawl closer to him.

‘I could bring it and I could try it on-‘

‘I’ll book the tickets now’ she smiled as he grabbed his phone and started looking for early flights to France. The snacks were forgotten on the coffee table as he concentrated on his phone.

She went to move off him and he looked up frowning and whined like an injured puppy. ‘Heyyy’ he made to drag her back but she moved away. ‘I need to pack and I’ll let your parents and sister know we’re taking a few days off, then I’m all yours.’ She walked past him kissing him on the head as she did and hopped upstairs quickly texting Pauline telling her everything about her idea and for her and her parents to meet them at the exact location. Nicole called in tears saying it was such a kind and beautiful thing to do for Timmy and that he would love it. Mark called just to say ‘Thank you y/n, for doing this for my son.’

A few days later they arrived in France and it was beautiful weather despite it being August. Timmy was confused as to why y/n asked him to bring a shirt and tie and his good blazer. ‘Because we may go out to a nice restaurant and you can’t go out in your usual jeans and hoodie Timmy’ Timmy agreed reluctantly and reminded himself y/n was rarely wrong about this kind of thing and this would be the first step in obeying everything his wife wanted.

Their time in France was beautiful, they ate amazing food they visited all of the tourist attractions and Timmy even took her to where he spent his summers. They made love in the evening and she did try on that bikini and he ended up taking her right there in the swimming pool.

They ended up staying longer than intended, one day y/n wanted to go to this little village in the French countryside which Timmy found odd because there was hardly anything in it. She had told him to wear his suit and she wore his favourite dress the simple one he had bought her.

They reached the small village and they stopped in front of an old church, Timmy looked at it confused and looked back at y/n who was smiling at him.

‘Y/n, where are we?’

‘I wanted it to be a surprise.’

She spoke softly holding his hand.

‘This is the church your grandmother married your grandfather in.’

Timmy gasped and his eyes widened before filling with tears.

‘I wanted your grandmother to be with us when we got married.’

He looked back at the old church before grabbing y/n by the back of her neck and crashing his lips to hers and kissed her as the tears fell from his eyes. He broke the kiss and whispered ‘Thank you.’

She smiled nodding and took his hand leading him towards the church where his parents and his sister were waiting for them along with y/n’s parents and sister. As soon as Timmy saw his parents he rushed over to them burying his face in his mother’s shoulder sobbing gently. ‘Mama’

Y/n new he missed his grandmother dearly so it felt right to get married in the same church she did.

Timmy moved from his parents embrace and hugged his sister before turning to his future in-laws and hugging them.

After the greetings and preparations Timmy stood at the alter waiting for his bride. This was better than any lavish wedding and the fact y/n did all of this for him, in memory of his beloved grandmother sealed his confidence that this woman, this incredible beautiful woman would be his and only his. He would watch her soar with her music and they would support each other and have that happy ever after.

They exchanged their vows in French and sealed their bond with a kiss and walked up the aisle husband and wife. Equals.

They had a small private meal at their favourite in Paris and then went back to the villa. Timmy asked both families if they wanted to stay with them but they already got somewhere to stay. Y/n’s parents were staying with the Chalamet’s at the family villa.

They all bid their goodbyes and the happy couple went back alone.

Y/n smiled as she knew Timmy just wanted to get her back to the villa to have her to himself.

Her theory was proved right as soon as the front door was locked he shoved her against it and attacked her mouth.

He picked her up in his arms and carried her bridal style upstairs to their bedroom and shut the door with his foot before setting her down.

She reached for him sliding his jacket from his shoulders and letting it fall to the ground, he pulled her against him by her waist and buried his face in her neck and whispered ‘Wife’

Her breath caught in her throat and she whispered back ‘Husband’

A choked gasp escaped his throat and he groaned against her neck nipping her shoulder, they shed their clothes quickly and she pushed him gently to sit on the bed before climbing on to his lap.

The place was in darkness but he could feel her fingers trailing along his chest as she made to push him backwards, but he flipped her over so she was underneath and began kissing and nipping her lips before moving down her throat and all the way down.

She took a deep breath as she felt him at her thigh and heard him gasp and smirked. She had tied around her thigh the Chanel Ribbon instead of the traditional lace garter. She heard him groan and felt the ribbon being pulled off her leg and suddenly see him above her ‘You’re so bad’ he still had the ribbon in his mouth and she took it from between his teeth before wrapping it around his neck and tying it in a bow around his throat

‘Oh’ he breathed out softly at the feel of the satin around his neck and she grinned at his surprise.

‘You can proceed now’

He looked at her through the dark with wide eyes in shock before he dove down and began devouring her holding her legs open as she cried out and gripped his curls.

He began moving his tongue up and down her bundle of nerves before poking his tongue inside of her making her slam her hand against the railing above her head.

She knew she would have bruises where he was holding her hips down as he went down on her and she didn’t care.

She was close to coming and so pulled on his hair to bring him back up and dragged him to her by the ribbon around his throat smirking when he gasped. He groaned as he flipped them onto his back and kissed her hard before letting her sit up and sink down on him, they both groaned and started moving together. She untied the ribbon and pulled on both ends with her hand pulling him slightly and smirked as he grunted in surprise. She leaned down and met his lips and they kissed passionately as they rode each other hard.

Timmy held onto her digging his fingers into the skin of her back leaving scratches and slamming his hips against hers meeting her force before rolling them over and burying his face into her neck. His arms were trapped around her shoulders underneath and he could feel her dragging her nails down his back. He growled out against her neck at the sting of her nails and grabbed the bed railing using it for leverage and slammed into her harder, hearing her small gasps against his shoulder ‘T-Tim- I’m-‘

She cut off and arched into him as he thrust a few more times before coming with her his hand sliding down the headboard as they breathed heavily against each other.

After catching their breathes they lay in bed together and he played with their entwined fingers as she lay her head on his shoulder. He looked at their wedding rings and smiled softly as they glowed in the dim light of the moon shining through the open window.

‘This was just the beginning’ was Timmy’s last thought before he fell asleep in her arms!

@sufferingstarlight

@kteezy997

@lixzey

@gatoenlaciudad

[half-oz-eddie]

Journaling Billy is so personal for me.

Billy with a gratitude journal that he writes in every time something good happens, or someone does something nice for him.

He got the journal from a nurse at the hospital post-starcourt, who thought it would be a nice way for him to pass the time, while also lifting his spirits and helping him realize how much love and kindness is around him, even if he doubts it.

It's just a blue, soft cover bound book, but he humors the nurse because she's got warm, pretty eyes and reminds him of his mom.

He uses it often, even after leaving the hospital.

Steve catches him writing in his journal one day, and Billy tells him it's fine if he reads the gratitude journal but not his diary.

Steve, of course, is dying to see what's in the journal, what Billy considers nice, and what good things have been happening to the love of his life.

Aug 1, 1985 Everyone came to see me. Even those kids Harrington always babysits. That's nice, right?

Aug 5 Harrington brought me some food from some burger joint. It was good. I guess he's nice even though I was kind of a dick to him.

Aug 21 Harrington showed up to drive me home. I don't know why he's being so nice to me. It pisses me off because I think he just feels sorry for me. I'm probably using this journal the wrong way but I don't care. I can't talk to anybody about this. I'm not feeling that grateful for shit today.

Aug 25 Max helped me with my pain medication. I thought she hated me. She acts like everything's fine. I have to admit I’m grateful what happened only stays in my nightmares and I wake up to a different reality.

Aug 29 Harrington called to check on me. Offered to come over and play cards. He doesn't have to keep pretending. I like the company, though.

Sept 10th Max tried to stay home from school to look after me. I'm doing a lot better so I didn't need the help. I still don't understand why everyone's being so nice after what I did. Sept 14th Felt strong enough to go out for some air on my own. Saw Sinclair and that other kid. Think his name's Dustin. They were on their bikes. They waved and asked how I was doing. Told them I was fine and they rode off. Do I deserve their concern? Sept 15th Sinclair came back while I was on the porch. Asked for Max. I told him he couldn't be here because of Neil. We waited for Max a few houses down and talked about basketball. He's trying out for the team so I gave him some advice. It was a nice conversation. Didn't feel forced at all.

Sept 20th I told Lucas I was sorry for what happened that night. He said he'd forgotten all about it. I know the little shit was lying, but I guess he forgives me. That was cool of him.

Sept 29th Lucas made the team and thanked me for the advice. I don't feel like I did anything.

Oct 4th I'm feeling better than ever. Driving around on my own again. Nobody seems to blame me for what I did, and everyone's nice everywhere I go.

Oct 11th Went to see El. She's always kind to me. She's like the little sister I never had. She made me some waffles.

Oct 15th Saw Harrington again. It was warm so we went swimming in his pool. I really missed the water.

Oct 29th Haven't been writing much down. It feels like I'm saying the same things over and over. Everyone's always nice to me. Dad's not bothering me anymore. I feel like I have a lot of support around me. For once I feel safe. Oct 31st Went to a halloween party with Harrington. First time having a beer in months. Got a little too drunk and we kissed. He didn't seem to hate it. I didn't either.

Nov 9th Finally talked to Steve again after the kiss. He asked if I wanted to go steady. I said no at first, then changed my mind. I'm glad I did.

Steve smiled as he read every entry. Every few days, Billy's entries were longer and longer. He talked about things that made him smile, people he met, and how much he appreciated the simplest things. It was an amazing transformation. He continued to read the entries, his eyes widening when he read the most recent one. January 12th 1986 I'm falling in love with Steve. I was hoping he’d say it first but he hasn’t said anything. Maybe I’m too hopeful. He treats me like he loves me too, I think. But I’m not sure. Steve quickly closed the book, feeling like he'd violated Billy's privacy by reading something he hadn't known before. "Why so quiet, Steve? You read yesterday's entry, huh?" "I—yeah. I thought maybe you wrote it in the wrong journal."

"I didn't. I was gonna tell you, I just...I dunno. I didn't want you to think I was trying to move too fast."

Steve laughed. "You have no idea how relieved I am."

Billy narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

"Billy, I've been in love with you for weeks."

Billy snorted. "You're such a sap, pretty boy."

They shared a kiss and Billy wrote in his journal about how grateful he was, to love and be loved.

January 16th On August 21st last year, I was wrong. I have everything to be grateful for.

▪️▫️▪️

A little something to show my gratitude for reaching 400 followers. I appreciate all of you ❤️

Also tagging some friends I’ve met here that really belong in my gratitude journal for all the kindness they’ve shown lately and their posts just make me smile.

@shieldofiron @monsterpegger001 @dragonflylady77 @harringroveera @bigdumbbambieyes @brightside-of-the-upsidedown @thatgirlwithasquid

[vintageshanny]

Waiting for Love - Part Two

Pleasure and Patience

Thank you so much for all the positive comments about part one! It really means more than you know to get that feedback. ❤️ Let me know if you want to be added or removed from tag list.

Content: Summer of 1970, marriage problems, infidelity, smut, some angst, some fluff, 18+

Catch up here: Part One

Vivien arrived back at her apartment building around 6:30pm to find Roxanne pacing back and forth outside the door. “What the hell, Vivien, I was about to call the police and have them send out a search party! Where have you been?” Vivien looked away guiltily as Roxanne continued her rant. “I was worried sick! Are you just getting home from the movies now?”

“No, of course not, Rox, I got home really late and then I went out today and I was gonna call you as soon as I got back,” Vivien explained. She let them both into the apartment and Roxanne dramatically threw herself on the couch. “Tell me everything, and we’ll see if I forgive you,” she announced.

“Okay, so here’s what happened. There were a lot of people at the theater, but I did run into him. I guess he was looking for me. We talked a little bit and then he gave me a very tight hug and invited me to Graceland today to talk about books with him,” Vivien was interrupted by Roxanne’s gasp.

“He invited you over? Did you go? Is that where you’ve been? Tell me!” she demanded.

“I’m trying to, if you’d quit interrupting,” Vivien retorted. “We were having a really nice conversation, and then he was interrupted by a phone call from…Priscilla,” her voice dropped to an embarrassed whisper. “And I think you were right - they don’t seem to be doing too well. He started to tell me how they have nothing in common and then he kind of just changed the subject and got very flirty. And affectionate,” she added. Roxanne leaned in closer, almost holding her breath as Viven continued. “I think I was sending him signals, though. I know he caught me looking at his…thing.”

Roxanne stifled a snort at Vivien’s terminology. “How did it look?” she grilled. “Was it big?”

“It looked pretty nice through his pants,” Vivien admitted. “And thick. Also, I don’t think he was wearing any underwear because it kind of flopped around.”

“Oooh, ready for action, I like it!” Roxanne exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.

“I don’t think it’s like that though,” Vivien tried to clarify before she gave the wrong impression. “I mean, I don’t think he’s unfaithful just for the fun of it. I think he’s genuinely lonely. It seemed like he enjoyed talking to me as much as he enjoyed me accidentally flashing him. Maybe more.”

“Wait, what?” Roxanne almost jumped off the couch at that. “Way to bury the lead, Viv.”

Vivien blushed as she explained, “Yeah, my nipple slipped out when I jumped in the pool.”

“You got to go swimming? This is sounding way more fun than my boring anniversary dinner with Michael,” she whined. “What did he say when it happened? What did he do?”

“With my nipple? Nothing. Nothing right then, I mean. Just made a joke about not having looked too much and comforted me because I was embarrassed.” Vivien couldn’t stop the little smile from spreading across her face at the thought of how sweet he’d been.

“Nothing right then?! Something happened between the two of you, didn’t it? Stop holding out on me!” Roxanne was ready to burst with anticipation of all the details.

“I’m getting to it, I’m getting to it. We were just kind of talking and joking around in the pool. Then he helped me up on the ledge because I was getting cold, and he just leaned in and kissed me! I couldn’t stop it, it was like a force of nature. Or magic or something.” Vivien felt silly trying to explain his aura.

“And how did that translate to him seeing your nipple again?” Roxanne continued her interrogation.

“Well, he just moved his lips down further and pulled my nipple back out and put his mouth on it. And then, um, and then he, uh, put his finger inside me,” Vivien could feel her face turning bright red. Even with her best friend, this was all starting to feel so personal. Roxanne didn’t seem to mind though, she was just relishing all the details.

“You were fingered by Elvis Presley? Some girls have all the luck,” she complained playfully.

“It wasn’t quite that glamorous,” Vivien admitted. “I got embarrassed because he could tell I was a virgin, and then he stopped right away.”

“Why were you embarrassed? Did he make you feel bad?” Roxanne reached out and gave Vivien’s hand a squeeze. “Do I need to kick his ass?”

Vivien smirked at that. As nosy as Roxanne could be, Vivien could always count on her to be the protector. “No, I think he actually liked it. It’s just embarrassing to be 21 and have almost no experience at all.”

“Oh, Viv, you need to stop being embarrassed about that. I bet a lot of guys would love to be someone’s first.”

“Well, he was very sweet about it all and said we didn’t have to do anything. I told him I didn’t want to be a negative part of his life and we should just be friends.” Vivien anxiously fiddled with the emerald ring her parents had given her for high school graduation. She always wore it on her right ring finger. “He seemed fine with that, I mean he even said he still wanted to see me again, but then when he said goodbye I could, um, feel his thing poking into me.” Vivien giggled a little bit at the memory. “Now I’m not sure what to do. If he tries anything again, I don’t think I can stop him. I’ve never had this…desire before,” she finished nervously, looking for Roxanne’s reaction. “Am I a horrible person?” Vivien couldn’t stop from tearing up, all the confused emotions of the last day hitting her at once.

“No, no, you’re not horrible. It’s not on you to make decisions about his relationship; that’s his job,” Roxanne comforted, pulling Vivien into a hug. “See, I knew he wanted to make a move on you. I still think you should just go with it and see what happens. Otherwise you’ll always wonder.”

“I don’t want to be just some random fling, though. It’s not like that for me. He’s…special. I mean, even apart from being Elvis Presley. He’s interesting and smart and funny. He’s actually really funny; he jokes around a lot. And his laugh makes things even funnier. And even his feet are cute!” Vivien finished with a flush.

Roxanne’s expression grew concerned. “Oh, sweetie, you’re in love already. You were just supposed to have a good time.”

“I’m not in love,” Vivien protested. “I just…care about him.”

“Well, what is your plan then? To just be friends and pretend you’re not attracted to him and his amazing laugh and his cute feet? That you don’t want to feel his thick manhood pulsing inside you?” Vivien’s face turned scarlet at that graphic description. “You can’t even think about him without getting flustered. Pretending your feelings aren’t there isn’t going to make you feel any better.”

Vivien nodded in acknowledgement of that truth. “I don’t know, maybe he won’t even call and then this will all just be over.” Vivien thought of how heartbroken she’d be at that, after knowing him for only 24 hours. What kind of spell did he cast on me? she contemplated.

“He’ll call,” Roxanne said confidently. “You’ve presented yourself as a challenge now.”

“It’s really not like that. He’s very sweet,” Vivien insisted, knowing how pathetic she sounded.

Roxanne smiled but still looked worried. “Just don’t get your heart broken okay? You always said you’ve been waiting for something special. What could be more special than this? I think you should just enjoy the experience and don’t make it more than it is.” She could see on Vivien’s face that this advice would not be followed.

“Yes, I should just see what happens, enjoy the experience,” Vivien echoed. “I’ll be fine,” she added, trying to convince herself more than anyone.

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

Vivien tossed and turned for what felt like hours, the events of the day replaying over and over in her mind. Sometimes at night she felt a yearning for the warmth of another person beside her, and tonight that desire seemed to have magnified tenfold. She couldn’t get out of her head the image of Elvis’ face, eyelids heavy with lust, as he touched her most sensitive area and groaned as if he were the one experiencing the pleasure. She finally drifted off to the fantasy of his arms wrapped around her, rubbing her back soothingly as he had done in the pool.

The shrill ring of the phone by her bed jolted her awake. She glanced at the clock and saw it was 2am. The only person who would call her at this time was Roxanne, after having one of her nightmares. “Rox? Is everything okay?” she said groggily as she held the receiver to her ear.

“Who’s Rox?” a deep voice drawled out, making Vivien’s stomach flip flop.

“Oh, I thought you were my best friend Roxanne,” she said, suddenly more alert. “Who is this?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

“Honey, it’s me, Elvis,” he said, and she was sure her pounding heart must have been audible right through the phone line. “I’m sorry if I woke ya. I-I-I c-c-couldn’t sleep,” he stuttered out, sounding a little agitated. “I-I need ta talk ta someone. Can ya come over?”

“Um, right now?” Vivien asked, wondering if she was actually still just asleep and this was all a dream. She dug her fingernails into the flesh of her arm, trying to force herself awake.

“Yeah, I would really ‘preciate it, honey,” he responded.

“Well, um, I don’t really like to be walking around at night too much by myself,” Vivien started to explain.

“Oh, honey, you ain’t got no car?” Elvis questioned. “We’ll have ta do somethin’ about that, but for now, I’ll have Joe come get ya.”

Vivien was too confused and tired to understand what he meant about the car, but she did somehow have the presence of mind to find out what she was supposed to wear to this middle-of-the-night soiree. “I’m, um, I’m in my pajamas.” It was half-statement, half-question.

“That’s good, honey, so’m I,” he said reassuringly. “Joe will be outside your building in ten minutes. I can’t wait ta see ya. Just come up the staircase and knock on my bedroom door.” Click. He’d hung up before she could ask any more questions or come to her senses about going to see him in the middle of the night. She looked down at her silky soft lavender pajama set, just basic pants and button-down shirt, and decided to trust him that it was fine. She was too anxious now to try to figure out something else to wear anyway. She wrapped her hair up in a bun, slipped on her sandals and a thin navy blue jacket, and headed out the door.

Joe seemed annoyed but not surprised that he’d been sent on this errand, and Vivien couldn’t help but wonder how often he picked up random girls in their pajamas and carted them back to Graceland. She decided now was not the time to ask. He said very little on the ride there, but she felt the judgment rolling off him. “You know what you’re doing?” he asked when they pulled in the driveway. Vivien blinked, wondering if he was questioning her life choices right at this particular moment. “I mean, do ya know where to go? In the house?” he clarified, an amused smirk playing across his lips as he realized her confusion. Vivien nodded wordlessly and followed him inside.

Once upstairs, she paused and thought for a brief second about running out the door and back to the emotional safety of her apartment. Or Roxanne’s. You’ll always wonder. Roxanne’s words played back in her head, and she raised her fist to knock on the door. Right at that second, it swung open and Elvis stood before her in a pale blue pajama set, similar in style to her own, but embroidered with a navy blue “EP” on the pocket. Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes trailed over his body, down to his bare feet, toes scrunching into the soft carpet.

“Vivien, I’m so glad ta see ya,” his eyes crinkled in delight at the sight of her, and he reached out to wrap her in a warm hug.

“Um, me too, is everything okay?” Vivien asked, a look of concern etched across her features.

“I-I-I’ve just been real nervous, honey, and I can’t remember the last time I talked ta someone who made me feel so calm,” he explained, pulling her into the room and closing the door tightly behind them. “I hoped you could work that calming magic on me again.”

Vivien smiled and looked around the room, wondering where would be the polite spot to sit in someone’s bedroom. Elvis seemed to read her mind again and indicated she could sit on the bed. “I’ll try my best. What’s going on?” she asked as she removed her jacket, realizing right then that she had not bothered to put a bra on under her pajama shirt before coming over. She noticed Elvis’ eyes flit down to her chest briefly as she sat on the edge of the bed, but he didn’t say anything.

“I’m leavin’ the day after tomorrow for Las Vegas. I have to rehearse for my next set of shows there.” Vivien tried to hide her disappointment that he’d be gone. She just nodded, encouraging him to continue. She noted with delight that he fiddled with one of his rings the same way she did. “There’s gonna be a camera crew comin’ to rehearsals and ever’thing. They’re makin’ a movie, a concert movie, with some of the rehearsals and shows. I guess I’m just feelin’ nervous and hopin’ I don’t make a fool of myself,” he finished, shifting on his feet a little bit before coming to sit next to Vivien on the bed.

“A fool of yourself? I don’t think that would be possible,” Vivien said in surprise. “I didn’t think you’d even get nervous.”

“Oh, honey, I get nervous before ever’ single show,” he admitted with a little smile. “It’s gotta be right, y’know, I gotta give the fans what they deserve.”

Vivien reached over and squeezed his hand, the feeling of his skin on hers sending an electric shock through her. “Elvis, your fans will always love you. They see how much you give. I know I do,” she added with a blush.

Elvis looked up and flashed his crooked grin at her. “See, I knew ya could calm me down with your sweet words,” he said. “But I have ta tell ya honey, you’re kinda doin’ my head in with these, uh, signals ya keep sendin’.”

“What do you mean?” Vivien asked, her blush growing even deeper.

“I mean, you told me that ya jus’ wanna be friends, but soon as ya get here, you’re lookin’ me up and down like a hunter set on his prey,” he teased.

Vivien smiled a little but glanced away, trying to think of how to describe her confusion. “Elvis, I am very attracted to you, and I’ve loved talking to you, but I just don’t want to feel bad about getting in the way of your marriage,” her voice dropped to a whisper on the last word, not wanting to even admit out loud that he wasn’t really available to her.

Elvis sighed a little bit and squeezed her hand in between his two large ones. “Honey, listen ta me. When I’m with you, I jus’ wanna be with you. My marriage is complicated. Honestly it probably shouldn’t have happened, but there were certain obligations I had. And I don’t want to say it’s over, but we’re just not really together much like that anymore. It’s jus’ nothin’ you need to be worryin’ about or feel bad about. Like I told ya before, we don’t have ta do anything you ain’t ready for, but I would never look at you as something, y’know, nefarious,” he said with a smile. “You are a ray of sunshine for me. I don’ know what’s gonna happen in the future, but if you jus’ let go of feelin’ bad, we can really enjoy each other in these moments we have together. Do ya understand what I’m sayin’?”

Vivien nodded slowly, feeling all her resistance slipping away in the smooth avalanche of his words. “I understand. And I do want to enjoy you. I just don’t know how quickly I can-”

“Vivien, we can move as slow as you need,” Elvis interjected. “This isn’t even about that for me. I want your company. I like bein’ with you.”

“Me too,” Vivien whispered as she leaned in closer to his warmth. He tilted his head down and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Your lips feel nice,” Vivien murmured as he kissed her again, this time square on the lips, his tongue lapping against hers. He removed her glasses, set them on the nightstand, and pulled her all the way up onto the bed with him, the makeout intensifying, his hands tracing down her sides. Vivien felt a throbbing in her core that she’d never really experienced before.

“Honey, why don’t ya let me make you feel good tonight?” Vivien tensed a little bit at his request. “It’s okay, we’re not gonna go all the way, I jus’ wanna take care of ya.”

“Okay,” she whispered. “What did you have in mind?”

“Well, I haven’t been able to stop thinkin’ about that nipple you kept flashin’ at me today,” Elvis said with a big crooked grin.

“That was an accident!” Vivien exclaimed, her cheeks flushing as she stared into his sparkling blue eyes while he leaned over her.

“Oh yeah?” he teased. “And what about you showin’ up here with no brassiere, enticin’ me right through this thin little fabric? Is that an accident too?” His long fingers circled around her breasts, getting closer and closer to her hardened nipples that were poking through the fabric of her pajama top. As his fingertips ghosted over first the point of one nipple and then the other, Vivien could barely remember how to speak.

“You, you told me to wear my pajamas,” she managed to get the words out, her entire body starting to buzz with some primal need. “This is how I sleep. And, uhhh,” she let out a moan as he cupped her breast with his large hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “You didn’t tell me it would be like a meat locker in here.”

“Are ya cold, baby?” Elvis asked with a smirk. “Let me warm ya up a little bit.” He looked down at Vivien reassuringly as he started to slowly unbutton her pajama top. He pushed the plackets to the side until her entire torso was revealed to him, her breasts jiggling slightly from the way her chest was heaving with desire. Elvis let his fingertips trace over her bare skin. “I can’t get over how pretty you are, honey,” he whispered as he leaned down and started pressing soft kisses to her collarbone.

“Th-thank you,” Vivien whispered back, unsure of how much talking she was supposed to be doing. “That feels really good.”

“I’m only jus’ gettin’ started, baby. And this is a soundproof room, so don’ be shy, okay? You can let me know how good it feels.” Vivien nodded, her body trembling as Elvis drew a line with his tongue from her collarbone down to her nipple. He lapped at it before sucking it into his mouth, his teeth grazing the sensitive tip of it ever so slightly. He caressed her other breast with his hand, rolling the nipple gently between his fingers, before switching and lavishing his oral attention on that one, spreading his saliva over the first one with his thumb. With every breath, Vivien let out a little moan of pleasure, her thighs starting to clench from how badly she wanted more of him. Elvis leaned up and whispered in her ear, “Are ya gettin’ wet down there, honey?”

“Mm-hmm,” Vivien moaned, and Elvis slowly moved one hand down her stomach toward the waistband of her pajama bottoms. She started to tense up, and Elvis kept whispering soothingly.

“I’m gonna be so gentle with ya, honey. I jus’ wanna take care of ya. If ya don’t like it, I’ll stop, I promise. Okay?” He kissed the side of her head affectionately as she nodded, and slipped his hand under her waistband and into her panties. “Oh, damn, baby, you’re so nice and wet for me, ain’t cha?” he groaned as his fingers slipped through the folds that lay below her little patch of pubic hair. Instead of trying to explore inside again, Elvis just let his fingers play around her entrance and then slide through the wetness to her clit, applying just the right amount of pressure.

“Oh, Elvis!” Vivien yelled out, the pleasure suddenly starting to overwhelm her.

“Does that feel good, baby?” he asked, leaning down to suck on her nipple again while he kept gently flicking her clit.

“Oh god, oh god, it feels so good,” Vivien’s eyes closed and her head tilted back as her legs started shaking around his hand.

“That’s right, baby, let yourself go, I’m gonna get ya there,” Elvis cooed, increasing the pressure of his finger.

“Elvis, I can’t, it’s, it’s too much, it feels too good, I can’t, I can’t take it, oh, Elvis, ohhh,” Vivien called out, barely coherent, as waves of pleasure coursed through her. Elvis slowed his movements as he felt her wetness coat his fingers. Vivien’s panting started to slow as she caught her breath, and she realized for the first time that something thick and firm was digging into her hip where Elvis was laying, rocking gently into her side. He slowly pulled his hand out of her pants but continued to stare into her face with an expression resembling awe.

“Have ya ever had an orgasm before, honey?” he asked softly, studying her state of bliss.

“No, no, I’ve, uh, never felt like that before,” Vivien said, blushing. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears springing to her eyes, although she had no idea why.

“Honey, there ain’t no need ta be sorry. That was beautiful, ta see ya experience that.” He wiped her tears away and kissed her sweetly on the forehead.

“I think I just feel a little embarrassed to be so inexperienced. I guess I’ve always been waiting for someone really special. Waiting for love, maybe.” She started to button her pajama top, suddenly feeling very exposed.

“Well, that’s a beautiful gift ta give ta someone you love,” Elvis said, the word “love” now hanging strangely in the air. The connection between the two of them felt otherworldly.

“It’s funny,” Vivien started out. “There’ve been people I’ve known for years who I struggle to open up to, and then you come along and it’s like an instant connection. I suppose that sounds silly.”

“Not silly at all,” Elvis responded. “I felt that connection too, especially when I saw that book in your purse. It was like a sign that you’d be someone special in my life.”

Vivien looked up at him with a smile. “So, um, did you want me to do anything to, um, take care of you?” she stumbled over her question, feeling excited but nervous to see that thing that had poked her a couple times now.

To Vivien’s surprise, Elvis looked a little bashful. “Not tonight, honey.” He chuckled a little bit when Vivien’s face fell. “Disappointed?”

“Well, I just, um, didn’t even get to see you,” she said, her face turning red. “It just didn’t seem fair.”

“Not for lack of tryin’, though, was it honey?” he teased. “I’ve seen ya lookin’ down at him enough times.” Vivien’s face flushed even more at that. “It’s okay, though, I know he likes ya.”

“How do you know?” Vivien whispered, trying to will herself to stop blushing like a schoolgirl. Elvis grabbed her hand and placed it on his pajama pants, right on top of his still-hard penis. Vivien could swear she felt it pulsing under her palm. “Oh,” she breathed. “I like the way it feels.”

“And he likes ta be felt by ya, honey. He’s gonna make me light-headed in a minute,” Elvis laughed.

“But you don’t want me to-”

“Naw, honey, I told ya, tonight was about you. About makin’ ya feel so good. There will be plenty of time for all the other things we can do with each other. Patience, little one,” he whispered, snuggling her in next to him so that her head rested on his chest. Vivien drifted off to sleep feeling like she’d experienced some little piece of paradise.

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

Back at home early Sunday evening, all the emotions began to hit Vivien again. Elvis had been very sweet when they’d woken up earlier that afternoon, but she could tell that he and his entourage were busy getting ready to leave for Las Vegas the next day, so she told him she should probably get back home. He promised to call her soon and had Joe drive her back to her apartment. If she thought the judgment was bad on the way to Graceland, the icy ride back was downright unbearable. She’d almost have preferred to walk home in her pajamas and jacket. Elvis had offered to find her some clothes to wear, but she knew whose closet they’d be from. She drew the line at wearing another woman’s clothes home after falling asleep in her husband’s arms. Although with Elvis, the line seemed to keep moving.

With Roxanne not answering her phone, Vivien sat alone with her thoughts, loneliness suddenly consuming her. What have I done? Given myself to a man I can’t have? Will I ever even see him again? The tears began to flow as Vivien contemplated what to do next. Is falling in love supposed to hurt so badly? Be so confusing? The phone ringing pulled her back to reality. “Hello?” she tried not to sniffle directly into the receiver.

“Honey? Ya okay?” Elvis. “It sounds like you were crying. What happened?”

“No, I’m okay, I was just, um, missing you,” she whispered hoarsely.

“Aww honey, that’s sweet. I miss ya already too. That’s why I was callin’. I was hopin’ you might be able to come visit me for a few days in Vegas, see me rehearse.”

“I’d love to Elvis, but I have to work. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to take time off.” Vivien’s spirits immediately started to lift with the reassurance that he wanted to see her again so soon.

“We’ll get that all sorted out, sweetheart. Don’t be sad, okay? I’ll be thinkin’ of ya. Stay good for me, okay? Remember what I told ya - patience. We’re gonna see each other again soon. I-I’ll call ya when I get there tomorrow.”

“Okay, I’ll be waiting,” Vivien said, smiling through her tear-stained face. “I, um, I’ll be thinking of you too.” Vivien fought the urge to tell him she loved him. It had only been a few days, after all. But what other feeling could bring her from despair to cloud nine just from hearing someone’s voice?

Tag List (please let me know if you want to be added or removed): @whositmcwhatsit @lookingforrainbows @arrolyn1114 @thatbanditqueen @missmaywemeetagain @ellie-24 @be-my-ally @from-memphis-with-love @pebbles403 @deniseinmn @everythingelvispresley @little-laamb @annapresley8 @leapresley @littlehoneyposts

[alexdelray1]

Giyuu Tomioka x Fem! Reader.

Murder Mystery AU!

Also Modern Times AU

Giyuu Tomioka is your rival since middle school. You two always argued who got better grades. Not only you two went to the same highschool, college but also now university! What will happen if you two will end up on the same party?

Warning: NSFW! Strong language! Death! Suicide The fanfic was inspired by the movie "Bodies Bodies Bodies." English isn't my first language.

-Reader, are you ready for fun!?- Mitsuri asked me as she walked into our room. She's already in her pink-green dress. Of course as always showing off big part of her chest. It's not like I don't like it but she's going to give Iguro a heart attack. Again...

-Yeah, but there are like millions of parties. Why do we have to go to one that is in forest?- I asked her. I was (if you want you can wear something else but I will now write canon) wearing a little red top, blue jeans, and red sneakers. I was showing off my midriff.

-Becouse Tengen is inviting us.- Mitsuri said. That says a lot. Tengen's parties are always the ones that you never forget, no matter how drunk you are. He's a big party freak, from making out with his three girlfriends in front of everyone to dancing break dance on the ceiling while being high and drunk.

-I'm scared what he wants to do in the middle of the fucking forest. It's scary enought that we know he has orgies with his girlfriends everyday which is I don't know if healthy for his prostate. What if he wants to I don't know... I DON'T FUCKING KNOW! He's unpredictable!- I shouted.

-Don't worry Reader about Tengen's prostate, it's his problem. I'll make sure nothing too sexual that could give some of us HIV won't happen.- Shinobu said as she walked into the room. She's wearing a violet shirt and black skirt.

-Thanks, Shinobu. You're saving my vagina.- I said and stood up from my bed.

-As always.- Shinobu added.

-Let's go and not get STD!- Mitsuri shouted exited.

TIME SKIP.

-Tengen, you motherfucker. Where do you get money from? Your dick?- I asked Tengen as I got out of the car. This isn't a fucking house. It's a villa or penthouse, I don't know. Kanao looked quite scared so I took her hand in a gentle grip.

-Good shot but not that close. My family is old money. My great great something gradpa was in a clan but got out of it and made quite a fortune himself by being some warrior.- Tengen said as we walked into the house.

-Is Iguro already here?- Mitsuri asked looking around.

-Is Sanemi already here?- Kanae asked also looking around. She came with us becouse Shinobu is her sister.

What simps. I'm never going to be like them. I looked outside into the garden and yard. Uhhh Giyuu in swimsuit, nice view. It's not like I like him or smth but oh my God. These abs, this six pack. NO READER YOU ARE NOT HORNY FOR A MAN THAT LITERALLY IN SOME WAY MAY STALK YOU! IT'S NOT COLLEEN HOOVER BOOK!

-Iguro is in the pool with Sanemi, Giyuu, Kyojuro, Genya, Tanjirou, Zenitsu, Inosuke, Hiroshi, Atsushi and Nana . We'll start partying in the house when it'll get dark or start raining.- Tengen said and opened door to the pool with garden. Our friedns were there.

-Hey!- Rengoku said while swimming. It looked as if he was training as always.

-Hey Kanae! And... others...- Sanemi said while sunbathing.

-Hey Mitsuri.- Iguro said while sitting in the in the shade of a tree.

-Hey everyone!- Tanjirou said while trying to swim as fast as Rengoku.

-Hey!- Genya said with a smile while sitting next to Sanemi (my baby Genya...).

-Hey, girls. Why aren't you in swimsuits?- Zenitsu asked with a blush while sitting on a inflatable duck.

-Does any of you want to compete with me in who can do the biggest jump!?- Inosuke asked and jumped into the water.

-Hey...- Giyuu said while just standing beside the pool.

-It's nice to see you guys!- Mitsuri shouted as we walked into the garden. I tried not to look at Giyuu.

-What about our two biggest nerds drink a little?- Tengen said and pushed me into Giyuu. I quickly moved away from him annoyed. Tengen gave everyone just not Tanjirou, Zenitsu, Inosuke and Kanao cups of alcohol.

-Nice to see you Giyuu...- I said reluctantly.

-Also nice to see you Reader...- He said also reluctantly and we both drank.

-Jesus Christ. It's...- I didn't end the sentence.

-Strong. Tengen plans now to have us all drunk. Making drama and funny situations I guess.- Giyuu said and put his cup on the table.

-I think that it's better for us two to stay sober if something happens. You never know with Uzui.- I commented and also put my cup on the table.

-Yeah, pool and alcohol isn't a good match.- he agreed with me.

-What about you girls go and change into swimsuits so we can get the party started? The bathrooms are on the left.- Tengen said and pointed at the deep of the house.

-Kanao can you stay with the boys while we go change, okay?- I asked her and she nodded her head. Kanao didn't like swimming around so many people so she didn't bring the swimsuit.

-Okay! Shinobu! You have our swimsuits, right?- Mitsuri asked her.

-Of course I do. What would you guys do without me?- Shinobu said while holding the bag with swimsuits.

I gave Giyuu one last glance and left him with Kanao.

TIME SKIP

-Reader! Why are you dry? Go swimming with us!- Misturi said and got out of the pool. As always she's showing a lot of her chest. It's not like I don't like it. I'm now sitting on the sunbed.

-Sorry but I can't swim today.- I said. I had on myself shorts and top of the swimsuit.

-But!- Mitsuri tried to reason with me.

-Mitsuri, I love you but I really can't.- I said. Mitsuri got closer to me and whipered to my ear.

-Why didn't you bring tampons?- Mitsuri asked me.

-My vagina doesn't like tampons.- I whispered.

-Mitsuri! I chellenge you for a swimming contest!- Kyojuro shouted with energy and happiness.

-YEAH!- Mitsuri quickly jumped into the water leaving me alone but not really.

I looked at Tanjirou who was now sitting on a chair tired. Hope she won't look like that after this.

-So you can't swim?- Giyuu asked me. He was laying o the sunbed next to me.

-Giyuu, don't make a small talk. That's american. And yeah I can't swim today.- I answered not really nicely.

-You don't really show up to parties often. What made you come here?- Giyuu asked me and put on his sunglasses.

-First off. You're my stalker or something? Second off. You look funny now.- I said and laughed.

-We just know each other for a long time and I can see it when you're not in the group.- He said like if it was some big problem.

-I have sometimes just more important thing, you know? And I came today becouse I want to relax a bit.- I said and gave him a look.

-Guys, it's starting to rain!- Zenitsu shouted.

-No it's not! You're just wet!- Inosuke shouted and splashed him with water. Few rain drops fell on me. I got up with Giyuu.

-Zenitsu is right it's starting to rain.- I said. Everyone started taking their stuff as the rain began to fall more heavily.

I took my bag and started heading inside. I slipped on the grass and fell.

-Fuck.- I cursed and sat up. Giyuu took my arm and helped me get up but then he didn't let go of it and ran with me to the inside.

-As we see our love birds as always together.- Tengen commented. Everyone were already inside and we were the last ones to get in. Giyuu let go of my arm and looked away.

-Okay, okay. Don't shit yourself.- I said and put my bag on the couch. Everyone started to have their own conversations mostly about how no one knew about storm coming.

-Reader, how is it that you say that you don't like Giyuu and don't want to be around him but on parties you always sit near him or talk to him the most?- Shinobu asked me.

-Coincidences.- I said and put on a shirt. I looked out of the window. It was already dark outside.

-I don't really belive it. Do you possibly have a crush on him?- Shinobu asked me and I got nervous.

-Me and him? Yeah maybe in other universe.- I chuckled and gave her a shirt to warm up.

-In other universe you proprably said the same thing.- Shinobu said with a little smile and put on the shirt.

-Yeah yeah. Stop looking for some drama's. You're not going to find any.- I said and crossed my arms.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!

A scream and loud banging came from the window outside. It was Atsushi. His stomach was bleeding. Hew as banging on the window in agony and horror. After a second he fell on the grass.

-OH MY GOD!- Mitsuri shouted terrified. Iguro quickly hugged her and covered her eyes. Sanemi did this as well to Kanae.

Others screamed. I quickly opened the door to outside and ran up to Atsushi.

He wasn't moving, proprably also breathing. I checked his pulse.

-He's dead!- I shouted so everyone could hear through the rain.

I heard screams and cries. Giyuu, Kyojuro, Tengen and Genya walked up to me and the dead body. I looked at the Atsushi more closely. His shirt was put on front on the back and back on the front for some reason.

-Turn him around!- I said and started trying to turn him around. Men without asking did it with me.

He was stabbed on the back, few buttons of his shirt were taken out.

-What psycho would do such a thing?- Genya asked himself while looking at this.

-I don't know. Sanemi! CALL POLICE!!!- I screamed to him.

Sanemi took out his phone and dialed the number.

-NO FUCKING SIGNAL!!!- Sanemi screamed back.

-OF FUCKING COURSE!!!- I cursed and looked down at Atsushi.

-We need to get back into the house. Whoever did this is proprably still outside.- Giyuu said and got up.

-Giyuu is right, let's go.- Kyojuro said with serious expression on his face.

-But... Okay...- I sighned while looking at the dead body and stood up.

We walked into the house and locked the door.

-Okay, everyone. Atsushi is dead. We're all sad becouse it's death but we can't forget about our safety. Lock every window and every door that leeds to outside. The killer is proprably outside. Now! Quick!- I shouted.

Everyone started closing the windows and doors in the house except for Zenitsu. He was just sitting on the couch looking at a wall.

-Hey, are you okay?- I asked him and sat next to him. Zenitsu was still looking at the wall.

-Reader-chan. How is that possible? He died in front of us... I saw him alive just twenty minutes ago.- he said quietly.

-Don't worry, Zenitsu. Now he doesn't feel any pain.- I hugged him and took a deeep breath to also calm down.

-But who will be next? Me?- he asked and started crying. He held onto me tightly.

-I will make sure that no one will be next. Not today.- I said. I moved slightly away and touched his shoulder.

-Thank you, Reader-chan.- Zenitsu tried to smile but it didn't really wokred.

-So everything is closed we need to think what we need to do next.- Kyojuro said as everyone walked into the living room.

-Surely we all need to stay in one room for no one to get attacked.- Shinobu hummed and sat on the other couch like the others.

-Yeah, what if one of us is the killer?- Inosuke asked and everyone started looking around.

-Don't say something like that Inosuke! We all we're inside when Atsushi got stabbed. The killer must be someone who wasn't invited to the party or we just don't even know.- Tanjirou said bravely.

-Wait, why Atsushi didn't go inside with us?- Genya asked everyone.

-I don't know...- Kanae said.

-Me too...- Tengen exclaimed.

-Okay, no one knows why he didn't go with us be we all know that it's not safe here. Why won't we just drive to the police station?- Sanemi asked with as always rushed and rough tone.

-Exactly. Get the keys. We left them at the entrence.- Hiroshi said and pointed at the door of the hallway.

Everyone walked into the hallway. Sanemi, Kanae and Giyuu took keys to their cars. We got out of the house after getting out things and walked into the little parking that was part of the property.

-Are you fucking kidding me!?- Sanemi shouted. A big tree fell ealier on the three cars. Lightning proprably struck it. The rain and night sky made everything so gloomy.

-Ehhh, let's head back inside.- Tengen said, the rest agreed and we went back to the house.

-Fuck, I have nothing to change into.- I said while looking at my soaked clothes. Everyone got into the living room.

-Have this.- Giyuu said and gave me a blue towel.

-Thanks.- I sighned and put the towel on myself.

-If you need anything just tell me.- Giyuu said and touched my shoulder.

-Thanks???- I looked at him confused.

-It's kinda suspisious.- Sanemi said.

-What is?- Tengen asked him.

-Giyuu, Atsushi and hour ago died and you're already making a move on a girl he had a crush on?- Sanemi walked up to Giyuu.

-I'm not making a move. Just helping her.- Giyuu said not intimidated by Sanemi.

-Atsushi had a crush on me?- I asked Sanemi shocked.

-Oh hell yeah he did. He told everyone including Giyuu how he wants to confess to you at the party and bum. He gets killed. Giyuu and you were close in some way since middle school so I wouldn't be shocked if he got jealous and snapped.- Sanemi explained while looking directly on Giyuu. Everyone looked at him.

-Giyuu couldn't kill Atsushi becouse he was with me inside at the time of the murder.- I said and walked up to both of them.

-Yeah.- Tengen said.

-As always you're making sure your 'innocent stalker' gets away with things.- Sanemi argued.

-He isn't a stalker and I'm saying truth. Stop trying to blame Giyuu when you know he's not a killer.- I argued back.

-Yeah, but how is it that we never talk about how he has pictures of you in his closet?- Sanemi said it louder so everyone could hear. All eyes were on us.

-Everyone has few pictures of their friends somewhere.- I crossed my arms.

-Yeah yeah, but only you are on them. No one fucking else. He hides something or you two hide something!- Sanemi shouted.

I looked at Giyuu and he just nodded his head.

-We've been secretly dating since college.- Giyuu already said it. Everyone freezed.

-What?! But Reader is so mean to you!- Mitsuri shouted shocked.

-We did that so you guys wouldn't realise that we're dating.- Giyuu answered.

-Is that true, Reader? Giyuu isn't black mailing you or something?- Shinobu asked me.

-It's true. And that's why we didn't tell you. Most of you look for dramas in relationships. We only told Kyojuro, Tanjirou, Kanao and Kanae becouse they don't talk bad about couples behind their back nor tell anyone about this.- I explained.

-I'm sorry...- Mitsuri said and looked down.

-You have nothing to be sorry about. It's just your nature to talk about things that you think about.- I said and hugged her as she hugged me back.

-Damn, so Giyuu is not a virgin.- Tengen commented.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!

A scream and few thuds came from the other side of the house.

-What was that?- Kanae asked shocked.

-Let's go and see.- Sanemi said and ran.

Everyone started heading towards the sound. I took an umbrella in case to fight off someone.

When we got there we saw Nana at the end of the stairs laying on the floor in blood.

-Not again...- I said and walked up to her with the others. She was laying on her back lifeless. I checked her pulse.

-She's dead.- I sighned and covered my eyes with my hand. Giyuu made me stand up by gently holding my shoulders. He then hugged me.

-I think that someone may have pushed her. If she fell herself then she would lay on her stomach.- Shinobu said.

-This had gone too far.- Iguro said.

The lights went off. It was pitch black for few seconds.

-Why did the lights went off?- Mitsuri asked.

-Proprably becouse of the storm. Giyuu and Reader, go look for flashilights in the basement. You two are the only ones who had some classess like karate or smth. The rest of us will go to the living room. Okay?- Tengen asked us.

-Eh, okay.- I said with a sighn.

We went the other way to the basement.

-I feel weird now that everyone knows that we're dating.- Giyuu said while holding my hand.

-Yeah, me too. You really have hidden pictures of me in your closet?- I asked him and he blushed.

-I may or may not have them.-Giyuu answered.

-I didn't really knew Nana nor Atsushi but I seeing them lying like that is just... Fucking traumatising.- I changed the subject.

-I know. It's very fucked up. I hope you will forget about this.- he said and his grip on my hand became a bit tighter. I opened the door to the basement and we started going down the stairs in silence.

When we reached the end of the stairs I quickly lit a match to see something.

-Look...- Giyuu whispered and pointed at some box. We walked up to it. There were flashlights in it, Giyuu took one and turned it on. I blew out the match.

-This basement is weirdly small, but there are doors to some other room. Are we going in?- he asked me. I took a flashlight for myself and turned it on.

-Yeah.. You live once.- I said. We walked up to the door. He stopped me from opening it and opened it himself.

-Jesus Christ.- he said with a sighn as he got into the room.

-What? Oh my god.- I said as I saw it.

There were a lot of monitors on the wall that showed views from cameras.

-How Tengen could forget about having cameras?- I asked Giyuu and sat on a chair in front of the monitors.

-He had few shots before you came.- Giyuu answered while standing behind me.

-Look, there is a camera where Atsushi died.- I said. I started changing time on the monitor.

-Already we can see who killed him unless it's someone with a mask.- Giyuu said.

The scene showed Atsushi who is was putting on the shirt backwards. He took the knife and started taking off the buttons of his shirt with the knife He fell becouse of a lightning which had previously fallen a tree on our cars.

-He literally stabbed himself!- I shouted and threw the towel I had on myself on the floor.

-Look what happend at the stairs.- Giyuu put a hand on my shoulder calming me down. I did what he told me.

Nana was walking down the stairs with her cup of alcohol then suddenly she accidently dropped it and tripped over it.

-Are you kidding me?- I said and hit my forehead with my hand.

-So there is no killer.- Giyuu sighned.

-Yeah and I'm happy about it but, we were so fucking scared for nothing!- I said and crossed my arms.

-I know.- he murmured. I stood up and he hugged me.

-So do we go to them and tell them that there is no killer in the house?- I asekd him.

-Yeah, we actually do that now or Zenitsu will have a heart attack.-

TIME SKIP.

-So really she tripped on the stairs and he stabbed himself? We need to see that.- Tengen said.

-Then go, we are tired as hell and going to bed.- I leaned on the Giyuu as we started walking towards one of the guests bedroom.

-Together?- Mitsuri asked with a smile.

-As you can see.- I said.

NSFW STARTS HERE

We walked into the bedroom. As soon as I saw the bed I threw myself on it and layed on my stomach. Giyuu started taking off my pants.

-What are you doing you pervert?- I asked him and chuckled.

-Helping you in getting ready to sleep.- He answered when he took them all of and threw them at some chair he squished my butt gently.

-More in getting ready to fuck.- I commented and opened my legs wider. He took off my top and then my bra.

-Two in one.- he said. For a while he didn't do anything to me but then I heard him threwing his clothes somewhere.

-Are you going to just sit behind me or do some... fuck.- I moaned as I felt his hand touching my clit through my panties. His fingers started to press on my button and at the entrence. I started streching out my butt out of sensation. Giyuu lay down on me.

-I love you...- He murmured while kissing my chin.

-I love you too but fuck...- I said and started grinding my butt against his boxers.

-I see you're already wet and horny as hell, me too. What about we take these off?- He asked me while making circles on my clit throught my panties.

Hope you liked it :)

[w2soneshots]

Swim -W2S

words: 0.6k+

warnings: talk of drowning.

summary: you were ‘rescued’ by Harry and you realise how nice his eyes are.

I've been friends with the Sidemen for years and last month they invited me to come to Spain with them. They were originally just going to film a video but decided to extend the trip to 10 days and invite Freezy, Talia, Freya, Faith and me since I'm such good friends with them.

It's currently the 3rd day of the trip. Today we're spending the day at the villa and have dinner booked for 7. The light shon in through the small gaps in the curtains, waking me up. I groaned and rolled over. I woke up almost an hour later and decided to get up. I slid out of the bed and walked into the bathroom. Rubbing my eyes I grabbed my toothbrush. I brushed my teeth and stripped my pjs off. Jumping in the shower I washed the remaining sand off of me from the day prior. I knew we were spending the day outside by the pool so didn't care that my hair was now soaking wet. I put on a little pink sparkly bikini, slipped on my black flip flops and grabbed my sunglasses and towel before leaving my room.

As I walked out of the villa and towards the pool located in the garden I heard a splash. I looked over to see Ethan in the pool, looking grumpy and Freezy hysterically laughing at him. "Morning!" Faith said to me as I sat down on a deck chair to tan. "how'd you sleep?" I asked her. "good, but Ethan was talking up the entire bed." she said. I laughed.

"Are you gonna get in y/n?!" JJ shouted from in the pool. I thought for a second. "my hair's already soaked, may as well." I said to Faith. I got up and did a cannonball into the pool. I pushed my hair back out of my face as my shoulders emerged from the water. We swam around for almost an hour until JJ said "Tobi get on my shoulders!" soon everyone was in the pool and all of the girls on their boyfriends shoulders. Freezy was still fast asleep inside so it's only me and Harry not on someone’s shoulders. I made eye contact with Harry and he began moving through the water towards me. He patted on his shoulder and I jumped on. "Now, fight!" JJ shouted. All of the girls and Tobi began pushing each other and the boys desperately tried to stay upright. Freya hit me with one all mighty kick and I went flying backwards. And since Harry had his arms around my thighs he came with me. I started to panic and flailed my arms trying to get to the surface of the water. When I felt two large arms grab my waist and pull me up out of the water and against his chest. I caught my breath for a second while I held onto his shoulders "are you okay?" Harry asked, sounding concerned. "yea Im fine... thanks." I said now looking into his eyes.

Our eye contact was broken by JJ cackling at Vik loosing. We quickly pulled away from each other and I got out of the pool. I grabbed my towel and dried myself off. "are you ok?" Talia asked as she'd seen the whole ordeal happen. "yea, I don't know what happened I just couldn't get to the surface, but Harry grabbed me so I'm fine." I said with a light smile. "ye I saw that, he looked really concerned." she said wiggling her eyebrows. I rolled my eyes and shook my head with a joking smile "shut it T."

[pahtoosh]

pools and kisses

masterlist

summer celebration masterlist

18+

wc: 960 words

warnings: brief descriptions of reader being afraid of/avoiding water, reason is not specified

a/n: day four of the summer celebration!!! thank you everyone who has interacted with these stories. waking up to see so many notifications made me so happy🥺

pairing: mafia!bucky x gn!little!reader

summary: Bucky decides to help his baby get over their fear of the pool

⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆ ⋆｡ﾟ☁︎｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆

Today was the big day: Bucky was going to get you into the pool. You were always curious about it, but too scared to do anything more than dip your feet. Your daddy bought you an adorable kiddie pool, but it wasn’t very comfortable to sit in. The water always stayed ice cold and you could feel the seams of the plastic along the pool’s edge. You decided you were better off hanging out in the grass and doing land stuff like playing with the sprinkler.

Sometimes Bucky would have a party and invite your little friends. They’d get dressed with their floaties and play games in the water, but neither the company, the games, nor the colorful pool toys were enough to pull you from the ledge.

Bucky was content with sticking to your land boundary, but a few too many glances at the pool convinced him that you were more curious about the water than you had let on.

𓏲 ࣪₊♡

“Hey, sweetie, whatcha up to?”

“Colorin’! Look!” You proudly held up a sheet from your coloring book.

“Oh it’s beautiful! Can Daddy take a picture of it?”

You nodded and went to pick another coloring sheet.

“Hang on there, bun. Daddy has a question for you. It’s a big one, we might need the chair for this.”

You let up a small gasp and scrambled to the large armchair in your room. Whenever Bucky had a big question to ask you, he’d do it with you in his lap. This position was grounding for the both of you, and it allowed for physical closeness without having to make eye contact.

This armchair was the perfect lap-sitting chair, but it had a couple of stuffies who needed to get out of the way first.

“Excuse me, duckie! Sorry, missus bear!” You waited patiently while Bucky got situated and then clambered onto his lap.

“Angel, do you like going outside in the summer?”

“Yeah!! I love it, Daddy. I can play with the bugs and the flowers.”

“Good, baby, good. What do you think of the pool?”

You picked at a loose thread on your shirt. “ s’okay.”

“Just okay? Well Daddy thinks it’s very fun.”

“It’s fun?”

“It’s very fun. You can swim and splash around. It’s nice and cold so you can have fun even when it’s hot outside. And don’t even get me started on all the pool toys.”

“Da pools toys look cool.”

“What d’you think about giving it a chance huh, bun? Think you can try going into the pool today?”

You felt nervous, but you knew Bucky would always keep you safe. And the pool toys did look fun.

“Okay, Daddy. I try the pool today.”

Bucky let out a cheerful alright! and scrunched up his nose cutely before kissing all over your face. He was so excited.

𓏲 ࣪₊♡

Not too long later, you were in your bathing suit and any revealing skin was smothered with sunblock. You might need help getting it all off your ears in the bath, but your daddy wasn’t taking any chances with your health. You were now sitting on the pool’s ledge, kicking your feet underwater to get used to the temperature.

“How’re you feeling, baby? The water feels good, right?”

“Mhm. I think I can go more into the water now.”

Bucky helped you move from the ledge to inside the pool. You whimpered a bit and instantly wrapped your arms around his neck and crossed your ankles behind his back. It felt normal being knee-deep in the water, but having it up to your chest was a little scary.

He cooed at the look of fear on your face and moved his hands to support your bottom. You were grateful for the vibranium’s ability to change to the right temperature. “Easy, baby. Daddy’s not gonna let you go.” Slowly, he moved away from the pool’s edge and swayed you in his arms like he was lulling you to sleep. “Isn’t this nice?”

You shook your head and buried your nose into the crook of Bucky’s neck. Truthfully, it was nice. The weather was lovely, the pool was at the perfect temperature, and nothing was better than being held by your daddy. But you were still scared.

“What can I do to help, baby?”

You made a whining noise and buried yourself deeper.

“Kiss, maybe?”

“Okay, come out and give Daddy some sugar.”

You giggled and kissed Bucky’s cheek before going back to your hiding spot.

“That’s it? Just one kiss? C’mon, sweetheart your Daddy’s dyin’ out here.”

You giggled and kissed his chin before repeating the cycle of kissing your daddy, then going back to your hiding spot. Nearly every inch of Bucky’s face received a kiss.

“I think you’re missing a spot, angel. And you’re still hiding.”

You took one last breath. I can do this. Daddy’s got me. Slowly, you removed your face from Bucky’s shoulder one last time and shyly pecked him on the lips. Your head stayed upright, no longer feeling the need to hide. Bucky stared at you in wonderment.

“You okay now?”

You nodded and took in your surroundings. The pool was less big and scary than you remembered. The flower garden looked different from this angle. It was nice.

You turned back to Bucky. He was cautiously optimistic about your response. He was watching out for signs of fear or discomfort and preparing himself for if you wanted to get out of the pool. However, he couldn’t help but be happy for you. Bucky was so proud of you for facing this fear and he loved you for trusting him in this vulnerable moment. You almost missed the completely smitten look on his face.

“I think I like the pool now, Daddy.”

[stonecoldholly]

Worldwalker: Chapter 3

Summary - After witnessing a ritual at a pagan festival in her hometown, Sam suddenly finds herself in a world where magic exists and dangers far worse than everyday crime lurk around every corner. Accepting her unfortunate situation is one challenge; trusting these otherworldly beings to help her is another. As she uncovers the truth, she often finds that it leads to more trouble than it’s worth. Sam must navigate this new world, find her way back home, and restart her life.

Warnings - hella angst, slight suicidal ideation if you look hard, other than that we're good...so far.

Word Count - 8,128

A/N - Welcome to Chapter 3! We're slowly getting somewhere. If you would like to be added to the tag list, please let me know; thank you so much to the ones who reached out, liked, reposted, and/or read this story. I have had such an intense need to write a story like this and couldn't hold it back any longer. Thank you for taking time to read it.

“Time will take our place, we return it back to one. The calm before the cold, the long and lonely road. Look for the light that leads me home.” Failure – Breaking Benjamin

Day Court, Prythian

Taking a bath in the equivalent of a swimming pool was legendary.

Her muscles were so sore that floating in the tub filled with copious amounts of salts and oils felt like lying on a cloud. The warm water soothed the aches and pains from every inch of her body and despite not having much sleep in the past 60 hours, she felt rejuvenated enough to make it through the rest of the evening. She spent well over an hour drifting in the water, blocking out her more self-deprecating thoughts and focusing more on the present as much as possible.

She tried not to think of those hounds of smoke that had chased her and Lucien, instead feeling the soft skin of her arms from the oils in the water. Tried not to think of the sheer terror that slammed into her when she held Lucien at gunpoint, preferring to inhale the relaxing lavender steam. Shoved down those memories of sitting in the tree wondering if that would be the final time she went to sleep; no, she rather liked swirling the bubbles around the tub.

After scrubbing herself clean of muck, she wrapped one of the fluffy towels around her body, trudging to the closet in the bedroom to find clean clothes to wear. She was still amazed by Lucien. He trusted her and in return, she trusted him. Her being here, alive, sealed her loyalty to him for however long she lived for. Even if she did end up going home, he would live on with her, being told in stories of how a fae stranger saved the life of a human woman before ever being able to say a word to her. She shook her head at the passing thought of publishing a book about her adventure; there were better things left unsaid. Stories better left untold and only remembered.

As she looked into the closet crammed full of beautiful fabrics, she realized she was out of her element. Fashion in her world and this one were exact opposites. She usually preferred to wear her jeans, t-shirts, her boots, and her leather jacket. Here, it seemed it would be dresses, skirts, or trousers that were flowy instead, all in beautiful lighter colors. She surveyed the variety of dresses, doubting they would do her justice, but she was thankful, regardless, that she didn’t have to don the muddied clothes again.

Sam pulled a sage-colored dress out from the closet, threw it on the bed, and tried to find some kind of undergarments to pull on. She opened multiple drawers trying to find something to pass as a bra, frowning when she only found a piece of cloth.

“Oh, you are shittin’ me right now,” Sam said, turning the cloth over and under, trying to figure out how she would be able to secure it around her, half tempted to just put her original bra on. “How in the fuck-”

A knock sounded at her door and she whipped around to face it, clutching her towel to her body tight. She slowly crept to the door, opening it about two inches and peering around it to find a female fae waiting there with a patient smile. Sam recognized her from earlier, one of the females who led her and Lucien through the halls. Sam breathed a sigh of relief before opening the door to let her in, quickly closing it behind her.

“Aella.” The female said, pointing to herself before Sam could say anything.

Clearly, word got out about the language barrier.

“Sam.” She introduced herself before grabbing the cloth, holding it up for Aella to see with a confused expression. “Uh…?”

She smiled reassuringly, nodding to the towel Sam was strangling, motioning for her to drop it. Sam, blushing furiously, slowly and awkwardly let the towel drop to the floor, resisting the urge to cover herself with her arms. Aella, for her part, remained completely unbothered and patient, motioning for Sam to turn around. Sam felt her embarrassment grow as she stood as naked as the day she was born in front of a stranger. Suddenly, throwing herself out the window didn’t seem like such a bad way to go.

Sam followed her instruction, allowing Aella to wrap her arms and the cloth around her. Sam took a breath and Aella decided at that precise moment to pull, with all her might, the cloth taut against Sam’s chest. Sam stumbled backward and Aella allowed her to regain her footing before pushing her forward only to yank her back again.

“Holy shit, Aella! I need to breathe!” Sam sputtered as Aella wrapped and tucked the cloth tightly to secure it to her person. Aella appeared in front of her, pulling the cloth out, up, and down to give her some breathing room and to allow the cloth to support her as a corset or bra would. Sam looked at Aella in wonder, trying to find where she was hiding all that strength.

Aella, bless her heart, found some underwear for her to slip on and then helped her into the green dress she had picked out. As Aella started brushing her hair and adding oils to it, Sam just stared at herself in the mirror, almost physically recoiling from her reflection.

She looked like she had been through Hell and back. There were purple smudges under her eyes from exhaustion and suppressing tears. Her skin looked dull as if most of its vibrancy had been sucked out and left in those damp woods. She had peppered cuts along her face and neck, a few littering her hands and knuckles from the pricker bushes and low-hanging branches. If Aella wasn’t putting oils in her hair to help bring some kind of life back to it, she knew it would be hanging in loose, limp curls. Aella was able to dry her hair with a snap of her fingers and Sam had never felt more envious in her life. How easy life would be to have the gift of magic.

After helping Sam into a pair of shoes that reminded her of ballerina slippers, Aella gathered her dirty clothes from the bathroom when a knock sounded on the door. Aella placed a palm on Sam’s cheek as if reassuring her that everything would be okay before opening the bedroom door. Sam was grateful for that small moment of reassurance, the action healing a bit of her heart.

Lucien stepped in as Sam rose from the vanity seat, after securing her gun to her thigh with her holster, to make her way towards him. Lucien smiled at her, bowing slightly at the waist and held out his arm for her to take. Sam let a small smile grace her face, having never had a male offer his arm to her, but she took it nonetheless and allowed Lucien to lead her down the hall.

He looked down at her, motioning with his left hand a little awkwardly and Sam knew then that he was right-handed. “I look better?” Sam looked at Lucien, raising an eyebrow but the same smile appeared again. “Pleased to know that I looked like trash earlier.” She joked to herself, Lucien giving her an inquisitive expression, which she waved off, instead giving his arm a small squeeze. “Thank you. I feel better.” Sam pointed to herself, rubbed her arm, and finished with a thumbs-up.

Lucien led her into a huge dining room with cream-colored walls and intricate gold trim wrapped around the edge of the ceiling and the floor. The largest dinner table she had ever seen sat in the middle of the room covered in plates of grilled and roasted meats, vegetables, fruits, and breads; a centerpiece of blue hydrangeas and white roses overflowing a golden vase, the very same floral arrangements scattered throughout the room. The entire room screamed elegance, royalty, and wealth, leaving no question as to how much power Helion had.

Helion met them at the edge of the table, taking her hand from Lucien’s arm and kissing the back of it in greeting. He motioned to a seat beside him to his left, gently steering her over to the chair as Lucien went to the right. Sam felt like she was dreaming as Helion pulled her seat out for her, pushing her closer to the table as she sat down.

A part of her was waiting for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. Since she woke up in the tree, this entire part of the journey had gone so smoothly, so easily, and Sam had a nagging thought that there was something big coming. The trust they were putting in her hands, and hers in theirs, almost seemed foolish and Sam’s stomach soured. It has only been mere hours since the forest and yet she was being treated as though she was an honored guest.

She couldn’t stop her thoughts, her anxiety, from spiking as Helion served her food, putting roasted chicken, green beans, and some fresh fruit on her plate. Lucien sat across from her, serving himself and sipping from his cup slowly. She was nervous and it seemed that Lucien was too. She kept catching his eyes, an unspoken conversation passing between them. Once again, she was floored by how easy it all was with him.

Dinner was a quiet affair with a few small hand motions to different dishes. However, she didn’t mind it, savoring the flavors of the food on her plate. The food back home tasted nothing like this; dull and flavorless in comparison. She had a passion for cooking as it was a love language of hers and she started making mental notes of what recipes she needed to make here just so she could have it in its true glory.

Helion looked up about a second before the doors to the dining room opened. Sam didn’t need to look to know that whoever walked into the room was beyond powerful. Pure, raw power filled the space, pouring into the room like darkness swallowing up the light. Sam sat up straighter, her body almost doing it on its own accord, the pulse of power nearly demanding it. Her wide eyes snapped to Lucien who immediately stood from his chair to walk around the table to her, standing beside her seat as if he were her guard. Her nerves skyrocketed as four figures filled the doorway, two of which had fucking wings. Wings!

Sam sucked in a breath, her entire body going rigid and cold as she stared at the impeccably dressed fae male standing at the front with an equally stunning fae woman at his side. The two winged males standing just behind them were dressed in black-scaled leather armor and strapped to the nines with more weapons than Sam could count. The force of their power rolled off of them in waves so intense it made even the flower arrangements lean away.

Sam’s leg started to bounce under the table, her body not knowing how to get rid of the nervous energy besides throwing herself off the balcony. Her eyes lingered on the two males with wings; lethal, dangerous, and devastatingly handsome, to cross them would be a fatal mistake.

The one with the red glowing jewels was a mountain of muscle, towering over everyone in the group. His long hair tied back out of his face and his expression was controlled, assessing the room for any threats. For as built as he was, he moved with enough grace that told her he was far more skilled than he was letting on. The way his eyes scanned the room, in a grid formation, told Sam that he had military training. She knew that look, having seen Josh do the same thing, having been trained in the US Army. His golden amber eyes landed on her, taking in her appearance, and falling to how the fabric bunched on her right thigh.

The one with the blue glowing jewels was mesmerizing to look at. His entire presence enchanted her; from his short hair sweeping across his forehead, the elegant planes of his face, and the powerful build of his body, she was hypnotized. Whereas the one with the red jewels was brute force; this male was lethal strategy, quietly observing and completely unreadable. As she watched him, black mist ebbed and flowed from his body, wrapping around his shoulders and curling around his ears. His hazel eyes locked with hers, his massive wings shifting behind him, and the world ceased to exist for a moment. She felt like he could read her like a book as if he already knew everything about her before she even said ‘hello’. She felt incredibly small in their presence and she realized just how insignificant she was in comparison.

She felt a hand on her shoulder causing her to look up at Lucien, who hadn’t moved from his place beside her. His hands moved slowly, reminding her that she was okay and that they could be trusted. She scrunched up her face but nodded, her leg still bouncing uncontrollably under the table, turning back to look at the newcomers.

Helion met the fae male who stood at the front of the group. To say that he was gorgeous was the understatement of the century. There were no words to describe how captivating he was, dressed in a finely tailored black suit, his entire being radiated power and respect. She could taste it in the air. The female by his side, who seemed the friendliest but no less deadly, held herself with the same confidence as her partner and with the beauty beyond words. They were night incarnate, pure power contained in immortal bodies.

The leader of the new group greeted Helion, exchanging a few words and pleasantries before they were led over to Sam. She inhaled while standing up, stepping around her chair to greet them properly. She wasn’t going to greet anyone sitting down, as it was rude, and if they were willing to help her, she had to prove that she was worth it. She turned to look at Lucien for encouragement, which he gave with a soft nod of his head, stepping forward with her.

The action caused the handsome male’s eyebrows to rise but he didn’t say anything, only looking at Sam with a smile. She couldn’t help but lean in towards him when she realized his eyes were a striking violet, causing the two winged warriors to subtly shift closer to their leader.

“Wow, your eyes are stunning.” Sam breathed as she looked at them, taking in the flecks of deep blue swimming in the violet irises. The night sky seemed to swirl in them, stars twinkling in and out, and without realizing it, had taken another step forward towards him. She blinked when her eyes lost focus and shook her head, blushing furiously. She wouldn’t have Lucien translate that.

The male had a feline grin stretching across his face, his perfectly white teeth flashing, and she shivered at the sight. He said something to Lucien who turned to her, ready to translate for her once she was ready.

“He…” Sam’s eyes followed the best they could, her embarrassment filling her cheeks, not only from staring but because they had to resort to this broken form of communication. “He….help. He’s here to help. Okay. Um…” She looked at the male with violet eyes and then turned back to Lucien, drawing a question mark in the air and tilting her head to the side. “How?”

While Lucien translated, the male pulled a small silver bean from his pocket, handing it to Lucien and speaking a few words to him. Lucien had a hesitant look on his face as he listened, looking at the silver bean resting in his hand. He glanced at the male speaking and then at her but nodded, his hands already moving to communicate with her.

“I have to eat that?” Sam nodded to the bean, eyebrows furrowing. “What will it do?” Sam looked at Lucien, who signaled to his lips and then to everyone standing around her. “So, you mean to tell me, that I eat this,” She took the bean from Lucien’s outstretched hand and held it up between her thumb and pointer finger. “And then I’ll be able to talk to ya’ll?” She couldn’t help but cock her hip and raise her eyebrow in utter disbelief at Lucien, who only looked at her with confusion. The male with violet eyes still had a grin on his face that was bordering on unnerving and even the larger-winged male seemed to find some humor in the situation. “I swear to God, Lucien, if this kills me, I’m hauntin’ your ass.”

She turned to grab her glass from the dining table, looking at the bean in her hand. It was bigger than an actual bean, closer to the side of a mini candy bar. She turned it over in her hand, biting her bottom lip in apprehension. She looked up at the male with the beautiful eyes again, fear written in her own. His face softened for a moment but he nodded slowly, as if to coax her to take it or to reassure her. She looked at the male with the blue jewels who was watching her with such intensity that she thought he would take her out if she didn’t ingest the silver bean.

She made up her mind after that. If this was her only chance to be understood, she would have to risk it. With far more eyes on her than she was comfortable with she popped the bean into her mouth, tapping her forehead, sternum, and shoulders in a half-assed cross before washing it down with her drink.

The effects were immediate, a sharp pain ripping through her head, causing her to stumble back into the dining table and Lucien lurching forward to catch her. Raised, unintelligible voices rang out from around her as her glass dropped to the floor, shattering into a thousand pieces. It reminded her of the ritual, the same pain flashing through her when she caught herself on the edge of the table. The pounding of her head was intense; she could do nothing but hold her head and squeeze her eyes shut. A sharp yelp of pain escaped her lips, the feeling of an agonizing migraine searing forward and burning through her skull. Breathing through the pain was proving to be a challenge.

“Holy shit, goddamn this fuc-ah!” Sam mumbled under her breath, pressing her thumbs up into her eye sockets hard in an attempt to alleviate the pressure. A sigh of relief escaped her when the pounding began to ebb, taking a few excruciating moments before she was able to slowly open her eyes and blink away the black spots in her vision. “Was that an aneurysm? Did I die? Am I dead?”

“I assure you that you are still very much alive,” The deep voice was like velvet-wrapped night and her head snapped up, her eyes wide. “Hello, Sam, my name is Rhysand.”

Sam’s jaw dropped as her mind tried to comprehend the sudden change. Her head whipped to Lucien who gave her a small, hesitant smile. “Can you understand me?” She whispered to him, almost disbelieving. Magic! How incredible!

Lucien let out a quiet laugh, sounding just as surprised as she was. “Yes, I can.”

Sam let out a half sob, half laugh at the confirmation, smiling in pure relief. She put her hand on her chest, breathing in deeply to try and regain control over her emotions before she began sobbing hysterically in front of everyone. She was close enough as it was. She felt an unbelievable amount of weight lift from her shoulders at the ability to speak and understand them. She felt like she was in a dream.

Her eyes caught what looked like a living shadow slithering on the ground towards her and as she went rigid, it instantly recoiled. She followed it back to the male with the blue jewels who was staring at her, his face set in a cool mask; it took everything in her to tear her eyes away when Helion started speaking.

“Let’s move this into the sitting room,” Helion suggested, walking towards the door. “I believe we will be more comfortable there than in here.”

Lucien waited for Sam to regain her bearings, smoothing out her dress and taking the arm he offered her again. Sam could feel eyes on the back of her neck as they followed Helion down the hall and it made her uneasy. As they made their way down the hall, Sam watched shadows slide down the walls beside them, dodging the daylight, shooting forward in front of them before returning to the winged male at her back.

Helion opened the door to a sitting room, this room, was unlike the rest of the palace she had seen. The walls were lined with deep mahogany shelves, overflowing with countless books. Hardwood floors with a large patterned rug in reds and grays, with a small, low coffee table sitting in the middle. Large cream-cushioned chairs, each paired with footrests, with throw pillows and blankets scattered around the room and a long table running along the back wall for studying. Floor-to-ceiling windows made up the entirety of one wall, the cream-colored drapes pulled halfway allowing for a soft glow of natural light to fill the room.

This was a room Sam would take sanctuary in.

Rhysand motioned for Sam to sit in one of the large cream chairs, sitting in one of the chairs himself, waiting until the female sat down in a chair of her own. The two winged males stood behind their chairs, overseeing the entire room, and overtaking Sam’s vision.

“Before we start, allow me to introduce my Court.” Rhysand motioned to the long-haired winged male first. “Cassian, Commander General of the Night Court Armies.”

Sam sat up straighter at the title and folded her hands in her lap, recognizing the title as the immense sacrifice it was. The horrors he must have seen and survived to achieve such a title. Cassian nodded to her in greeting, his expression carefully controlled as Rhysand introduced him.

Rhysand continued, “Azriel, Shadowsinger, and Spymaster of the Night Court.”

Sam’s eyes turned to take in Azriel, her heart racing. He had a blank mask on his face but it was his eyes that burned with intensity, calculated and relentless. The shadows seemed sentient as if they could act upon their own accord. Sam watched as they emerged from his toned body, curling around his shoulders before absorbing back into his golden-brown skin. She was unsure if she should be scared or curious so she settled for a healthy medium between the two. ‘What is a shadowsinger?’

“A Shadowsinger is someone who can control and manipulate shadows.” Rhysand supplied and Sam’s head snapped to him. “I apologize, your thoughts are loud and unblocked, I will explain in a moment. This is Feyre, High Lady of the Night Court, my mate and my wife.”

For someone who physically appeared so young, Feyre’s eyes held the weight of the world, having seen something that took a part of her soul with it. While her beauty was not one to be so easily dismissed, she gave off such an air of confidence that she likely only needed to blink and her enemy would be dead. She was slender but strong, her muscles and curves balancing out her body as her petite stature claimed the large chair. ‘Mates? Like, soulmate?’

“Along those lines, yes, but deeper,” Rhysand replied to her out loud. “I am Rhysand, High Lord of the Night Court.”

She looked at everyone in the room saying their names in her head silently. She was way in over her head.

“Lucien, Emissary of the Night Court, born to the Autumn Court, and heir to the Day Court.” Rhysand motioned to my red-haired translator. “Helion, High Lord of the Day Court.”

“So, High Lord basically means ‘King’?”

Cassian let out what sounded like a choked laugh and Rhysand looked like he was fighting the urge to roll his eyes. “In a sense, yes, we rule over our respective Courts. Feyre and I rule the Night Court. Helion rules over the Day Court.”

She knew she was among powerful people, the taste of metal had not left her mouth since arriving in this new place, and she knew it must have something to do with...magic; she was not prepared for the extent of that magic. Each one of them held themselves with pride, power, and control. She could feel it rippling through the room, the air was almost stifling.

“I have so many questions.” Sam swallowed, looking nervously around at everyone. “I’m not sure where to start.” Rhysand patiently waited for her to continue, his hands folded in his lap and a leg comfortably resting on the other. He was the epitome of relaxed and in control. “Where am I?”

“You are in Prythian, the Day Court specifically.” Rhysand supplied, watching her with interested violet eyes.

“….Prythian? Where’s that at?”

Rhysand tilted his head to the side. “Prythian is the world on which you are on, the planet, along with the name of this continent. The continent is separated into Courts, seven to be exact.”

Sam just stared at him.

Helion shuffled through a few books, flipping through pages, and making his way towards Sam. “You are currently here,” He pointed to an area on the map labeled ‘Day Court’. “Night is here,” At the very top, with what appeared to be a mountainous terrain, lay the Night Court. “There are also Dawn, Winter, Autumn, Summer, and Spring.” He pointed to each one in turn watching her expression carefully. “Lucien found you here, in Autumn.”

There was a faint buzzing in her ears gradually growing louder and she could feel the blood leaving her face, her skin turning pale and cold. “I...I…” She couldn’t form any words, the edges of the room had started to turn black, her vision tunneling onto Rhysand.

“Sam? Stay with us, you’re okay.” Lucien crouched beside her, taking her hand to anchor her to reality. “You’re fine.”

Sam felt the lump in her throat, “I’m...I’m not even on Earth?” Sam whispered as she watched the shadows twirling around her feet and ankles. “I’m not even on the same fucking planet anymore.”

“You’re okay, breathe, Sam.”

Rhysand uncrossed his legs and leaned forward slowly, his face a calm mask but his eyes burned with curiosity. “We are going to begin with the basics, okay? Who are you?”

She was minutes away from a panic attack, she could feel it rising up within her, but she had to get through this initial interview of sorts. This would make or break her ability to get help. They needed as much information as she could supply and she needed them. So, once again, she fought through her emotions. “My name is Samantha Grace Damato, I am 30 years old.”

“And you are from another world...Earth?”

“Yes,” Sam’s face went a little pale. Out of all the alien-related movies and stories, she never thought she would be in one, let alone be the alien. “Savannah, Georgia...in the country of the United States of America, on the planet of Earth.” Her voice was so small, so quiet as she replied, her eyes unfocused but still trained on the shadows playing with a loose thread on her dress. “Please tell me ya’ll’ve heard of America?”

The silence that met her in return screamed the answer.

Her worst fears came true, the reality she had tried so hard to deny even when faced with the facts. She wasn’t even on the same planet anymore. She was so far from home that no one here had even heard of her country. The room started to spin and she closed her eyes tightly, trying not to come undone.

“And this Earth does not have fae there? No magic?”

“As far as I know only humans and animals exist there,” Sam replied looking down at her hands. “We have magic but...not-not like this. It’s different.” She paused attempting to word it correctly amid her shock. “...it’s like...manifesting our intentions, we can do certain rituals or practice a certain way where we can stack odds in our favor but...if we believe it will happen, then it will. But, not many people that I know practice witchcraft.”

“Have you ever tried to practice this magic?”

“Not really but kind of. I’ve learned tarot and astrology but never actually participated in spell work with herbs and candles before.” She was beginning to regret not furthering her knowledge, perhaps if she did she would have found a way home. “I believe my mother did when she was alive but I honestly do not remember details.”

“Your parents. Are they still living?”

“No. My mom passed when I was 13 and I never met my father. I was a ward of the state.” Sam said with a harsh tone, resentment dripping off every word. With Rhysand’s questioning glance, she clarified. “When a minor has no living relatives left, the child gets moved to foster houses or orphanages until they are of legal age, which is 18.”

“What else can you tell me about your world?”

“Well, Earth is the third planet in our solar system out of the eight but I will defend Pluto being a planet, so nine. Unless you were talking about Earth as a whole, well...that’s going to take a lot longer to explain than just a few hours.”

Rhysand almost looked like he was holding back excitement. “We will discuss your ‘solar system’ at length at another time.”

Sam tried not to shift nervously under their gazes. “ O-okay.”

Feyre was the next to speak, her voice was soothing but direct. “On the eve of you waking up in Autumn’s forest, what happened?”

“I-I went to a pagan festival downtown...there was this ritual that I watched…” Sam’s attention got caught in the flashes of memory that flew through her mind and stumbled her words. She tried to shake them away to focus on answering the question but the images kept coming. Sam let out a frustrated sigh pinching the bridge of her nose. “I’m sorry, I’m not usually like this. I swear I’m more professional than this.”

“We understand, you have been through a great ordeal,” Helion replied, sitting back in his chair with his legs crossed. “Take your time.”

Rhysand and Feyre shared a long look that Sam didn’t see. Feyre gave a sorrowful look in Sam’s direction but nodded to her husband who cleared his throat to get Sam’s attention. “We have a way to make this easier for you.” Sam looked up at him, eyes filled with devastation and longing. Feyre tried to hide the look of pity and sadness, but Sam caught it. “I have a gift that allows me to see and hear another’s mind.”

Sam stiffened.

“I am able to access your memories, hear your thoughts, and speak to you in your mind,” Rhysand explained it to her gently, treating her as if she was made of glass. In a way, her mind seemed like it was. “I will only look at the memories that led up to you appearing in our world and I will only do so with your express permission. It will not hurt you nor will I. Your mind is untrained and unprotected, and I was able to hear your thoughts earlier as if you spoke them out loud. I do not make it a habit of trespassing upon someone's mind without prior knowledge.”

Sam was at a loss. Allow someone to look into her mind? The violations and boundaries that it crossed almost made her lose her dinner. Allow these strangers to see her home? Her world? What if they wanted to take it? Destroy her world or hurt her to get there?

On the other hand, it would be the easiest way for him to understand something that even she couldn’t understand, let alone explain. Sam missed Melissa and Josh, missed her life, her job, the city, and the thought of not being able to return to it...

A quieter male voice broke her from her thoughts, “You are safe.” She looked up to find Azriel looking at her, the blank expression on his face faltered for a moment. “You are safe.” He repeated the sincerity in his words made Sam’s mind up for her. Cassian nodded once in agreement with him.

“You may access my mind,” Sam told Rhysand quietly, catching his eyes. “You may see my memories.”

“This may be uncomfortable. I will be as quick as I can.”

It started out with a soft caress of what felt like sharp talons sliding down the edge of her mind and it forced her spine straight. Her eyes were wide as she stared at Rhysand, tears beginning to gather in the corners at the realization that she couldn’t move. Her body wasn’t her own anymore and it was one of the most uncomfortable, terrifying, and vulnerable feelings she’s ever had. Rhysand gave her a reassuring nod before she felt him move past the thin barrier between her conscious mind and her subconscious.

Memories flew by like a picture book, so fast that she wasn’t sure which memories they were at first. Her eyes went unfocused, glazing over as Rhysand continued to go back, gathering as much information as he could from the night before they went to the ritual to her running down the alleyway. She wondered if he could feel the terror in her that night, as she watched herself run through the streets. She could recall the fear, the urgency to find a place to hide only to come up empty-handed. She could remember how defeated she felt as she ran towards the wall. The horrible feeling of falling. A tear fell from her unblinking, unseeing eyes as the memory continued.

She saw her wonder-struck face as she looked around the forest, her dark thoughts lying in her tree bed, pulling a gun on Lucien just this morning, running from those smoke hounds. He could hear every thought she had ever had, and see every moment of her life; it felt like he was stripping her naked as long as he was in her mind. Her emotions were suffocating her, painfully stealing the air from her lungs. Was she breathing?

Rhysand withdrew from her mind as gently as he could, sitting back to share a few pointed looks with his companions. Sam’s entire body slumped when he let go of her and she collapsed back against the cushions of her chair.

Helion stood to bring a glass of water to Sam, who took it gratefully from his hands. “Perhaps we should continue this tomorrow, allow her some rest.”

Feyre took Rhysand’s hand, nodding. “Of course.”

“Do you have a sleep tonic that she can take?” Lucien asked Helion, watching Sam as a haunted look settled on her face.

“I will have one sent to her room.”

“We will call it a day here, Sam,” Feyre said politely, offering her a small yet sad smile.

“Thank you, Sam,” Rhysand said suddenly making her look up at him. He looked uncomfortable and a small voice in the back of her head told her that it was unlike him to look like that. “For letting me into your mind, for talking to us, and I am sorry for what you have gone through.”

She looked down at her folded hands, running the pad of her thumb along her palm. “Thank you.” She replied, keeping her eyes cast down. She was so tired and mentally exhausted that it felt like her body would go down on its own accord.

“We will help you find a way back home.”

She could only nod, still running her thumb along her hand. She still had a few cuts scattered over the skin of her hands and face. She closed her eyes to take a deep breath, imagining that she was in her little overpriced apartment, curled up on her beat-up couch, and covered with her favorite warm blanket. For a moment, she could have believed it with the silence in the room but when she opened her eyes, she was still there. In the Day Court. Sitting in front of Rhysand. Still here and not there.

“Let’s get you back to your room,” Feyre said as she stood gracefully and Cassian mirrored her movements walking towards her. Lucien stood with Sam, walking out of the room with her but giving her some space.

Sam allowed herself to be guided back down the halls feeling numb. She had tried so hard not to recall the series of events that led her here but seeing them as they happened...it was overwhelming. The mind tends to reshape traumatic events, rewriting what happened and swapping facts for fiction. To protect itself, the mind places more extreme moments and feelings behind a wall for safekeeping, leaving the rest to be dissected.

But when Rhysand pulled the memories forward, the mind lost its control over its own protection, forcing Sam to witness it all over again as it was. There was no escaping it, the truth of her situation, the reality that she found herself in. She had tried to lie to herself, half way convincing her mind that it was dreaming but it was all over now. She could run from it no longer.

“I’ll come by tomorrow afternoon,” Feyre said to her as she opened the door to the bedroom she recognized as the one she was staying in. “There’s a tonic on the nightstand, it’ll help you sleep.”

“Thank you.” Sam replied, her voice so small and broken, and she hated it.

“Get some rest.” Lucien whispered to her as she entered the room, alone.

Little balls of light hovered in the air around the ceiling corners, casting a soft glow over the bedroom. Cassian gave her a small smile and a nod as he closed the door behind them, leaving Sam standing alone in the bedroom in a deafening silence. She turned slowly to face the bed but remained where she stood, soaking up the quiet of the room in hopes it would drown out the war raging in her heart and mind.

It took mere moments for Sam to hit her knees. Her emotions finally surged forward and poured out of her like an endless, broken dam. A heartbroken, frustrated scream ripped out of her mouth as the tears ran down her cheeks. She folded over herself, face buried in the plush carpet of a strange bedroom in a world that she did not belong to. Her entire life had been upended; what was she supposed to do? Accept it? Fight it? How?

She screamed as loud as she could as the sobs wracked her body, “What am I supposed TO DO?!”

She fell onto her side into a fetal position, holding her arms close to her body in an effort to self-soothe. The longer she lay on this carpet, the longer she stayed in this room, this world, the more the reality of her impossible situation sank in. How was her human mind supposed to come to terms with this?

She knew that she wasn’t doing anything to improve her situation by screaming and crying but she would let herself feel this. She would give herself this time to break down in order to work through it. She had put it off for long enough.

She continued to cry into that carpet for a while, her weeping turning into soft whimpers as she exhausted herself. She stared at the baseboard of the wall for hours, watching the shadows dance while her mind raced with thoughts so fast that it was quiet.

Yes, she would give herself this.

___________________________________________________________

The room was silent as Feyre, Cassian, and Lucien led Sam to her room, Azriel’s shadows following after them. They merged seamlessly with the dissipating light of the setting sun, skittering down the hallway behind his High Lady and brother. While in a different Court, shadows would accompany each member of the Night Court, along with the human woman. It was a safety precaution that they would not be caught off guard.

“We may need your assistance with research,” Rhys said to Helion as a glass of fine whiskey appeared in his hand. “I’m not sure how many books are left in the wake of Amarantha’s destruction but any assistance would be useful.”

“My libraries are at your disposal along with however many librarians and researchers you may require. Akar is the best researcher we have in the Lux Diei Atheneum; he will be your point of contact.” Helion offered with a wave of his hand, settling himself in the chair that Sam had vacated. “Of course, you are more than welcome to stay a while.” His eyes stayed a little too long on Azriel, who gave no indication that he noticed, much to Helion’s displeasure.

“As tempting as that offer is,” Rhys started an amused smirk on his face. “I’m afraid it will have to be another time.”

“Pity. I would have thrown a feast in your honor.”

“Indeed but I believe we both know that you never need a reason for a party, Helion.”

“True you are, Rhysand, true you are.” Helion chuckled quietly, leaning back in his chair. “Tell me, what do you think of our little human?”

“I believe there is more to her than even she knows,” Rhys replied swirling his whiskey around the glass gently. “She didn’t come here on purpose, her thoughts said as much, but finding out why she is here is the next step. I think she would fair better in the -”

“You do not need to explain what is already understood,” Helion interrupted while holding up a hand, a knowing smile stretching across his lips. “From the arrival of your messenger, I knew you would take her back to the Night Court. I believe Lucien intends to accompany you.”

Azriel’s face remained blank when Rhys turned to him. “He’s rather taken by her, isn’t he?” Rhys asked Helion, his tone nonchalant.

Helion shook his head, “I do not believe they are romantic feelings as Lucien already has a mate. But, given that Lucien was the one who found her, I believe he has taken her on as his ward.”

“Unlike him, no?”

Helion looked at Rhys, assessing the question for any underlying meaning. “No. His previous court may have had a heart of stone but his burns with the fire of a thousand suns. Do not mistake his kindness for weakness.”

Rhys held back a smirk for getting a small rise out of his fellow High Lord. “I would not dare.”

Helion held his gaze for a moment longer before holding Azriel’s, who didn’t so much as flinch at the action. Finally, he nodded as Feyre and Cassian entered the room, Lucien following a few steps behind.

“Then we will leave tomorrow after breakfast.”

“Sounds agreeable. I do wish for updates to our little human’s well-being.”

“Don’t trust us, Helion?” Cassian said with a large grin his wings rustling behind him.

“Out of all the courts, the Night Court is the one I trust most, but if you say anything to Thesan, I will deny it until the end,” Helion responded with a light chuckle. “No, I simply wish to be kept ‘in the loop’ so to speak. I believe she will play a pivotal role here in Prythian.”

Feyre held his stare for a moment. “What do you know, Helion?”

Helion shook his head, sipping his whiskey. “Nothing that is anything more than my own wanderings. You are no stranger to the ongoing tensions coming from the Spring Court.”

“Last we heard, he was prowling his lands as a beast more-so a man.” Cassian scoffed as he came to a stop beside Azriel, looking at him with a questioning glance. “Have you heard anything different?”

Azriel hummed as a shadow slithered down his neck. “Not enough to conclude. Tensions are quite high between Night and Spring for obvious reasons.” Azriel tried to hide his smirk as Feyre sat up straighter, holding Rhys’ hand who had the decency to look a tad remorseful. “I can contact my spies that are stationed in the area if need be.”

“There’s no need as of now. We will continue to await his response to our proposition of alliance.” Rhys stated as he looked at his mate with a smile. “He was considered a friend at one point.”

“And of course, Autumn,” Helion interjected. “Not only are we sure that Eris is preparing to usurp Beron, but while in the Autumn Court’s forest, Lucien said they had to escape his smokehounds.”

“I saw that in Sam’s memories, yes.”

“Best believe that Eris is aware of the breach of his boundaries, even if he is unaware of how it happened. Those hounds report back to him, much like your Spymaster’s shadows.”

Feyre turned to Lucien, “Do you think Eris will inquire?”

Lucien sighed heavily but nodded all the same. “Yes, he likely will. Eris will involve himself since it happened in his court. By law, this should be his or Beron’s issue to deal with.” Cassian and Azriel tensed at his wording, Rhys holding back a physical recoil. “As a born member of Autumn, I assumed responsibility for Sam the moment I touched her.”

“Does Autumn still have claim over her if you’ve brought her to Day?” Feyre asked worrying her bottom lip between her teeth. The last thing Prythian needed was a war between courts and the last thing she wanted was Sam held hostage in Autumn with the ruthless Vanserra family.

“It shouldn’t as I defected to Night and hold no allegiance to Autumn, blood or not,” Lucien replied, thinking over the laws. “If anything, the Day Court assumed responsibility when we walked through the palace doors and sheltered her. By all accounts, Day Court is now responsible for her.”

“Does you being both Day and Autumn hold any sway over the situation?” Rhys asked delicately, looking between Helion and Lucien carefully.

“No, as I am not publicly recognized as the heir of the Day Court throne. We would like to keep it that way for now.” Lucien responded. “It would cause more headache but if it came to that, Day Court would remain in control over the situation given that I severed ties with Autumn.”

Helion ran his finger over his lips, deep in thought. “And with the agreement that she goes to Night, you will assume the responsibility,” He motioned to Rhysand and Feyre. “To prevent a possible contest on all fronts, we must have paperwork drawn up that is legally binding between Day and Night, ensuring that it was done with the best interests of Sam at heart, her safety and life feared for, and her future in Prythian safe and assured as long as she remains.”

“We will draw up a contract tonight and it will be signed and notarized by tomorrow afternoon before Sam’s feet leave Day Court’s soil. We will grant her citizenship of the Night Court for however long she remains here so her rights as a Prythian citizen can not be infringed upon.” Azriel took that as Rhys’ queue to dissolve into his shadows and disappear to gather the proper paperwork. “In the meantime, I believe we will retire to our rooms.”

Helion smirked, always at odds between the fine line of High Lords and friends that he glided on. “By all means.”

Lucien remained behind with Helion who continued to sit at his desk, deep in thought. “You’re holding back something.”

Helion made a small noise of agreement. “I am but until I can be certain, I will not speak upon it.” He sipped from his glass of whiskey and set it gently on the top of the desk. “I do not doubt that they will train her in strength, fighting, and magic, I ask that you, personally, keep me updated on her progress.”

“She doesn’t have magic, there’s no magic in her world like it is here.”

“Are you certain?” Helion asked holding his gaze.

The responding silence was answer enough.

____________________________________________________________

Tag List: @smol-grandpa, @daughterofthemoons-stuff

[foster-the-world]

Best time

Took the girls to a French Fry restaurant/stand in the West Village that I used to go to all of the time when I was in my 20's. Of course, they loved it. Then we went to the Tenement Museum. I love that place. They also liked it. I'm sure somethings went over there head but they still go things out of it. I made them write a passage about it because I'm that kind of Mom. I really want their writing to improve this summer. I was surprised neither of them knew what the word immigrant meant. A third to half of their class is immigrant children. I had booked a tour about a 13year old girl which was geared toward children. Unfortunately, turned out I had booked the wrong day. They kindly let me go on a different tour. We did one called "100 years apart" about a Chinese family in the 1970s and a Prussian/Germany family in the 1870s. The kids got to see a rotary phone and a tape recorder. We've always treated immigrants unfairly/blamed them for our problems and then gotten pissed off when the economy goes to shit when we limit immigration.

Baby boy loved the Danny Go show. He was so into it - my husband and I were dying laughing. We also found a really nice community pool that we took him to three times this weekend. Its free and huge. I'd been to the Central Park pool before I had kids and found it kind of gross. I falsely assumed all city pools would be like that. Was very happy to find out that was not true. Baby boys swimming is getting better everyday.

Don't judge (or do, whatever, we are doing the best we can) but baby boy (4yo in June) still sleeps in a crib with a pop up mesh tent over it. We know we should have gotten him out but there is no way he would stay in a bed if he could easily get out. With this set up he sleeps a solid 11-12 hours per night, without complaint. He knows he can't get out so he doesn't try. He doesn't cry and if he did we would go in. He's very, very bothered when he does not get enough sleep. He's impulsive when he gets enough sleep I cannot imagine his behavior if he did multiple nights without enough sleep. Last night he put a hole in the mesh tent and got right out. Normally he falls asleep within 5-10 minutes. Last night we stayed in the room and it took two hours. Then of course he was up in the middle of the night. He laid in our bed not sleeping for another two hours. I told my husband to warn his teacher. No way he's going to be okay at school today. By the time we see him at 5pm he'll be out of control. I'll sew up the tent tonight. I ordered another one. We should at least try a floor twin bed with a tent over it sometime soon. My Mom/Aunt are coming Wednesday to watch them over the weekend while we go to a wedding. I can't put that on her. I'm sure its like most kid things - someday he will sleep in a big kid bed and I wont even remember worrying about this. We just need to get it over with.

[foxintheferns]

Wild Heart - Chapter Five

A Twilight-Paul Lahote Fanfiction

Be sure to read the Previous Chapter !

Harley Sullivan’s POV:

When I woke, it took my brain several moments to recall the events of the evening before. My heart jumped firmly against my rib cage as I joltingly remembered the plans for the day. Cliff diving with my four new friends: Jake, Seth, Embry and Jared. I sighed and rolled over onto my stomach, letting my face smush into my pillow, clenching my eyes shut and telling my anxiety to go fuck itself.

It was 7:45 in the morning. The boys were coming by the cabin around 10 to pick me up before we went to the cliffs.

I decided it wasn’t worth showering, considering I’d be bathing in the Pacific Ocean in a few hours, but tried my best to make sure I didn’t look too disheveled. I stood in front of the bathroom mirror, my hot cup of coffee steaming in its purple ceramic ‘I <3 Maine’ mug on the bathroom counter. I met my own eyes in the reflection, and tried to decipher what I saw in them. They were pools of deep, grayish green. My mom had always told me that my eyes were like the forest; that ever since I was little, my emotions could be seen in them, rolling like wind through trees, gusts of joy, of love, of hurt, of rage. She was one of the only humans on this planet who had understood me, had seen my affinity with feeling so passionately as a strength, not as a weakness or burden. I’d always wanted brown eyes, like her. They were warm, gentle, soft. But they glowed with rich color and sparkled with light when she laughed or sang or danced. The green of my eyes reminded me of my father.

I tried to understand what I saw in them now, but they only stared back at me expectantly. Maybe there was a sparkle to them, now. They looked less dull and flat than they had even mere weeks ago. I began the process of pulling a comb through my dark hair, waves and curls falling in a jumbled heap down my back, knotted and coiling wildly from the salty breeze on the beach the night before. I wet it thoroughly, spraying my homemade leave-in through the smoothed strands and scrunching until they looked fresh and defined. I gave one last appraisal in the mirror. My freckles were making an appearance, a result of all the time spent outside recently. They scattered across the bridge of my nose and along my cheekbones like the aftermath of overspray from a painter’s brush. The rich copper tones of my now damp, dark brown hair seemed to make the green in my eyes flare like glowing orbs. My hair was always something I cherished and loved. That was from my mother.

I continued my preparation for the day, brushing my teeth, washing my face, putting some deodorant on, then anxiously went through my wardrobe in my mind to figure out what I’d be wearing. I didn’t really have swimwear, considering cliff diving or swimming at all weren’t particularly on the forefront of my mind when I’d moved here. I’d given a lot of my clothes to Naomi when I left, who eagerly accepted my hand-me-downs. I knew I had one black cami bra that would be comfortable enough to cliff jump in, and I hoped that pairing it with some of my black boy-short undies would help it pass for a bikini. I wasn’t particularly overjoyed to be the only girl swimming, but I was excited to be trying something new. Doing something fun. And, I had a funny feeling that the boys would go out of their way to not look at my body too obviously. They were all pretty respectful, especially Seth. I couldn’t deny the way that my chest fluttered at the thought of taking my clothes off in front of Jake, though, and tried to push that to the back of my mind. I spent the few hours waiting for the guys to arrive, adding more wood to the stove and reading one of my Jane Goodall books. I’d brought a whole set of novels with me, many of the books old and weathered from the times I’d read them over the years. I eventually got antsy and did some stretching on the living room floor, trying to remember random poses from the few classes I’d taken during one of my fleeting hyper-fixations on Yoga a few years back. In the middle of a deep breathing session in cat-cow, I was ripped from my relaxation with a heavy knock on the door. I gasped audibly and fell onto my elbows on the wooden floor. I’d been expecting to hear footfalls and voices outside before a knock, considering four larger than average men were going to be arriving at the house. But I hadn’t heard them approach at all.

I stood, rearranging my hoodie down over my shorts as it’d ridden up throughout my stretching session. I skipped over to the door, my white knitted socks slippery on the wooden floor. I pulled the door open, unsurprised to see Jacob’s face first. A smile broke out across his features, and I saw his eyes flicker down my legs briefly. A chorus of ‘hey’, ‘hi’, and ‘good morning’s rang out and I laughed, holding the door open wider and stepping aside to welcome them in. Behind Jake, Jared and Seth stood smiling, and behind them, Embry stood next to another face that I didn’t recognize. Jacob jutted his thumb behind him and over his shoulder at the unfamiliar addition to our little group, a stocky, built young man. He was shorter than the others, although still taller than the average man. He had thick muscle wrapping around his arms, neck and shoulders, and shaggy hair that curled around his ears.

“This is Quil, a buddy of ours. He wanted to come along, hope you don’t mind,” Jacob said with a grin. The boy named Quil smiled wide, throwing an acknowledging nod my way. I shook my head.

“No, I don’t mind at all! It’s nice to meet you,” I said, beaming back. Quil returned the greeting with a confident demeanor, and the five of them stepped through the doorway. I heard the murmurs of comments on the mysterious tiny cabin they’d known for years but never seen the inside of as they entered. Everyone but Jake, who stayed by my side while the other boys wandered into the living room, Seth crouching by the fire while Embry sat down on the couch with Quil and Jared. They were already continuing a conversation they must have started on their way here, and I was amused by how immediately they made themselves at home.

It was a small couch, but the boys made it look ridiculously tiny. I had to stifle a laugh.

“So, ya scared?”, Jacob asked with a smirk, his arms crossing as he eyed my face, trying to read my expression for a whisper of fear.

I narrowed my eyes as I stared back at him. I hesitated, crossing my arms to mirror him, staring back defiantly with my chin in the air before I let my shoulders and arms slump in defeat. I realized he’d probably see right through any feigned bravery I plastered onto my face.

“Yeah…,” I mumbled with a shrug, a bashful smile creeping up onto my lips. He chuckled, his eyes remaining on my face as I glanced down to the floor, moving over to my hiking boots and grabbing them before sitting down onto the ottoman in front of the couch.

“Well, don’t need to be. We’re doing the easy spot, like we told you. Plus, it’s like the perfect day for it. 70 degrees, not too windy, even down on the beach,” he mused, watching me as I bent over to pull my boots onto my feet.

I nodded, trying to ignore the racing of my heart as I yet again realized what I’d gotten myself into. This is what I wanted though, isn’t it? New friends and experiences. After fighting with my bulky hiking boots, I was laced up and ready to go. Behind me on the couch, the boys were looking through one of my spotted owl field journals. At the snap of Jacob’s fingers and a flick of his head towards the door, all four boys were up and crossing the room, leaving me sitting on the ottoman and staring at Jake in amazement at the utter control he seemed to hold over the group. He waited patiently by the open door, then awkwardly looked outside before turning his gaze back at me.

“Erm… you comin’?” He asked gruffly, not understanding my moment of hesitation.

I stood up, stretching and grabbing my red backpack off the couch that had my spare clothes, towel and essentials, throwing it over my shoulder.

“Hope you don’t expect me to listen to you like those goofballs do,” I said, reaching out to poke him in the side as I grinned up at him. He dodged my hand effortlessly and smoothly while managing to still hold the door open for me. I slid past him, his woodsy smell filling my senses briefly, and he followed me out onto the porch, firmly closing the door behind him.

“Don’t worry, I don’t,” he grumbled dramatically.

….………….………….………….………….………….………………………

The hike up to the road wasn’t a short one, nor was it easy. My thighs and calves burned by the time we made it through the vast and seemingly never ending green of the forest. The light peeking through at the top of the final climb showed me just how steep the remaining section was. I stopped to catch my breath, my heart painfully pounding and sweat pooling under my shirt and across my lip. I stopped at the base of the hill, hunching over to breathe.

“Jeez, thought you were an experienced hiker, Sully!” Jake’s voice rang out from the front of the group.

I glanced up, searching for his face. When my eyes met his, I saw it was painted with that playful smirk of his.

“Sully?” I asked between pants. I hadn’t heard that nickname since high school.

Jake and the other boys chuckled. Seth, who was the closest to me, put his hand on my shoulder gently.

“It means you’re part of the club, don’t worry. It’s a shocker when these knuckleheads actually call me Seth. Last names are kinda the norm here.”

Seth had been by my side for most of the trek, encouraging me when I’d first expressed distaste for the sheer vertical climb of our summit.

I nodded in response, not really caring for anything much more than the sensation of feeling far too hot under my sweatshirt. I held up a finger for the boys to wait. They all shot each other perplexed looks, which I ignored.

I pulled my pack off my shoulders, letting it slump into the ground. Hooking my fingers under the hem of my hoodie, I pulled it swiftly over my head, shaking my hair out as it pulled through the hole. I wrapped the hoodie around my waist, tying it tightly at the top of my shorts and then bent to pull my pack up onto my back. When I looked up, all five of the men were pointedly avoiding looking my way. I realized with a sharp flow of blood to my cheeks that I’d only put on the black bra I planned to swim in, and had forgotten to put on a shirt underneath the hoodie in my nervous preparation for the outing. Jake shot one quick look at my face before nodding curtly and looking up the trail, prompting the group to continue.

“Just this last little bit, then we’re at the truck,” Jacob called from the front of our little posse. I felt much cooler now, the air lightly running through the trees flowing across my chest and under my armpits. I let out a long sigh, and heard Seth’s soft chuckle from beside me.

I was too exhausted to care about defending my ego when we made it to the top. How were they not as tired as me? I was indeed an experienced hiker, but the sheer steepness of this path was one of the most difficult I’d come across. I decided to blame it on their sheer size difference. Their legs were all long enough to make it easier, surely. It took everything in me to not sit down on the side of the road that the trail finally led us to. My breathing began to settle and relax as the ground flattened. My muscles ached, but it didn’t feel terrible. The feeling was one I missed, I realized. I was coming back to my body still, after years of being an empty vessel for pain, and physical sensations such as this were a kind reminder of that, I decided.

An old, black pickup truck sat along the road next to the tree-line. Jacob strode over to the driver’s side, pulling keys out of his pocket with a jingle and shoving them into the ignition. I stood along the road beside Seth, who looked over at me with a grin.

“You did it! Nice job,” he said excitedly. His compassion was so genuine and reassuring; it was impossible not to smile back.

I exhaled and nodded.

“Thanks, Seth. You’re a good hiking buddy.”

Jared, Quil, and Embry all piled into the backseat of the truck. Jacob slapped the side of the truck from out of his window, whistling at Seth and I.

“Let’s go, kids, we don’t have all day,” he called across the seat out the passenger window. I scoffed and walked with Seth to the passenger door, which he opened for me. I threw him another smile as I pulled myself up and into the truck with a grunt. My legs were a bit shaky from the climb. I plopped down onto the bench seat next to Jacob, accidentally falling against him in the process. I muttered something that sounded like a ‘sorry’. His lips were pulled together tightly, an attempt to not laugh at my struggle. I pulled my backpack onto my lap and huffed, stubbornly refusing to meet his gaze. Seth got into the truck next to me, pulling the door closed behind him.

After a long and windy drive up the rocky jut of mountain along the pacific sea, we finally arrived to the location of our day’s adventure. I felt a jolt of excitement and fear as Jared’s long arm pointed from the backseat at our cliff jumping destination.

“There she is,” Quil exclaimed proudly.

It was slightly lower down than the road we slowly came to a stop on, tucked up above a small inlet that shot off from the main beach below. The water was calmer than the day before and the sun was able to shine directly on it now that it was almost noon. I smiled eagerly to myself at the prospect of the sun warming the rocks despite the constant cloud layer in the sky.

With a shudder of old metal and engine, Jacob turned off the truck and pulled the key out, stuffing it back into his pocket. He glanced over at me with a slightly different expression than I’d seen before, one of contemplation and hesitance, and my eyes narrowed slightly. An impish smile pulled up onto his lips.

“Ready?” He asked smugly as he popped the driver door open and pulled his tremendous frame out of the truck.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” I mumbled as I followed him out the same way.

A/N: yall please this took SO long I am so deeply truly sorry, but now im back! I missed writing this story so much so please let me know your thoughts! Chapter 6 already in the works hehe

Who’s excited for Paul to meet our girl? 🙋‍♀️

➡️NEXT CHAPTER

Taglist: pls let me know if you’d like to be tagged for the next chapters!

@carrrieeexu @living-that-best-life @hotheadwolf @avis15 @gugi7171773 @neo-grey @bbywonu @wilmasvensson @lostwandererkat @littlep2014 @cyuuttee @itsthesamegen @a-moonchilds-life @Elleirbag50 @Foxmp

[spectrumlife99]

Autism and Associative/Emotional Memories (a post with an excerpt from the book I'm writing)

(Beginning of book excerpt)

It is fairly common for autistic people to associate almost everything they experience with something else. These associations and/or memories can be either positive or negative, simple or complex, and can completely affect the way the person perceives something. In my personal experience, they can resurface seemingly at random and change the way I view something as a whole. For example, as a child, I had multiple bad experiences in swimming pools, all resulting in me slipping underwater and having to be dragged out. This happened many times throughout my childhood, and all of those times I was at family reunions. I may not have noticed it right away, but I was always reluctant to go to family reunions after that, and was so relieved when my family decided to stop going to them. I realize now that these pool incidents played a sizable role in why I hated going to family reunions, as well as the general sensory overload. They also play a major role in why I hate water, why I still can’t swim, and why even just the thought of learning how is extremely frightening for me. I only became aware of this very recently, because the memories of the pool incidents resurfaced a few years ago and now I am absolutely terrified of pools and have not gone in one since as a result. It took me a long time to actually figure all of this out, because of my struggles with alexithymia and never knowing how I’m feeling about anything, but with help from my talk therapist and my grandparents, I was able to finally understand what was going on in my mind, even though I haven’t quite figured out what exactly caused the memories to resurface the way they did. These memories were complex, as there were multiple occurrences of the same event, but there can also be more specific, simple memories as well. A few summers ago, my dad and I went out shopping to get my brother some birthday presents. It was supposed to be a quick trip, but it ended up lasting much longer than expected, and we had to go to multiple stores, which would have been fine since I was bored that day and wanted to get out of the house. What made it really stressful though was that there was a sudden thunderstorm while we were in the car driving to the second store, and I didn’t have my headphones or even my jacket with me, which made me upset to the point of a mini-meltdown/panic attack because I always bring them everywhere I go just to be prepared for anything. Luckily my dad was very patient with me and I was able to buy some things too, which made me associate a positive memory with that trip as well as a negative one. While the positive memory is very simple, the negative one is extremely specific. Not only did this trip make me absolutely have to bring my headphones and jacket with me everywhere and keep them with me at all times, but I also remember the exact amount of steps it took me to get from the car to the entrance to every place we went that day (Kohl’s (47), Best Buy (33), and the mall (52)). Anything to do with those numbers makes me remember how upset and scared I was to be outside in a thunderstorm, since I already have a strong fear of thunderstorms, but thankfully, the positive memory of that trip typically overshadows the negative one (for once). It's even happened to me with fictional characters before...multiple times!

(End of book excerpt)

(From here on I'm just talking now)

Autistic people do not TRY to associate things like this, it just HAPPENS. It's how our brains work since they're literally wired differently! Trust me, I WISH I could stop associating things, but no matter how hard I try, I just can't. It happens regardless. It is something I literally CANNOT help, and I wish allistic people would understand that and stop telling me to "let it go" or "you've been associating *insert thing here* with *insert thing here* for a WHILE now...can't you stop doing that?" No. No I can't "stop doing that", it's literally how my brain works and I can't help it, and it makes me upset and stressed that allistic people don't understand that I don't like this either. The more I think about it the more I realize that my parents really don't understand me and the way my brain works and my special interests and how THOSE work, and that makes me sad. They keep pushing me past my limits and I swear they still believe in the functioning labels...I'm NOT "high-functioning", I'm BARELY functioning right now! But that's a post for another time. I hope you all learned something about autism and associations today! That would be really great, especially if you're autistic yourself and learned a bit more about how your brain works! Or if you're allistic and learned a bit more about the autistic person/people in your life, that would be great too! Either way, I'm just trying to spread information and correct misinformation as an autistic person myself who struggles with this and many other things on a daily basis!