#werewolf color makes me SAD

[goldenguillotines]

https://artfight.net/~goldenGuillotines

Perhaps shall attack team vampire friens with chibis.. if have time

[97keanu]

The Beast You’ve Made Of Me.

Premise: After moving to the town of San Dimas in 1990, you figured it was nothing more but a small town filled with like minded drama. You’ve been uprooted mid senior year because of your “behavioral problems”, as your mother would put it, and it hasn’t been easy fitting in. Lucky you, you find the one person there you can really trust, your sweet and loving boyfriend Ted. It’s the night of a big party out in the woods, one last hurrah before the end of your senior year, and you debut you and Ted as a couple. The drama from that gossip turns out to be the least of your worries when your boyfriend is dragged away mid smoke sesh by something from the woods. When he reappears later, distant, and uninterested in seeing you, you begin to wonder what’s really going on. You soon learn that the town of San Dimas, California is hiding more secrets than you thought.

One thing you know for sure, you have to be careful when the moon is full…

CW/Tags: Hurt, Angst, Ted/Evil!Ted/This is kind of a Jekyll and Hyde situation, Werewolf AU, stoner!ted + reader, cheerleader!reader, eventual smut, slowish burn, clueless!reader, sweet but sad!reader, longing, outcast!reader, small town gossip/drama, revenge flirting, angry/needy, p in v, knotting, dubcon, drunk!reader, biting, tasting blood, size kink, aftercare?, cuddling, slight mentions of breeding, cute ending/happy ending/comfort ending.

Words: 8.3k

꒰˵ˊPlaylistˋ˵꒱

“Isn't it supposed to rain tonight?” You overhear one of the other party goers say shyly as pewter clouds churn overhead.

“Yeah, but it ain’t raining yet!” One of the ‘future-frat-boy’ seniors belts out followed by the howls of his pack, otherwise known as the San Dimas football team.

“Well, you know what they say about being out on a full moon…” One of the popular girls complains in a whiny tone, allowing an in for the jocks to make fun of her which for all they know could be flirting.

“Ohhh, someone's scared of the big bad wolf?” They tease while mimicking wolfish noises loudly.

Despite the stars being blocked out by threatening storm clouds, the full moon rules bright between tuffs of gray, an amber ring echoing around it. You watch it, perplexed by its color, not watching your step as you hike towards the lodge. Your white converse hits an uncovered mossy root and for a second you think you will already start to embarrass yourself for the night by falling in front of everyone.

Then, a gentle hand helps to steady your elbow, the other resting on your lower back, your tight, cream crop top exposing the skin there.

“Hey, easy now…” You hear the soft tones of your boyfriend's voice whisper to you.

You turn towards him, a small smile pulling at the corners of your glossy lips as you look into his comforting brown eyes. He returns the smile and gives your cheek a gentle peck.

You and Ted haven’t been dating long, you didn’t have the chance to.

After everything that happened at your last school, your mother thought best to pull you out in the middle of your senior year and plant you here in San Dimas, California.

It was different from what you were used to, and in other ways all the same. The clique-y drama, rumors that somehow snowball out of control, and your mother’s expectations of you being the perfect preppy daughter, her highschool mini me. Only problem was the move and your reputation nullified any chance at being prom queen, valedictorian, or dating the quarterback. Hey, at least you managed to make the cheerleading squad and your grades up. That seemed to keep her off your back for the most part.

Sure, your mother still doesn’t know you are dating one of the San Dimas High School’s resident stoners, but she wouldn’t understand anyways. Ted was an escape from the prim and proper world of suburbia, someone who liked to have fun and be himself, not to mention completely head over heels for you. It felt good to be loved, felt good to have a home in him.

You watch as fairy lights cast a glow behind him, almost throwing a little halo in his dark brown hair. You feign confidence as members of the SDHS’s student body watch you walk in with Ted, a few whispers already happening behind red solo cups. As you two go through the cabin to the back yard, you can tell Ted notices your tension rise, and his thumb creates comforting circles on your skin.

“Say the word, and we’ll go.” His voice says low and slow in your ear, breath tickling you there.

You give a small head shake, and Ted nods, keeping on as if he has no worries. The happy-go-lucky energy he gives off calms you. You lean into him, sweeping your long ponytail away from your neck.

Up until now, Ted Logan had mainly been a secret you kept all to yourself, but the prying eyes around you could never make you doubt how good of a boyfriend he was. You were too in love not to be confident about that.

______

The bonfire that the football team constructed was actually quite impressive, you had to give them credit there since manual labor was their forte. You snuggle into Ted’s orange jacket that he’s wrapped around you, inhaling the scent of cheap body spray and marijuana. The warmth of the fire prickles your cheeks as Ted strategically toasts a marshmallow beside you. Your chin finds a home on his shoulder, relaxing into his body.

The chatter of the rest of the party drones on with bursts of laughter cutting up the monotones. You know that this isn’t the usual crowd for Ted, but he seems at home as ever, whispering little jokes to you as he enjoys the night despite cross looks from others. You’re sure there will be more talk on Monday about how you don’t deserve to be on the cheer squad if you’re going to be hanging out with burnouts and stoners like Ted Logan, but that doesn't matter. It was only a week before the end of the year, and then you’d be free of highschool forever. Tonight, you were going to enjoy being a senior with your boyfriend without shame.

”Hey,” Ted leans into you, holding out a perfectly brown marshmallow and gently popping it in your mouth when you open it. “Do you wanna go smoke? There’s a little dock to the lake that I know…”

He looks at you with a shy half-smile, and despite the fact that he knows you like getting high just as much as him, he still acts nervous to ask one of the cheerleaders to do something so improper. You nod, mouth full of sweet marshmallow fluff, and let him help you stand up. No one really notices when the two of you slip away from the beacon of light and into the dark forest full of summer greens.

Ted guides you, the trail a bit hard to see in the dark, but not impossible.

“It’s not too far away from here,” You hear him say beside you, as well as the other night noises of the forest humming along.

You let him take your hand into his warm one, an arm wrapped around the small of your waist to keep you safe from almost falling once more. You don’t know what it is about Ted, but you just trust him. Like, completely, utterly trust him despite only knowing him for a few months. He’s not like the other boys at school, who you have to watch your drink with, have to be careful of ending up alone with. No, Ted really only has your best interest in mind, and you feel safe with him right now.

That’s why when you hear a low howl off in the distance you cling into his body, freezing up for a moment.

“What was that?” You say, trying not to let the tinge of panic rise in your voice.

“Probably just a coyote,” Ted starts to explain, his voice soft and soothing.

“It sounded like a wolf…” You whisper as another howl responds to the first.

“Wolves aren’t usually out this way,” Ted reassures with a small laugh. “And we’re only a five minute walk away from everyone else. Three if we run.”

“Do we have to run?” You try to look up at his face, but the moonlight is concealed by the clouds at the moment, so all you see is shadows.

“No, no,” He backpedaled. “We’re going to be fine, babe. Just the sounds of the forest, is all.”

You feel his hand gently rubbing your back, and the motion calms you down. You take a deep breath, and let him keep walking you forward. Soon enough, you walk through a clearing, and the world seems to open up once more from the claustrophobia of the forest.

The lake ebbs and flows, making splashing noises against the dark rocks on its coast. You can barely tell what’s in there, the water a deep color of black, small sparklings shining off as the moon begins to find its way out once more.

Your shoes knock against the wood of the docks, creaking as you make your way down, eyes starting to get used to the dark. You take a seat at the end letting your legs dangle off the edge. You settle in, slipping your converse and socks off, your feet dipping into the cool water. Your previous fear in the forest starts to settle down as you listen to the calming waters.

Ted gently opens his jacket that you’re still wearing, and pulls a joint and a lighter from the inner pocket, giving you a kiss after as if he’s thankful that you let him grab it. You watch as his face lights up from the small orange glow of the lighter, the joint hanging lazily out of the corner of his mouth. For a second, you feel a blush coming up to your cheeks as you appreciate how adorable he looks.

He takes a deep inhale of the joint, holding it in for a second, then coming closer. You know what he wants to do, and welcome his soft, full lips onto yours. He parts your lips slowly, letting you feel the smoke from his lungs exhale into yours, tendrils of smoke floating up from the spaces your lips didn’t fully close around. You let his air fill your lungs, then deepen the kiss while trying not to let any spill out. Finally, you must pull away, breathing out once more and feeling heat in more than just your cheeks.

This little ritual of yours continues until you hear something rustling in the brush behind you. Your eyes feel warm and heavy, and you slowly turn your attention towards the sound, the dark of the night keeping whatever’s there hidden.

“Did you hear that?” You say without turning towards Ted.

“Hear what?” Ted’s voice is soft and lazy.

You say nothing, trying to force your ears to hear something within the hum of the night. The feeling of the hair on the back of your neck raises, a sense of being watched beginning to flood your body.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

“I think someone’s out there…” You try to speak as quietly as possible.

“Probably someone else from the party trying to find somewhere quiet.” Ted whispers back, then calls out towards the noise. “Hey! Spot already taken, find a new one, dudes!”

You know your boyfriend isn’t trying to be dismissive, not trying to make the fear in you rise, but you find yourself trying to hush him anyways. He stands from the edge of the dock, and you find yourself pulling your feet from the lake, water dripping onto the wood.

A low growl escapes the tree line.

“Ted, I don’t think that’s another student.” Your hands are already clutching his forearm, and with another snarl from the darkness, you feel Ted take a step back.

Both of you are wordless, unmoving as a pair of yellow eyes glint in the moonlight from the overgrown brush.

“Ted…” You don’t know what he could even do, but he was your only solace now as the blood in your body beats harder.

Those yellow eyes flick towards you, the sound of your voice and the tremble in your legs already sorting you out as the weaker one. Ted’s arm pulls over your chest protectively, and feel his body brace.

“Can you swim?” His never serious tone has flipped on its head.

“Y-yes.” Is all you can say, fear taking hold in your legs, freezing them to the spot.

You don’t have much time to think as something your eyes can’t even comprehend stalks from the forest towards you. It had the face of a wolf, muzzle too long, teeth too sharp, body too human. Its teeth are bared and ready, hands ending in dark, thick claws. In the split second before its legs are ready to pounce, you feel Ted’s arm push against your chest.

In one moment, you’re frozen to your spot, fear pulsing through you as this creature breaks out in a run, eyes set on you. In the next, the cold, dark lake is taking the breath from your lungs and you watch helplessly as Ted intervenes the wolf from chasing after you. Just as you sink under the blanket of water around you, those sharp, white teeth are glinting in the moonlight and sinking into the shoulder of your boyfriend. Your lovely, sweet, kind boyfriend.

Water fills your mouth, preventing the scream from escaping.

You don’t even want to resurface, don’t even want to fight, but you know you must. Your muscles tense with strength you don’t want to give, arms wildly clutching for support you can’t find. You break through the water with a gasp, choking out the disgusting, earthy taste of the lake from your throat. Your eyes try to find your boyfriend in the darkness, your ears already hear his screaming being dragged farther and farther away from you, snarls interjecting until you hear nothing.

The moon shines down on you, a silent watcher to the night events. The sound of the water slapping against the dock and the cicadas calling out is all you can make out. The horror filling inside you has no escape, nowhere to go, falling deeper and deeper into the pit of your stomach. You float aimlessly, and when you find yourself on shaking legs, gingerly stepping out of the water, you can’t even remember how you got there.

When you stumble back towards the noise of the party, the warm light of the bonfire, no one even notices at first as you make your way there. Your arms held tight around each other, Ted’s orange jacket cold and stuck to your wet skin. Your short, flowy skirt is now suctioned against your bare thighs, and your ponytail drips down your back. You don’t even notice Ted’s blood mixing with lake water on your legs. An arm on your shoulder stops your shuttering walk, and you turn to see the concerned faces of the rest of the party.

“What happened?” One of them asks, concern genuine.

“Oh my god, is that blood?” Someone recoils from the sight.

“You’re soaking wet, where were you?” Along with other hushed inquiries.

You try to speak, but your lip just quivers without answers. The world seems too bright and big by the fire, too many faces in the sea of people beginning to huddle around you, and you doubt even half of them care about you for more than just the gossip. You recoil from hands that are seemingly forever trying to guide you somewhere.

“It…got him.” Is all you could muster as you’ve somehow found yourself sat in the dirt by the fire.

Silence follows after you speak, then hushed tones create a simmering symphony in the small crowd.

“Who? That-that…” they try to remember who you came to the party with, but you know this crowd never even cared to learn Ted’s name. “That boy you were with?”

You don’t get time to answer as a scream breaks out from the edge of the crowd.

“It’s him!” You hear a few people call.

The crowd thins out to look at what new, shiny piece of gossip for Monday they can find, and that’s when you see him.

Ted.

Your loving, wonderful boyfriend, stumbling in from the tree line. You stand, dry dirt caked on your legs, creating stains you’ll never be able to explain to your mom. You don’t even know what to do at first, you watch, feeling as if you’re looking at a ghost. You were so sure he was gone. Tears prick your red eyes, and soon enough they’re falling down your face as you’re running to him.

You see the weariness in Ted’s tired, dark eyes, his mop of brown hair haphazardly in his face, and he leans into you for support when you reach him. You can see the rips in his shirt, see the blood looking black as night, so you reach up a worried hand to apply pressure to his shoulder. All you feel is smooth, tan skin under your fingertips.

“Ted?” Worry furrows your brow.

“I’m alright,” his breath seems heavy, skin sweaty to the touch.

He looks up and sees the crowd, and to your surprise you see his teeth bared, from pain or something else, you don’t know. Then he speaks, low, almost growling, to you.

“Let’s get out of here.”

–-----

You expect the last Monday before summer to be a buzz with rumors of Friday night, that when you walk into school there will be looks, questions, people who can't even begin to understand what really happened out there. As you pass the threshold into the hot halls of San Dimas High, it's as if people are recoiling from you.

Lockers are shut, whispers halt mid sentence, and no one wants to look you in the eye. You feel completely outcast from even pretending to be normal.

What's worse, you haven't heard from Ted since you dropped him off at his house. You haven’t even returned his rusty old van, and he loves that van. You called his line a million times, and no one picked up, not even his dad to tell you to stop calling so much. Helpless doesn't even begin to describe how you feel.

You know how he looked when you dropped him off. Sweat dripping from his hair, his body hot to the touch, hotter than you thought possible. He would try to suppress groans as he directed you to his house, yet insisted on not taking him to the hospital. He stumbled into his door, slamming it behind him before you could even push your way in. You stood there, hair still wet, the cicadas singing a sad chorus to how pitiful you felt.

That was the last time you saw him.

Now, on Monday, as you approach the locker you traded with someone to be closer to his, you half expect him to be there, goofy grin and all making your morning better. Of course, there his locker was, plastered in band stickers and graffiti and…lonely. You hold Ted’s orange jacket closer to you, not having taken it off since Friday. You know how it must look, but you need it. Need to feel like he’s here with you, smell his cheap cologne on the collar, fiddle with the old bic lighter in the pocket.

You feel all eyes on you as you put your things away, but no one says a word. You feel as if you may burst into tears right there from the stress of it all when the bell rings, making you jump. Everyone knows you’re on edge now.

Classes go on, and the silence gets less and less. By lunch, hushed rumors are stirring as you try to find somewhere to sit in peace. You consider taking your tray of unappealing slop to the cheerleaders table, but of course, your typical spot is taken by someone else, signaling that you’re unwelcome. You find half of a table to sit at, and try to make it seem like you're busy by pushing around your food and gingerly biting into a red apple. It tastes like mush.

“I don’t think we'll see him before the end of school.”

“My dad says this happens every few years…”

“Yeah! Mine said his cousin went out on a full moon when they were kids and never came back…”

“Well, I guess the San Dimas curse strikes again.”

“You don't really believe that do you?”

“Either way, that guy’s probably dead.”

“Not that big of a loss, he was a burn out anyways.”

You're standing before you know it, sick of listening to everyone speculate on the person you love most, the only person here who ever cared to get to know who you really were underneath it all. Your tray is promptly dumped and the cafeteria goes hush as you walk with tears falling down your cheeks. You burst through the large, metal doors, and your sneakers squeak as they take you away.

Soon enough, you’re ditching. You know it’s more than possible that your mother will hear about this, and of course, berate you for old habits. If you’re lucky, maybe they won’t care at the end of the year. Either way, you have to know, have to find the answers that kept you from finding a wink of sleep these past 48 hours. You burst out of the school into the hot, humid air outside. Everything smells thick after the rain of the weekend, petrichor and musky. You don’t even have a car, you just let your feet beat on the hot pavement towards Ted’s house.

You two have walked back to his place countless times since you moved here, especially since you could never take him back to your house. The world is a blur of neighborhoods and mid-afternoon traffic. You don’t stop until your hand is raised at Ted’s door, ready to pound, but before you can even lay a knuckle there, the door opens, just a slice.

“Ted?” You whisper, knowing his dad is at work now, and his little brother in school.

A moment passes without a word from the otherside of the door. Maybe his dad is home, maybe something bad really did happen. You hope more than anything it’s him.

”I can’t come out.” You hear his voice, raspy and low, and for a moment you don’t think it’s really him.

“What?” You ask puzzled, moving your head to try to get a better look inside the small sliver of door that’s open. “What do you mean? Are you okay?”

“I’m not feeling well. I don’t want to…” He pauses for a long moment. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

Hurt me? What the hell does he mean by that?

“Ted, you won’t hurt me, I don’t care if you’re sick, I just wanna make sure you’re okay!” You begin to ramble, anything that keeps him talking, and potentially lets you see him.

“Go home, babe.” You can tell it kills him to say it, his voice choking up, those three words getting caught in his throat.

“I’m not going home until you tell me what’s going on, Ted Logan!” You stomp your foot without even thinking, folding your arms across your chest.

Ted says nothing. In fact, he does the single most heartbreaking thing you can think of.

He closes the door.

“Ted!” You yell, you pound on the door.

There is no response.

No matter how much you call for him, he ignores you, so you say the only thing you can think that might get to him.

“Ted, you open this door right this minute or we are OVER!”

The door swings open.

Ted, standing there in only his sweatpants, dark circles under his eyes, looking more tired than you could imagine a 18 year old boy could look. His hair is damp, plastered to his forehead as if feverish. His breath is heaving. He looks nothing like your sweet, gentle boyfriend you’ve come to know and love.

“I said,” He speaks to you in a tone he’s never done before, half begging, half demanding. “Leave…”

You stand there, confused, mouth open, unsure what to say, but not moving.

“Leave!” He snarls again, louder, hand hitting the doorframe loudly, making you flinch.

As cruel as his voice is being with you right now, his eyes say something different. He looks as if it’s all he can do to get you away from him, truly believing it for your own good.

You begin to speak, and Ted turns rapidly, slamming the front door with all his might, house seeming to shake from the impact.

That was it.

That was all you could do. Come here, try to help him, but if he wanted you away, then he got it.

You turn, walking down the sidewalk with your arms around yourself, shame and embarrassment and heartbreak heating your face and ears. You suppose you’ve lost your boyfriend after that, and over god knows what. You don’t understand what’s happening at all. You thought you did everything a good girlfriend would, but maybe you made a mistake. And even if you did, could you two not talk about it? You let out a half sob as the pain in your heart tenses up, holding your breath to try to keep it in until you can safely let it all out.

Tears of hurt and anger slip down your face. Frustrated, you make your way home.

That was the last time you saw Ted Logan, for a while, at least.

————

The end of your senior year came and went. The talk died down, and just like predicted, Ted never returned to school for his final days. You knew he was alive, at the very least, but nothing else.

Graduation took place on a Saturday, a week or so after the last day. Everyone else cheered, watched as the schools wolf mascot was finally revealed to be some half popular nerd, the valedictorian gave a speech about how the best days of our lives were yet to come, threw their caps in the air when it was all said and done.

You sat, holding your diploma and hat, finger tracing the square edge while thinking about how Ted was supposed to be here. You two worked so hard to get his grades up so he could pass and his dad wouldn’t send him away to Alaska for military school. Maybe he really went through with that threat, for all you knew.

Either way, it had been a month since you had seen Ted Logan.

A month of lonely nights, your hidden stash of weed getting smaller and smaller as you self medicate in your room, and still you think of him. You blow smoke out the window at night, sometimes thinking you heard the sounds of rustling leaves out there, then dismissing it.

Who would want to stalk around your suburban home anyways?

————

You soon got tired of being holed up in the house all summer, and find it surprisingly easy to call up some of your old school friends to see what everyone else has been up to. You thought after everything that went down last time, you would be a social outcast. Turns out, they were more than willingly to invite you, some even more than vocal about wondering where you’d been. You know they have no real care for your wellbeing, but decide to go to one of the jocks upcoming parties.

And that’s how you find yourself anxious to see anyone other than your mother on a Friday night. You curl the ends of your high ponytail so the curls bounce at the nape of your neck, blow drying a mess of bangs in the front until they look pristine. A baby blue mini dress and some pumps later, and you’re feeling a bit more like yourself for the first time in a while. You finish everything off with a bow on your hair tie the color of marshmallows.

Soon enough, you’re driving to the outskirts of San Dimas, letting the A/C keep you cool on this June night. Some farm boy jock was hosting a barn party way out here, and you knew it was probably stupid to come. Best case, everyone feels to awkward to interact with you, worst case, they ask you questions incessantly about Ted’s disappearance and the last outing you were at.

Still, somehow, you tell yourself, this is better than Friday night alone watching reruns on the family T.V.

The moon is almost full, an orange hue clear and bright in the sky, it’s light guiding you to your destination.

It is easier than you thought to find your way there, despite not knowing the area. A few wrong turns and a right, and you’re pulling into the grass front lawn with 20 other cars or so. The barn is already lit up, spilling light and sound from inside. You open your door, struck with the heat of the night, already feeling your makeup begin to melt into your skin. Heels weren’t the best idea for the terrain, but at least you looked hot.

You pass a few straggling people hanging on the front porch of the old farm house, and one calls you over.

“Hey!” You see a few semi familiar faces, but hardly know them other than going to school together for the last few months.

They seem to know you though, so you walk up the groaning old wooden steps, and smile. Before you can even speak, one of the girls interrupts, as if she would explode if she didn’t say it.

“So, you like, have no idea about the San Dimas curse, huh?”

”Come on, Jenny, don’t get into that.” Her presumed boyfriend groans, and ‘Jenny’ keeps going.

“No, but for real, like you’re new so you wouldn’t know right?” You can see she’s dying to tell you more, so you simply shake you head.

“Curse? What curse?” You try to say casually, your interest piqued, but not wanting to show it.

“Oh here we go…!” Another girl groans, then reaches into a cooler next to her, handing you a can of beer. “Here, you’ll need this to get through this one.”

Everyone laughs before Jenny gets their attention back.

“Hey! Hey! She’s the newbie, so she deserves to know, especially after everything that happened…” As she trails, everyone looks to see your reaction, but you’re looking down at the condensation on the cold can.

“Alright, well, I’m all ears.” You shrug, looking back up, meeting their eyes.

“So,” Jenny turns serious. “San Dimas has this, like, ‘curse’, right? I mean, we don’t really know what else to call it, but that seems right enough.”

“Anyways, every ten years or so, someone goes missing. Not that unusual, sure, that just happens sometimes, but it seems to happen like clock work, okay?” Her blue eyes are big, like she really believes this, but the crowd still has unsure snickers of doubt. “Well, that’s not the only odd part, is it? No, because it happens whenever the moon is full-“

A jock grabs his buddy and annoyingly cuts Jenny off with a howl.

“Hush! It’s true, okay! They always go missing during the full moon. Always in the woods, always mysteriously. Not to mention, the sightings!” Jenny continues, trying to tame the crowd in her favor. “Folks say there’s something stalking out in those woods, something big, something not human. Say it’s got claws, teeth sharper than a dogs, head like a-“

“Oh yes, the werewolf sightings, told by old men who don’t even remember what they saw out there.” A few agreeable sounds follow the jocks interruption.

“Well, that’s what I’m saying! She saw it!” Jenny points to you like you’re her key to all this, her evidence that the curse is real. “You did, didn’t you? What did you see out there when that thing took your boyfriend?”

All eyes turn to you, all curious to hear, to know what you really saw. Dark flashes from that night bubble up in your mind, flashes of that beast, biting into Ted and dragging him away. You open your mouth, but nothing comes out. Just as you might have had an answer on the tip of your tongue, someone interrupts you.

“You don’t really believe those old stories do you?” You turn, your heart already racing at the sound of that voice.

His voice.

Ted Logan stands on the porch of the old farm house with a grin. Everyone is silent as Ted’s eyes graze across your body, practically eating you up where you stand. The yellow of the naked bulb above seeps into his dark eyes, and for a second you think there’s something wrong with them. No, must be the lights, playing tricks on your eyes. Ted watches you closely, examining your reaction.

“Besides, not much of a curse when the ‘missing person’ is right here.” Another voice joins Ted, and you notice someone with Ted.

Everyone waits to see where this will go, the social pressure to speak building up in you. Ted always knew you hated being the center of attention like this, and you watch as he smirks at your unease, almost exuding cockiness, but you can’t believe it. Your Ted Logan? He would never act in such a way…

Ted holds out a hand.

“Why don’t we speak somewhere more privately.” His voice is more serious now, tone lower.

You know you should just stay here, ignore him after everything he’s done, but you find your hand in his warm, large one, leading you away. Your heels click off the porch onto the grass as the crowd you’ve left begins to dissect what’s just happened. The man Ted arrived with follows, and you frown towards his direction.

“Who is he?” Your eyes narrow at the stranger, hair bouncing as you walk towards the back of the barn with them.

“He’s my…my…” Ted can’t seem to find the right word..

“Cousin.” The other responds, a devilish grin on his lips.

“R-right! Cousin!” Ted affirms. “This is Bill.”

Cousin? This guy was like a foot shorter than Ted, big blue eyes, and a mess of blond curls on top. They looked nothing alike, and yet, there was something…An aura of sorts, if you had to describe it. Something that seemed to link the two, either in attitudes or something else your basic senses couldn’t pick up on. Either way, you doubted more than anything they were cousins, and you were going to get to the bottom of this one way or another.

”I don’t know who you think you are showing up out of nowhere like nothing happened, Ted!” You hiss in his direction as you all round the corner of the barn, and Bill snickers at your remark.

“Relax, babe, can’t you just be happy to see me?” Ted scoffs at your attitude, making your rage grow.

You can’t help yourself, you slap him.

Your hand leaves a hot mark behind on his cheek,

“Babe? That’s what you think you’re going to call me after dropping me for a month? Let me worry about if you’re hurt, if you’re sick, if dead? No, you don’t get to call me that, Ted, that’s reserved for boyfriends who actually give a fuck to contact their girlfriends after being dragged into the woods by a damn wolf!” The anger is really welling up inside you now, but you can’t stop it, not now.

“So, no, you don’t get to call me babe after all that! As far as I’m concerned, we are not dating anymore!” You could keep going but the way Ted’s looking at you has you stopping in your tracks.

“Wouldn’t have done that if I were you…” Bill chuckles behind Ted, lighting a cigarette without much care for how the situation goes.

Ted, however, is shaking. No, not shaking, vibrating. He stares you down through thick strands of dark hair, breath heaving, shoulders raised, looking at you as if he wanted to tear you apart. The moonlight casts shadows on his face that make something in your stomach churn with a moment of true fear.

A deep growl echoes from somewhere inside his chest, and Bill puts a hand on his shoulder. Bill looks you in the eyes with his icy blues and throws a nod towards the rest of civilization out here.

“You should go back to the party now, girlie.” He says with a fake smile at the end, dropping it and whispering something into Ted’s ear that makes him back off.

The two of them turn and walk deeper into the darkness, and you’re left standing there once again.

————

Anger is still coursing through your veins, your head not thinking properly. You don’t even want to go home, you want release from all of this. You want something different, anything.

You rejoin the party in the barn this time, and the crowd dances to music someone has set up out here. It doesn’t matter to you much what’s playing as long as it’s loud and it’s fast. You walk over to a table that hosts various amounts of liquor and find yourself a few shots deep very quickly. Heat pours through your veins, making you feel tingly all over as the alcohol begins to hit, and you join the crowd.

It doesn’t take long for you to feel the beat, winding your body in ways that you haven’t done in months now, your dress riding up shorter and shorter as you go. Soon enough, someone’s hands have caught your hips and begun grinding them into their crotch. You don’t recoil, instead, grinding back, letting their mouth find a home at your neck. If you and Ted really were broken up now, then you might as well have some fun.

You let the strangers hands wander your body, groping where they please, enjoying how the liquor feels when you move against another warm body. Sweat begins to prick your skin as you continue, and soon your mysterious stranger is whispering filthy things in your ears. Things you and Ted never even got around to doing since he used to be shy about such things, which you also used to find cute.

Now, it was like you didn’t even know him.

You shake your head with anger as the thought of Ted comes back up, trying to get back into the groove with your dance partner, but of course that too is interrupted when he is forcibly pulled from you. You pause mid dance, confusion filling your drunk mind. You turn on wobbly heels, and see those eyes, and this time it can’t be the lights making them so yellow.

Ted grabs your wrist, pulling you into his body, glowering at you.

“That’s how you’re going to get back at me?” He snidely whispers in your ear.

“What? Not like you wanted me anymore, anyways.” You cruelly throw back, turning your nose up at him to leave.

He holds you fast.

“Who said I didn’t want you anymore…?” His voice almost sounds hurt, and you try to get a read on his face.

For a second, you’re almost convinced the old Ted was back by how soft he looked right now.

You open your mouth to retaliate anyways, spiteful as always, just like your mother always warned about, but instead, Ted pulls you even closer, until your lips are almost touching, his breath mingling with yours, eyes staring deep into your soul.

“Trust me,” His voice is smoother now, hot and full of want. “I want you.”

You blink, trying to make sense of the situation, but with the alcohol pumping through your system and a history of bad decisions, you can’t stop yourself. You let your lips graze his, not even full on kissing him, just giving permission. And that’s enough for Ted.

Enough for him to let his soft, warm, silky lips crush against yours, the want so strong he has to hold himself back with every muscle in his body, arms clutching you tightly. He devours you with his kiss, and it’s almost hard for you to keep up with his lips. He pulls you onto his leg, spreading your thighs so you can ride him there, your dress now fully exposing your ass and pale blue checkered panties. His hands grip your hips, pulling you towards him and away, letting his bent knee create friction down there.

It takes everything inside you to pull away from his kiss, your chest heaving and almost ready to fall out of your dress at this rate.

“Not-Not…” You say breathlessly as you notice a few prying eyes in the crowd. “Not here…”

Ted gives you a look that sends a chill straight to your pussy.

A look that says “I would fuck you right here, right now, in front of everyone if you just gave me permission.”

And even worse.

“I might do it anyway if you don’t get us out of here quickly.”

You’re stumbling out into the woods outside of the barn before you know it. Ted half carries you the whole time, your legs wrapped around his waist as he takes you deeper away from everyone else. Your head knows this is dangerous, knows something about Ted is off, something is wrong, but you need this. You’ve been needing this, ever since he left. Maybe even before then.

Your back ends up crushed against a tree, the bark scraping against your bare shoulders there. Ted breathes heavily into your neck, no, not breathing. Inhaling. Smelling you so deeply before a moan escapes his lips.

“Fuck…” He growls in your ear. “Fuck, I-I need you so bad…”

It’s as if he can’t even get the right words out to describe it, as if it’s painful how badly he needs to fuck you. He’s hungry for you in ways you couldn’t begin to understand.

He grinds himself between your legs, and you can feel how hard he is against your pussy and stomach. His hands go down your shoulders, and you wonder when his nails got so long, the feeling of them almost clawing into your skin turning you on. He quickly pulls your dress down, exposing your breasts to his hands, where he gropes you deeply, the softness of your skin contrasting his.

You let his tongue linger in your mouth, tasting him deeply as he ruts against you, cock needing to be released. You help him, hands drunk and fumbling with his belt. Once his cock is out, you feel the head with your hand, and for a moment, you can hardly believe how big it is.

Ted’s kissing on your neck deepens, teeth grazing the skin there as you stroke his thick cock, using both hands and letting him support your weight. You don’t remember his teeth being so long, not to mention sharp, and just as your thinking of pulling way to get a better look at him, as his growling begins to reach a breaking point, you feel his teeth graze too deeply, biting into the tender flesh of your throat.

You let out a whimper, the feeling of pain mixing with pleasure. Ted takes this as an invitation, hand reaching down to your panties, and with one claw, tearing them in two. You shudder at the thought of how sharp they are and being so close to your most private parts as he checks how wet you are with one finger.

Ted pulls back from where he’s left a mark on your neck, looking you in the eyes. His face has changed, his eyes bright yellow, his teeth on full display and sporting your blood. Others may have screamed, tried to free themselves from his grip, but the monstrous look he was sporting had you weak in the knees. You shudder with pleasure as he places his cock at your entrance, the tip feeling way too big to fit even before it’s in. He seems to pause, for a just a moment, as if the human part of him can hold back just barely.

He’s waiting for you to say yes.

You nod with wanton want, and that’s all it takes. His cock is entering you, a tight fit that leaves you moaning in pain and pleasure as it stretches you beyond what you thought your limits were. You grip his back, feeling yourself already full without even having the entirety of his cock inside of you yet. What little of himself he could hold back before is gone now as he takes one small pull back from being inside you, and slams the force of his cock back where he left and then some. You cry out, trying to move to accommodate such a hefty cock, but failing.

You slip one hand down to your clit to try to tame the pain into pleasure once more, Ted’s cock filling you again and again as he takes you right there in the woods. Your hand circles your clit as best as you can, feeling yourself relax into the process of being fucked by an animal of a man.

Ted’s cock seems to grow even bigger inside of you, the base swelling as he fucks you, making it harder and harder for him to pull out of you. It’s as if you’re being infinitely filled by him as he clumsily tries to fuck you harder. His growls deepen, and as he gets closer he sinks his teeth back into the half moons he left in your shoulder earlier. You cry out as he tastes you, practically tearing you in two with his cock and his teeth, but shudder closer to climax from it all. You furiously play with yourself, free hand gripping your own breast as if the action could hold you in, hold you together for just a few more moments of the pleasure his cock fills you with at the moment.

You buck into him, his cock rutting deeper and deeper, no thoughts of the fact that he’s about to spill his seed inside you without protection, no thoughts of the teeth in your shoulder that tries to hold you still to be fucked. Only that blissful feeling of being so full you can hardly take it. So stretched out and how well that feels when you play with your clit just like that. It brings you closer and closer until you’re spilling over the edge, spamming on his cock that breeds itself into you without care.

As if he’d been waiting for you to finish, before you’ve even finished cumming the first time, Ted growls deeper than you’ve heard all night, jaw locking into your shoulder and popping his growing knot deep enough it won’t come out into you. You keep your hand busy on your clit, not ready to give this up with just one round just yet, as Ted cums deeply inside you. It’s hot, thick, and filling somewhere you’ve never been filled before. You feel it begin to seep out around his knot despite his best efforts to keep you filled, the amount of cum just too much for your body. You lose yourself in the feeling, cumming again, pussy spasming and tightening against his cock.

Worn out and overstimulated, you feel yourself being pulled from the tree. You fall on top of Ted, his knot still wedged deeply inside you with no hope of coming out soon. You straddle his body, where he lays against the dirt of the forest, breathless and staring up at the moon. It takes him a few breaths to look at you.

“So,” You say, chest heavy and pussy throbbing. “You’re a werewolf?”

He gulps in air, and almost tries to speak, then just nods, staring at you for your reaction.

After everything, you look at your boyfriend. You see his puppy dog eyes, his soft lips pursed slightly with worry, that shaggy overgrown hair. You consider it all.

“Okay.” You say affirmatively.

“Okay?” His voice is full of husk and confusion.

“Okay. Werewolf. I can deal with that.” You smile only slightly, and Ted smiles back, the Ted you know and love shining before you.

He pulls you in, tongue lapping at your neck where he bit you, and to your surprise, the bite begins to heal itself quite quickly.

“Werewolf powers.” You whisper to him and he laughs. ”Guess the San Dimas curse is true.”

“Guess I found out the hard way.” Ted whispers, half joking, half pained by the situation.

You two lay there, the moonlight devouring the scene beneath it, breathless and full. Ted’s cock throbs so deeply in your pussy you can’t imagine a time it wasn’t there. The exquisite feeling of fullness has you on cloud nine, and you can’t help but love the feeling of being so close in his arms. The way his languid hands slowly run circles on your back, the relaxed feeling of his softness almost overwhelming you along with every other sensation. You feel tears begin to well up as a release of emotions comes over you.

Ted hears a small sob hiccup in your throat, and holds you even closer, your face buried in his neck. You don’t even need anything to tell you that your soft, sweet, kind Ted was coming out now, you just knew. You knew the way he held you on top of him, letting all your weight into his body, the way his hands comforted you in ways no one else could.

You pull your face away from his, and he kisses your forehead, your cheeks, kisses up every tear that’s fallen. His lips move against your skin, his breath tickling your face, and soon enough you realize he’s whispering something.

You can’t tell what until he kisses your ears, lingering there.

“I’m so sorry, I couldn’t tell you, I didn’t know how…” Pain seeps out of every word.

You pull his face back to yours so you can look into those brown eyes of his.

“Ted ‘Theodore’ Logan, don’t you ever lie to me again, you hear me?” You say sternly, and he nods, tears now welling up in his eyes, but not yet fallen.

“Never.” He promises, and somehow you know it to be true.

You collapse into his chest, letting the emotions of the night overcome you, Ted there to comfort you through it all. You fall mindlessly asleep, worn out and waiting for Ted’s knot to go down. You still can’t believe your boyfriend is a werewolf, but at least you got him back.

At some point, Ted takes you home, somehow transporting you all the way without waking you until the very end. You wake in the middle of being placed into his bed.

He pushes your bangs out of your face gently, kisses your forehead, then climbs into bed next you, letting your body relax into his before the two of you begin to gently fall back asleep. You hear him whisper in your ear before you fall asleep.

“I love you.”

[jobean12-blog]

Sunshine in the Dark

Pairing: Werewolf!Bucky Barnes x Vampire!Reader

Word Count: 803

Summary: You share a recent dream with Bucky and he makes it come true.

Author's Note: This is another entry for @pupandkisasaesthetics aesthetics challenge! Thank you to the beauties @sgt-seabass and @rookthorne for hosting! HUGS and LOVE! 💕The picture I got is posted below. I know it's a bright a colorful picture but when I saw it this is where my brain went. I also love this pairing because it's not the usual love story. And you can interpret what he gives her at the break in the story any way you want- could just be cuddles, could be much more intimate...anything you like from him. Thank you all so much for reading! Much love always! ❤️❤️❤️Divider by the lovely @firefly-graphics thank you Daisy! 🥰 **Dream description is in italics**

Warnings: it's really soft and sweet with a tinge of sad but it's a happy ending!

PS: this is how I picture my soft werewolf!Bucky in human form. Just beautiful and beefy and that hair and the beard and YUM!

“Tell me what it is that has you smiling like that doll.”

You walk into his open arms, tucking yourself against his chest and resting your cheek to his bare skin.

“I had the most wonderful dream,” you sigh, your smile fading.

“A dream,” he muses. “Tell me about it.”

After you remain silent for some time he strokes your back, gently coaxing you with every brush of his fingers.

“The sky stretched for miles in a brilliant expanse of cerulean blue, devoid of clouds. And the sun…it was dazzling, blessing everything in it’s path with it’s radiant warmth. My skin was glowing as I soaked it in and a soft breeze caressed it just enough to keep me cool…”

Bucky looks down at you, grasping your chin between his long fingers as he tilts your face up to meet his eyes. His brow is drawn in as his thumb sweeps across the outline of your lips.

“And?” he whispers.

“And the sun’s golden rays danced across the water, turning it into a dazzling stretch of blue and green where each gentle ripple was transformed into a glimmering ribbon of light that sparkled and swayed.”

A single red tear rolls down your cheek.

His thumb catches it and he brushes it away, resting his forehead to yours.

“You miss it,” he states sadly.

“So much.”

He presses a soft kiss to your temple, then to your cheek, moving to the other side to do the same before capturing your lips.

“If I could bring this dream to life, I would,” he murmurs against your lips.

“I know,” you answer, ghosting your mouth along his jaw and nipping lightly with your fangs.

Your lips continue to his ear, pressing a kiss just below before you run your nose down his neck with an inhale and rest your head to his shoulder.

“What would you have me do?” he asks. “Anything to have you smiling again doll.”

You fingers graze his forearm, the corded muscles flexing under your touch, then teasingly glide them higher until you reach his collarbone.

When you look up into his eyes, blue like the water you dreamed of, his lips twitch with a smirk and you feel the shift begin, soft fur growing beneath your fingertips. 

“As you wish,” he says, his voice already more of a growl.

The wind rushes past you, your heart pounding with excitement and anticipation. The air is rich with the scent of damp soil and pine and the light of moon filters through the entwined branches above, casting flittering shadows across the ground.

Suddenly, the forest opens up into a small clearing bathed in moonlight. Bucky slows down to a graceful trot, his ears perky and alert. Your breath catches at the sight before you.

“Bucky,” you whisper, slipping from his body but still holding tightly to his dark fur with one hand.

He stills and nudges you forward with his cold nose, staring at the cave entrance. You nod and move toward it, cocking your head when you hear a familiar sound.

You move slowly, taking in every noise and smell with your heightened senses. Bucky’s claws scrape quietly along the rocky floor, echoing off the walls as he follows closely behind and when you reach your destination, you stop dead in your tracks.

The scene is a symphony of darkness and light that unfolds beneath the soft glow of flickering candles and the light of the moon. There in the shadows the pool reveals itself, it’s water shimmering under the illumination of the countless candles surrounding it and an opening in the cave’s ceiling that allows the moon’s glow to infiltrate and bathe it all in a silvery glow.

The light flashes and glitters on the water’s surface, a mirror of liquid moonlight, moving with graceful fluidity. Every ripple becomes a cascade of sparkling diamonds, capturing the moonlight and transforming it into a thousand fleeting stars and each time a soft breeze floats on the air the candlelight falters, casting intricate patterns along the walls of the cave.

You whisper his name again, your voice breaking with emotion.

Then you hear him start to shift behind you, his bones realigning and fur receding. When you turn to look at him his muscles are still rippling under his skin, adjusting to his human form.

He strides toward you, his long hair brushing his shoulders as he bends to scoop you into his arms.

Your lips tremble as they brush his softly. “Thank you.”

He smiles against your lips and walks into the water, cradling you against his chest until you’re submerged up to your chin.

“You’ve given me everything,” you whisper, unwrapping yourself from his arms and spreading yourself out to float above the surface of the water.

“You are everything,” he murmurs.

@book-dragon-13 @hiddles-rose @randomfandompenguin @sebstanwhore @kmc1989 @littleseasiren @buckysdollforlife @late-to-the-party-81 @blackwidownat2814

[mie779]

Don't Kiss and Tail

A/N: This is an alternate/what-if version of season 3 episode 17 “The Jolly Roger” where we have Zelena pose as Ariel… What if it was the real Ariel who spoke with Killian, how pissed Ariel would be and go tattle to dear old daddy dearest and have Killian cursed, and not only his lips.

This story is part of CSSNS2024, and I have some peeps I’d like to thank. 

@whatevenisthisbloganymore (on Tumbler) for beta reading this. Without her, this would have looked so messy. 

@iamstartraveller776 , who made the beautiful banner for this story. It was also through a talk with her that the title finally came to be. And that title sparked my muse, (damn it!) so perhaps one day I’ll write some original mermaid story. 

It’s been such a blast being part of this event, (again), and it's sad to see this will be the last year. I love the stories already having been shared, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the stories. 

My inspiration for the theme was several CaptainSwan fan art with a mermaid theme, from Wild-white-werewolf (Julia Volkova) and Svenjaliv. And plotting began and I tried to find a place to do an alternate spin on an episode… On a rewatch I stumbled over the episode “The Jolly Roger” and the whole talk with Zelena posing as Ariel had my muse thinking… so here you are, without further ado, my contribution to the CSSNS24. 

READ ON AO3 if that is your thing (like me) https://archiveofourown.org/works/57458686

Don’t Kiss and Tail

“You're a monster… “ The following sting of the female hand slapping his cheek still burned as Killian watched the mermaid leap from the dock and dive into the dark water. The flip of her colorful tail was the last thing he saw. 

“Bloody hell. “ He understood the mermaid perfectly as he'd been so bullheaded in that missing year in the enchanted forest. His focus on getting his beloved ship back and this having not helped Ariel find Eric might have been stupid. He paced the docks. The whole town was still in a mighty uproar over the wicked witch. So he wasn’t going to worry about a pissed-off mermaid right now. 

He kept his pacings to the docks, but he staggered back in surprise when Ariel again came striding towards him, this time from behind the old fisherman’s shack. How did she get back there? He shifted his gaze towards the water where she’d vanished moments ago. But before he could contemplate this the mermaid spoke. 

“How am I supposed to trust a man who doesn’t believe in love?” Ariel curled her lips in disgust. 

“I still do,” Killian whispered, his face contorted in agony. 

“Then swear to me on it. This woman broke your heart. Do you still love her?” 

Killian looked down, the word tearing through him like a thousand blades. “Yes.” 

“Then swear to me, on her name.” Ariel lifted her chin in an unspoken challenge. 

“Then I swear on Emma Swan.” Her sweet name was the only easy word falling over his lips. 

A smirk forms over Ariel, “Thank you, captain, that’s exactly what I needed to hear.” She flipped her fingers towards him and something green and warm wrapped around his lips; the sensation confused him and he covered his lips with his hand, “What the hell?” 

He looked back up at the mermaid. But the next second a swirl of green smoke engulfed the girl and in her stead was now the wicked witch. “Zelena it was you.” Killian drew his cutlass, “where’s Ariel?” 

With a quick flick of her wrist, Zelena tore his weapon out of his hand.

“Relax. She wasn’t here right now, I’d imagine she’s gone tattling to her dear ol’ dad, boo hoo, the pirate wouldn’t tell me where my beloved is.” Zelena rolled her eyes and chuckled. 

“I don’t understand why you would pretend to be her?” He frowned.

“To corrupt your love. I have known all about your dirty little secret for some time, and have seen the guilt on your face ever since making that decision that day. I knew it haunted you. I knew I could use it.

“Use it for what?” 

“When you evoked the name of your love, your selfish plea for redemption, I was able to curse you. Or more specifically your kiss - you see the next time your lips touch Emma Swan’s all of her magic will be taken. Everything that makes her special, that makes her powerful, that makes her a threat will be gone.”

“I won’t do it. I’ll tell her, then she’ll defeat you.”

“Then I’ll send the Dark One to kill her before you can.” The self-satisfied smile on her face pissed off Killian even more, but he saw right through her bluster.

“No, you won’t. If you could have killed her you would have. You need her power removed. That is why you didn’t kill her when she came to the town. It’s why your monkey looked after her in New York instead of killing her.” Killian gave her a satisfied smirk. “For some reason, you can’t.” 

Zelena pursed her lips before saying, “It no longer matters, because you’re going to remove her powers. I may not be able to hurt Emma, but I can hurt those around her.” She lifted her eyes briefly as if to contemplate who to put on that list, “Her parents, her friends,” she shifted far too close, “her child.” 

“Do not go near him.” 

Zelena chuckled and grinned knowingly. “Yes you’ve become quite fond of the boy, haven’t you? I will enjoy turning him into a monkey’s breakfast.” 

“I’ll stop you.” Killian sneered.

“No, you won’t. That pointy little hook of yours can scratch a mere mortal but me…” Another chuckle. “You’re out of your depths, pirate. The choice is yours, kiss Emma and remove her power or everyone she loves dies.” The words came out in a hate-filled staccato, baring her teeth as she sneered at him. 

Before Killian could make another retort she was gone in a swirl of green smoke. 

“Bloody hell.” Killian slumped back on the crate behind him, his lips still tingling from the curse Zelena had cast upon his lips. “Bloody hell that woman is crazy as shite.” He shook his head and gazed upon the dark waters, the moored fisherboats swaying on the gently lapping waves. He had no idea how long he’d been sitting there - he wasn’t sure where to go from here, all he knew was that he wouldn’t tell Emma about the curse. He wouldn’t have her worry about another thing in her life. He would attempt to avoid her advances to become closer. He knew they were closer than ever to crossing that line of a real relationship. 

The moored boats started to crash against the dock, the wood scraping against the concrete. Something was stirring up the water and when he rose to his feet he spotted a swirling vortex out in the water. Moments later a white-haired man with a tri fork floated in the water. 

“Bloody hell, now what?” Killian groaned. 

“You’re Killian Jones?” The voice of Triton boomed over the docks, the trident pointed at Killian. 

Killian gulped down and was about to lie his way out of this predicament when a far too familiar mermaid rose from the water. 

“That’s him,” Ariel said and crossed her arms over her chest. 

“What did I do?” Killian wavered. 

“You refused to help my daughter find her love, and now you shall pay.” Triton lifted his weapon and boomed, “Ye shall live a life under the sea. Return to the dry lands will only be possible by a true love kiss.” 

“What the bloody hell…” Killian stepped back but swirling white magic leaped from the trident and within seconds it wrapped around Killian. The magic pulled at his form and he felt pain shoot through his body. “What are you doing to me?” His voice pained and he dropped to the edge of the dock, while his hands grabbed his legs. The magic swirled over his form from head to toe. 

“You’ll have to live your life as a merman.” Ariel huffed. “You didn’t want to help me find my Eric.” 

“Bloody hell, you went and tattled to you dear old…” Killian gritted his teeth, the magic did some crazy ass shite to his body. “... Dear old daddy.” 

“See, father, he’s nothing but a vile and ruthless pirate.” Ariel glared at him. 

“I see, my daughter. And now he will not be able to walk around on dry land and pursue his happiness.” 

“Bloody hell, Emma…” He nearly blacked out from the pain. 

“Yeah, now she won’t be able to find you.” 

When Killian finally opened his eyes again the pain had vanished, but as he inspected himself he quickly saw how his body had changed, his torso now bare, and from the waist down his legs had transformed into that of a merman’s tail. Its dark scales glinted in the streetlights behind him. It would be crazy to try and slither his way into town like this. With a roar of anger, he leaped into the water and headed for where Ariel and her father had been. But the harbour was empty and the king and his daughter were nowhere to be found. 

Killian lifted his head above water and roared, “Bloody hell, what do I do now?” 

*********

Emma was nursing her second mug of cocoa at the diner. It had been two days since she or anyone else had seen Killian and by now she was more than worried. With Zelena on the loose wreaking havoc around them, it was safe to bet she might have had something to do with his disappearance. 

Where the hell are you, Killian? Emma thought, taking another sip, and gave her son a reassuring smile. His observant brown eyes were wrinkled in concern. How was she supposed to share her worries with her son? He had no memory of anything related to magic. 

“Are you okay?” 

“Yeah, you know it’s just my case that has a lot of loose ends.” Emma mused, “I’ll go to the docks and see if I can find any leads.” 

“Will Killian be there?” Henry licked up the remaining crumbs of his breakfast with his finger.

The mention of his name had Emma’s heart skip a beat. “I don’t know kid, I haven’t seen him” 

“His boat is still down in the harbor.” 

Emma blinked in surprise, the Jolly Roger wasn’t there. “Oh yeah, the fishing boat he took you out in.” 

Emma finished her cocoa before she ushered Henry outside, and they walked down to the waterfront. Sure enough, the fishing boat Killian had borrowed was still there. “Look kid, I’m just going to ask around. Why don’t you go to the beach and see if you can find something interesting?”

Henry looked a little put out by this so she added, “Look, this case is not exactly kid friendly so I don’t want you to be part of it. I’ll come for you in half an hour.” 

Henry nodded mutely and trodded towards the nearby beach; she could still watch him from afar if Zelena chose to show up. 

Emma asked the harbor master if he’d seen Killian, but the only answer she could get was that the old man had seen Killian three nights ago talking with a red-haired woman. That could either be Ariel or Zelena so it wasn’t much help. But why would Killian speak with either of them, unless it was Zelena who then had taken him somewhere?

“Moooom.” Henry’s shout startled her and she rushed towards her son who was waving his arms in the air as he rushed towards her. 

“What’s wrong, what happened, are you okay?” 

“Yeah.” Henry waved his arms in front of him taking a few deep breaths, “I’m fine, I just think I saw something out in the waters.” 

“What?” Emma felt a cold shiver run down her spine, and flashes of Killian lying dead in the water shifted through her mind.

“It was some kind of a large fish.” Henry looked a little puzzled, then shrugged, “It had to be a fish, the tail looked like a fish but it was big, like a grown man.” 

“A small whale?” Emma mused, unsure what kind of large sea creatures roamed the coast of Maine. 

“Maybe, but I haven’t seen any whales with scaly shimmering tails.” 

“What did you just say?” 

“It had black shimmering scales.” Henry paused and looked at her with worry. “What's wrong?” 

Emma shook her head and masked her worry with a smile. “Nothing, I don’t know what you saw but it could have been a large fish I guess.” Inside her head, she thought: it could be a mermaid. She had no idea where Ariel was off to, and now that she thought about it she hadn’t seen the red-haired mermaid for a couple of days either. Did Zelena whisk her away too? That crazy-ass wicked witch of the West needed to be stopped in whatever crazy plan she had set up. 

Emma suggested they head back home to Mary Margaret and David, and as they walked along the beach she couldn’t help scanning the water to get a glimpse of whatever creature Henry had seen out there. 

Just as they reached the docks again she looked over the rocks jutting out from the coastline and she could have sworn she’d spotted a dark-haired creature hiding between the rocks, but it was gone in a flash and the last thing she saw was the reflection of the sun in a dark tail. “What the hell?” 

“What is it, did you see it too?” Henry asked excitedly. 

Emma shook her head and waved him off, “No I don’t think it was anything, a seal perhaps.” Or a selkie… oh wasn’t that over in good old England they were legends? Emma wrapped her arm around Henry and urged him to walk to the docks. As they rounded the corner she couldn’t help herself and took another glance over her shoulder. The same dark-haired creature which now looked remarkably like a human was holding onto the rocks but was too far away to see. What the hell is that? she thought to herself, and she couldn’t shake off the uneasy feeling that had settled inside her. Who was out there? 

Emma couldn’t focus on the talk at the dinner table that night and Mary Margaret did ask if she was okay. Emma waved off her mother’s worry and assured her she was merely trying to string together all the loose ends she had in her case. She glanced at Henry who had helped clear the table and then settled onto the couch with his game console. 

Her sleep was filled with strange dreams of sea creatures waving at her from the water, all twirling around in a mismatched chaos of confusion. When the first rays of the sun peeked through the thin curtains she slipped out of bed and left a note for Henry before heading for the beach. 

*******

Killian kept a close eye on the shoreline, still staying out of sight as he wasn’t sure who would spot him. It was infuriating and damn near impossible to figure out what the hell he should do. He knew his main hope was finding Emma, and spotting her with the boy yesterday afternoon he’d damn well nearly jumped up on the rocks and called out for her. But Henry was there and he still had no memory of any fairytales or curses so the lad was sure to be spooked out of his wits seeing a real merman speak with his mother. 

Then there was the whole conundrum with the curse Zelena had placed on his lips. He would never let her willingly give up her magic for him. 

The early morning sunlight glinted behind him as he scanned the beach, he was sure Emma had spotted him the day before so he hoped she would return, this time without Henry. 

A flash of golden hair and a red leather jacket caught his eye, and he swam closer to the beach. It had been a learning curve the past few days navigating underwater and he realized there was a colony of merfolk some miles south of here keeping their existence unknown beside a small island off the coast. They had not exactly been friendly but they had not been hostile either, only made it clear that he had no business there as they somehow had sensed he truly didn’t belong under the sea. 

Emma had walked to the beach and neared the long row of rocks going out from the beach. She pushed away her loose hair from her face as she scanned the water. 

Killian reached the first rock, lifted himself halfway out of the water, and waved, “Emma?” 

Emma nearly stumbled over her feet as she stepped out on the first couple of large boulders. “Killian, is that you?” 

Killian swam closer and he saw how her face contorted into surprise and worry at the same time. “Aye.” 

“How the hell did this happen to you?” She narrowed her eyes as she focused on his tail. “You have a tail.” 

Killian refrained from rolling his eyes, only nodded and with a quick push of his hand, he lifted himself on a low boulder and sat there. 

“What happened?” Emma moved closer cautiously as if trying to gauge if this was some kind of ploy to fool her. 

“It’s me, love. Don’t worry, I won’t bite.” He tilted his head and smirked. 

Emma rolled her eyes and settled on the rock beside her, her knees bent so her boots didn’t get wet. She reached over and touched his arm. “It really is you.” Her eyes scanned over his form and a blush spread over her cheeks. 

He gave her a knowing smile, this might be the most naked he’d been in her presence and the color on her cheek indicated that she didn’t mind. 

Then she frowned, “What happened to you, who did this?” 

“You know how Ariel came to town some days ago.” 

Emma nodded, “Yeah everyone was so surprised to see her.” 

“Well, she was here on a mission.” He looked down at his hand and hook. When he’d transformed he’d been surprised that his hook was still there. 

“What mission?” 

“To find me and avenge me for failing to help her back in the Enchanted Forest.” 

“Why didn’t you help her?” 

“I was so focused on finding my way back to you that I declined to help her find her Eric.” Killian sighed and pushed his wet hair away from his forehead. He looked at her, “I was a fool, I know that.” 

“That was a foolish choice.” Emma’s hand on his arm rubbed up and down, “but seems like a long stretch to curse you into a merman.” 

“That was her father’s doing.” Killian mused. 

“She went and tattled to her father?” Emma exclaimed and turned fully towards him, “Are you serious?” 

“Very much so. The king of the sea, Triton cursed me to be a merman, until…” He paused and closed his eyes. 

“What?” 

“It’s nothing.” Killian brushed it away, how on earth was he ever going to tell her that kissing her might be the only thing bringing him back to his human form? But in doing so he would also remove her magic, giving Zelena a better chance at getting whatever witch wanted. 

“Do you know how to reverse the curse?” Emma asked and leaned closer. He could smell her perfume now and his heart beat a lot faster. Gods she smelled good. 

“I… it’s going to be bloody complicated.” He grimaced, rubbing over his face.

“Tell me, please,” Emma begged. “Whatever it is we can make it happen, we can go get Regina if it’s…” 

“No!” He exclaimed, “No one else needs to see me like this.” 

“Oh, it’s not exactly a bad look you have going here.” Emma mused and her eyes scanned over his form again, the blush on her cheeks darkened. 

Killian tilted his head, getting a better look at her, her eyes sparkled with mischief something that was rarely seen these days with all the stuff going on with Zelena and her son still not remembering anything. 

“So you see something you like here, love?” He lifted an eyebrow. 

“Perhaps.” She looked down at her hand resting on her bent knee, her fingers tracing over the seam in her jeans. 

Killian chuckled, leaned closer, and caught her eyes, “So you’d not mind having a merman as a friend?” 

Emma choked back a laugh, “I can’t believe you’re so at ease about all of this, I’d be in a total panic had it been me turned into a mermaid.” 

“I did panic at first, but I knew you’d come looking for me. I saw you on the beach with your boy yesterday.” 

“Why didn’t you call out then?” 

“Henry doesn't remember anything about magic, so I imagined seeing a real-life merman might be too confusing.” 

“He’d survive I’m sure. He might not remember, but he still has a vivid imagination.” Emma chuckled, then sobered, “But how can we reverse the curse?” 

“Thought you wanted me to stay like this?” 

Emma shook her head, “As much as I like this look I still want the real Killian Jones in my life.” She blinked a few times, “I can’t imagine not having you in my life, Killian.” 

“Oh.” Hope bloomed inside him and he smiled, “I’d very much like that.” He glanced down at his tail and smoothed his hand over the black scales. 

Emma reached over and asked, “May I?” 

He looked up at her in surprise and noticed the curious glint in her eyes as she looked at his tail. “Aye.” 

Emma moved forward and smoothed her hand over the black scales, it was a strange sensation feeling someone else touch his merman tail like this. The warmth of her hand seeped through to his core. 

“This is so strange.” Emma mused and kept her hand on his form, when she looked up at him her eyes were filled with wonder, her lips looking so damn inviting he nearly leaned forward. But when she moved first he pulled back and rubbed over his mouth. 

“I can’t…” Killian looked to the sky, the sun had now fully risen and the sea birds flew over them in circles, their cries echoing over the waters. 

“What?” Emma pulled back and hugged herself. “This… what do you mean you can’t I thought you wanted to… you know kiss me.” 

“Bloody hell I do want to kiss you.” It’s all I’ve been thinking about since we returned to Storybrooke. 

“Then why… “ Her voice trailed off and she gasped, “Did Triton do more to curse you?” 

“What do you mean?” 

“So if you kiss someone they die or something like that?” 

“It wasn’t Triton.” Killian sighed and shifted in his seat. The rock beneath him started to feel uncomfortable. 

“Then who?” 

“Zelena…” Killian whispered. 

“Seriously!” 

“Aye, I’m afraid so, the witch came to me in disguise as Ariel, and since I thought it to be the actual mermaid who’d just jumped into the water I couldn’t have known. The woman was livid and had me swear on the woman I love’s name and she cursed my lips.” 

“What?”

“She cursed my lips…” 

“Yeah yeah, I heard that… it’s the love part I’m curious about.” Her voice was wary and guarded but when he glanced at her a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. 

“Aye, you’re the woman I love.” Killian reached over and touched her leg, “It’s always been you.” He looked down, “But if I kiss you now we’ll never defeat Zelena.” 

“Why?” 

“The bloody witch cursed my lips so that should you ever kiss me, your magic will be taken from you.” 

“Great.” Emma rolled her eyes and pursed her lips, “Just freaking great.” She looked at his tail, biting her lips.

“I can’t ask that of you, love.” 

“Why not?” Emma exclaimed, “You can’t continue living like a merman.” She tilted her head, “Or do you want to be a merman forever?” 

Killian shook his head. “There’s got to be another way?” 

“And if not?” 

“I will live my life hunting down Triton and defeat him.” 

“That is a fucked up plan. You know that, pirate?” Emma rolled her eyes, “What I know of Triton he is very powerful and you will have every merman hunting for your tail.” 

“You will need your magic to defeat that wicked witch, whatever it is she’s plotting, it can’t be good for anyone in this town.” Killian mused. 

“Look, let me ask around and see if we have a chance to work around this curse.” Emma reached over and cupped his face, his skin burning by her touch. She was so bloody close he could smell her. 

“Don’t make too much of a ruckus just for me, darling.” He placed his hand over hers. 

“Let me be the judge of that, eh?” Emma smiled, her thumb caressing his skin. Then she moved closer wrapping him in a tight hug, “I can’t lose you, Killian.” Her words whispered into his skin and shivers ran down his spine at how close she was now. 

“I’m right here, love.” 

She pressed a small kiss to his neck and whispered, “Good thing it’s only your lips she cursed.” 

“Bloody hell, love, you… gods.” Killian groaned and wrapped his arms around her holding her close. 

They stayed like this for some time and it wasn’t until they heard some of the fishermen shout to each other from the docks that they pulled away.

“I better dive down into the water again,” Killian mumbled, gently untangling himself from Emma’s embrace. 

“Yeah, I’ll come back here tonight, okay?” She looked up, “after sundown.” 

“Aye.” He grabbed her hand and kissed her palm, “Tonight, hope you find a way.” 

Emma rose to her feet and stepped back onto the beach before she turned around and gave him a parting wave, “See you tonight then.” 

Killian waved back and jumped into the shallow waters below him and swam for his usual hangout spot he’d found at the end of the peninsula jutting out into the sea. It was going to be a long day, but hunting for fish would perhaps keep his mind off of things. 

**********

Emma’s head was buzzing with everything she’d learned this morning. Killian was a freaking merman now, long black scaly tale included. Her face heated up when she recalled how damn good he looked sitting there with a bare chest and tail. Damn, she hadn’t known she might have a thing for mermen. Well, this one merman in particular it seemed. 

She sought solace in a cup of hot cocoa and a Bearclaw from the diner and when Ruby placed her order on the counter the brunette asked, “You look a bit off kilter this morning, what happened?” 

“Oh…” Emma pushed away her hair and sighed, “It’s a long story.” 

“I have time, the morning rush is over.” Ruby rested her arms on the counter, “So spill, girl.” 

“I found Killian.” 

“Oh, the elusive pirate has shown his face again, where is he?” 

“In the sea,” Emma mumbled and blew on her cocoa. 

“Well, he’s a pirate.” 

“No I mean, he is IN the sea, two curses included.” Emma sighed. 

“Who cursed him and why?” 

Emma explained what she’d learned from Killian, making sure that no one nearby was eavesdropping. But the diner was mostly deserted so she could share her story with Ruby. 

“That is such a crazy story, even for this place.” Ruby waved her hand around and Emma couldn’t agree more. Even with everything going on right now a man cursed to be a merman and on top of that also with cursed lips so he wasn’t able to kiss her. That last part had Ruby waggle her eyebrows and comment, “So the question is are you willing to pay with your magic so your pirate will have his legs back?” 

“The question is more if he’s willing to let me kiss him.” Emma sighed. 

“What do you mean?” 

“He seemed reluctant to let me just kiss him, he wants me to keep my magic as it will no doubt be useful when we go against Zelena.” Emma mused and shrugged her shoulders, “I need to speak with Regina, perhaps she has another way.” 

Emma enjoyed her breakfast and took off to find Regina, but the mayor had no idea how to reverse a curse that was linked to a true love’s kiss. And she agreed with Emma that she might be the only person Killian loved. But if she kissed Killian she would lose her magic. 

*******

Killian kept a close eye on anything happening at the docks, hoping Emma would come down early. But when he did spot her she was accompanied by Henry so Killian kept his distance and watched Henry drag Emma onboard the small vessel he’d borrowed from the fisherman in the past week. 

“What are you doing, lad?” Killian asked in wonder. Sure he’d taught the boy a thing or two about boats and sailing, but it wasn’t safe for anyone to go out there with so little training. 

“Come on Mom.” Henry’s voice rolled over the water, “I wanted to go fishing, and since Killian is missing I need you with me.” 

“Okay, kid, I don’t know how to sail this thing.” Emma sighed and placed her hands at her hips. 

“It’s easy. See here.” Henry started up the engine and leapt down to release the boat from the docks and jumped back on board. 

Killian contemplated showing himself and warning the pair not to go out there. The skies were getting darker further out and he felt a storm rolling in, but it might be hours before it reached the shoreline. 

Henry sailed the boat out on open waters and stopped the engine, and soon Killian could see him preparing the fishing rods. Emma was still arguing with her son about the safety of this, but Henry eased her worries and soon Emma had settled down on a crate on deck. 

The sun disappeared behind grey clouds and before either Emma or Henry knew what hit them the rain started falling heavily. Henry scurried to get the engine started while Emma struggled to get the fishing rods packed away. In her haste, she stumbled over something on the deck. Her body slammed into the railing and she lost her balance. Killian could only watch in horror as Emma tumbled into the dark waters below. With a quick flip of his tail, he dived towards where Emma was slowly dropping to the bottom.

Henry’s cries for his mother were muffled by the water but they pierced through Killian like knives. He wasn’t about to leave this boy without his mother.

Emma wore her red leather jacket and it had weighed her down so much that she wasn’t able to swim upwards. Her eyes were filled with panic when Killian finally reached her. 

Her body went limp in his arms as he ascended to the surface and broke up into the air. He looked down at the woman in his arms, her eyes closed, lips blue and lifeless. 

“Mom?!” Henry’s frantic voice sounded from above, then “Killian is that you?” 

Killian didn’t pay attention to the lad right now, all he cared about was the woman floating in his arms. Her skin was more and more pale and he leaned closer and realized she wasn’t breathing, her lips turning blue. 

“Emma?” He called out frantically, his hand cradling her face. 

“Give her mouth to mouth,” Henry called from above him. 

Killian swallowed; he knew he had to breathe life into her, “Her magic will be lost.” He called back, his voice breaking, this couldn’t be happening. 

“What?” 

“My lips are cursed.” He looked up and when he spotted the bewilderment in the lad’s eyes he knew he’d screwed it up. Henry had no memory of magic or fairytale characters. There was no time to explain so the decision was all up to him and as he watched Emma lie lifeless in his arms his heart broke. He couldn’t live without this woman in his life, be damned her wrath if her magic was gone, he needed her. 

Pressing his mouth to hers he breathed into her mouth, feeling her chest fill with air. A woosh of magic spread out around them and he felt his tail vanish and turn into a pair of legs again. The motion to keep them afloat changed but he managed to balance himself and Emma above water. He blew more air into her mouth and then Emma violently coughed up seawater.

“Killian?” Her voice was weak and her eyes searched his face, “What did you do?” 

“You were drowning, I couldn’t… I’m sorry, but I couldn’t let you die, not like this. Not in front of your boy.”

“Mom?!” Henry bellowed from above them, “Are you okay?” 

Emma gave her son a weak smile and wave before returning her focus to Killian. “You saved my life.” She cupped his face and he marveled at the feel of her hand against his cheek. 

“Aye.” He swallowed deeply, “But your magic… I’m sorry love.” 

“We’ll find another way to beat Zelena.” Emma soothed and pulled herself closer to him again and kissed him. 

This time it was a real kiss, profound and filled with untold promises of a future together. 

“I have a rope ladder here,” Henry called out and interrupted their kiss, both adults looked sheepishly up at the teenager who rolled his eyes. “Don’t go around doing that too much from now on, okay?” 

“Aye, lad.” 

Emma chuckled and coughed a little, clearly not fully recovered from her near-death experience. 

“Come now love, let’s get us back home.” He maneuvered them both to the rope ladder Henry had dropped over the sides. “Are you okay going up on your own?” 

“I’m fine, Captain.” Emma smiled and hauled herself up the ladder, slow and steady and Killian followed her to the deck where Henry greeted them both with a hug. 

When Killian pulled away to get the boat started Henry stopped him, “Did you just have a tail before you saved my mother?” The lad’s eyebrows were lifted to his hairline. 

“Henry.” Emma interjected and took her son’s arms, “There’s a lot of things that aren’t as they seem.” Emma looked at Killian, “Some things will be a bit hard to understand, but let me tell you why we’re really here in Storybrooke.” She urged him to sit on a crate and turned to Killian, “Get us back home.” 

“Aye.” He saluted her with a grin and let mother and son talk alone on the deck while he took the wheel. The boat wasn’t as majestic as his old lady The Jolly Roger, but it would do for now. He watched Emma speak with her son, who looked more and more confused and sometimes even worried. 

When they reached the dock they were greeted by Mary Margaret, David and Regina, who all looked relieved to see them all. Killian included, which surprised him a bit. But apparently, a lot of people had been worried about his whereabouts in the past few days. 

“Mother.” Henry greeted Regina with a hug and when he pulled back, “Killian was a merman.” 

Everyone gasped in surprise and a load of questions was thrown at him, he lifted his hands and said, “I’m here now in human form and that is what matters.” He grasped Emma’s hand, “We’re ready to fight off that green witch, any ideas what her plans are?” 

Mary Margaret stepped forward and said, “Henry this is for you.” She presented him with a storybook, a very familiar storybook. “You need to believe.” 

“In what?” Henry took the book and a burst of magic swirled around them and he gasped. “I remember.” 

Everyone cheered and no one seemed to ask more about their adventure on the water, not until it became clear that Emma’s magic indeed was gone. But that was a worry for another time as the threat of Zelena still hung over Storybrooke. 

All Killian cared about was having his legs back on dry land again and Emma by his side. He wanted her there for the rest of their lives if he had anything to say about it. 

THE END

[just-some-trans-nobody]

Feeling sad so I'm writing about monsters to cheer me up, hope ya'll enjoy.

Minors don't interact

Octomer partner using your legs as a figit toy to play with absentmindedly as they work not even realizibg their tentacles are innocently touching you.

Werewolf lover who nibbles on your arm as a form of stimming. They close their eyes and just relax as you play with their fur.

Vampire partner who loves the smell of garlic but can't touch the stuff without breaking out so they in the kitchen smiling as you cook a meal with garlic. They only want to smell they claim. It always ends with them sneaking a bite of whatever your eating and immediately getting burned from it. This happens every time, they never learn.

Dating a yeti whose always cold and asking you to get them hats and scarfs. You make those things? Even better they ask you to make them things, absolute heart eyes every time you give them something you made. It's now their most prized possession, you could give then 50 things it's all their prized possessions.

Mummy partner whose scared of bugs. They always freak out and get up on the table crying for you to kill it. It's even worse if it's a beetle. If it flies at them they'll scream as loud as they can and run for it.

Shadow creature who loves night lights. They'll stand in the corner and watch it all night long. If you get a night light that slowly changes color they'll practically pur as they watch it. Never gets tired of it, they can watch it every single night.

Humanoid bee who gets absolutely bamboozled by candles and wax melts. It smells like flowers but theres no flowers. They search for the flowers growing more and more confused until you explain it to them. Don't leave them alone with the candle they will try to eat the hot wax.

Jack-o-lantern monster who loves the smell of pumpkin spice but is absolutely horrified at the same time. They act like it's horible and will shame people on it but the moment their home alone they pull out at least seven different pumpkin scented candles and light them all at the same time while drinking a pumpkin spice latte. Don't tell anyone their ashamed about it, their weak to it the hypocrite.

[specialagentlokitty]

Enid x reader - just one date

Can u do a enid x addems gn reader the reader is like gomez and is desires love and follows enid like a puppy just begging for a chance and enid is not having it at first but then slowly falls for the reader idk I'm sorry im not good at these - Anon💜

You’d gone to Nevermore before your twin sister had, so of course you’d known Enid for longer.

Hearing Wednesday was making her appearance, you found yourself looking forward to seeing the isolated teen once more.

Standing in front of your mirror, you smoothed down your shirt, and started to do up your tie as there was a knock on your door and it burst open.

Seeing the werewolf wondering in like she owned the place, you smiled softly to yourself and went back to looking at the mirror.

“Hello mia cara.” You spoke softly.

“Stop calling me that. Is it true your sister is coming to nevermore?”

“Yes. She is not to be messed with Enid, my sister… she’s different…”

“I can’t wait!” She squealed.

With that she ran out and you sighed, grabbing your blazer you walked out after her.

“So Enid, the fair is this month. Care to join me?”

“Not happening!” She sang.

With that she ran away from you and you smirked a little to yourself.

She kept rejecting you, but you weren’t going to stop until that girl was yours. You loved her, and much like your father you wouldn’t be going without a fight.

You didn’t see Wednesday when she first arrived, you wanted to give her space, so you stayed in your room studying.

The door was thrown open and you looked up from your book.

“Sister, it is polite to knock.”

“You haven’t attempted to kill me yet. Why?”

“Is it so wrong to want you to settle in first?”

“Yes.”

You hummed and snapped your fingers, just as you did an axe fell from the ceiling, just barely missing Wednesday.

She could feel the breeze as it rushed past and slammed into the floor.

“How sad, you failed once again.”

“Perfectly placed in fact.”

Wednesday ducked as an arrow rushed by this time, and she watched as you spun around in your chair, giving her a lazy smile.

“Good to see you Wednesday.”

“How horrid it is we’re together again.”

You smiled at your sister, knowing that was her way of her saying she missed you.

“What can I do for you anyways?”

“My room looks like a rainbow vomited all over it, come take it down.”

“Enid?” You asked.

You got up and tossed a hoodie on, following your sister as she led you to her new dorm room.

“Yes, you know her?”

“I do. She’s going to be my girlfriend one day.”

“Disgusting.”

You laughed at her, and held a one sided conversation as you helped her take down most of the rainbow stickers before leaving.

Wednesday had to watch as you tried time and tie again to flirt with the werewolf to no avail.

Sitting in the quad, you looked over at the girl talking to some of the other werewolves.

“Staring at her isn’t going to achieve anything.”

“I’m aware.”

Enid started to walk someone and you followed her, walking in step with her with a huge smile on your face.

“Come on, just one date Enid, that’s all I’m asking for.”

“Not happening, I don’t want to be part of your strange gothic family.” She chuckled.

You walked in front of her, taking her hand in yours as you brought it to your lips, pressing a tender kiss to her knuckles.

“You wouldn’t have to, you can wear all the beautiful Color’s you want my love, anything, have anything. And anyone who tries to change you will have a swift and painful death.”

Enid looked into your eyes, you soft smile.

Coming from anyone else it wouldn’t sounded wrong, evil almost.

But coming from you it sounded like a promise, as if you were telling her even if you weren’t a couple you’d still do anything for her.

Enid didn’t take her hand from yours and you took that as a good sign.

“A woman is to be respected and loved, and I am not one to change who you are. In fact, that’s one of the reasons I love you.”

Letting her hand drop to her side, you leant forward and kissed her cheek, pulling a bright pink rose out of nowhere as you held it out to her.

“Think about it dear, and I will wait for you. I will be in the quad as always tonight if you wish to have a little adventure.”

You took a step back and straightened your uniform.

“I will wait forever for you my darling.”

With that, you offered her a little bow, a huge grin and you walked away.

Enid felt butterflies watching you brush off every girl that tried to hit on you on your way past.

You just ignored them, and something about that clicked something in her. You weren’t interested in anyone else, only her.

She wasn’t going to have to worry about you having eyes for anyone else, leaving her for anyone else, treating her horribly.

She’s seen how your parents treated each other, they were madly in love, and she could tell you were just like your dad.

You were loyal, loving, sweet.

Even if she couldn’t transform you’d love her.

Enid looked to the rose you gave her and she rushed away.

You were sat in the quad by the fountain, arm under your head as you stared up at the stars, but the sound of someone approaching made you sit up.

Looking to where the sound was coming from, you smiled.

“My love, you came…” you breathed.

“One date, that’s all.”

You rushed over, bringing her knuckles to your lips as you kissed them gently before peering into her eyes.

“Of course, anything you want you shall have. Come, I know the perfect place.”

You held your arm out for her and didn’t move until she looped her arm with your.

It felt right, and Enid knew she’d found her destined mate, even if it was the twin of the dreaded Wednesday

[witch-oftheflowers]

Lost Souls

AN: hello enjoy this full story for the monster AU! I love @/bluegiragi au and all this steams back to their universe. I justed wanted to put a twist on it in my way heheh enjoy!

The sun shines down through the heavy clouds. Bright white eyes linger up as the pale woman stared in awe.

She rarely saw the morning sun rise. Not like she used to. When she was alive.

Well... Technically alive?

She tilted her head as she waved her transparent hands through. Sun beam shore through her

Soft mumbles of 'awe' or 'oo' left her lips.

But she was so distracted. She didn't noticed the crunch of leaves behind her. Nor the many crunches of several people approaching her.

Last minute she whipped her head around 360. Her hand still rose. Her hair whispy and floating behind her as she stared

Four men. All monsters. Slowly creeping towards her.

Her white eyes flicker back to her normal brown eyes. She stopped her floating, being transparent. Having a soft glow to her now. Her pale tan skin shined as she seemed 'normal'

Landing on her feet, her long skirt flowing under her as she started to approach towards them.

"Who goes there?"

Her curly hair covered her figure. Hiding parts of her face. She seemed so lost. Her clothes were tatter, faded of color, blood stains litter her attire. It seemed period attire even.

"Just a lad looking for a lass." A deep voice echoed. The scent of cigar? Her eyes adjusted as the fog grew back in.

She stopped as she held her skirt firm in her hands. Getting ready to blow as she noticed the wings.

A dragon?

Then she noticed the others...

A Harpy?

Werewolf?

And...

Her eyes landed to the skull masked man. Feeling her soul tug towards him. She flinched back as she sighs a bit.

"I... I'm no lass?" She said, her voice cracked in broken English. She heard the deep laugh from the dragon. Her eyes widen as she scoffed

"You're a woman yes?"

"Sí."

"You're a lass..." He chuckled as he stopped before her. His cigar illuminated his face as he crossed his large arms. Noticing one wing on him even.

"What do you... Want?" She hesitated as she glared to the others.

Each man keeping a distance. Seeming ready to assist their leader it appeared.

The woman stalked forward as they got a better view of her.

She looked so young...

"I heard a myth of these woods..."

Myth?...

Her eyes soften as she knew what he meant. It was about her...

"A banshee...a crying woman. One that hasn't been able to rest..." The dragon stopped as he guaged her reaction.

She seemed so sad. Her eyes glancing down as she let him continue the myth.

"How long you've been here?"

"...as long I known..." Her voice was somber as she sighs. Her chest heaved as she didn't wanna continue this conversation. Getting herself ready to scream for them to leave.

But the whoosh of black mass covered her mouth before she could try. Her eyes flutter to the skull masked man as she glared. Her eyebrows knit as he returned the same glare.

"Dear.. give me a chance to explain why I'm here." The dragon spoke up as he realized her reluctance towards them.

"My name is John Price..." He said as he inched closer. His one wing flutter as he noticed the fear in her eyes

"Simon! Let her go." Price stated as he shot the large man a stare.

"Sir that wouldn't be wise" He stated back as he met his leaders stare.

"She's scared, it makes sense."

"Sir we need to be careful. The lass could attack-" the Harpy spoke up as he met her gaze

Ximena was getting overwhelmed as they bickered with themselves. Her hair floated up as she started to panic, eyes flickering white as she let out a high pitch screech.

Breaking through Simon's black mass as her vocal range kicked them back. The sound wave broke through the silence as the monsters were flung back.

Well the werewolf and Harpy were. The skull man and Price stood strong. Clinging to their surroundings as they tried to fight back the blast wave.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!"

Her voice roared as she finished off the wave. Her hair a mess as it coated her face. Her breathing was labored as she felt a bit faint. Trying to stand strong as she watched Simon and Price getting back to their feet.

"Come on Lass... Hear us out." Price spoke up as he watched her sway. Her eyes flickering white to brown as she was enraged.

"No! I wanna...be alone." She spoke out as she tried to step back. But as she tried, her body succumbed as she went limp. Hair falling in spills around her as she fell

Price rushed over as he caught the woman. His cigar fell in the process as he cursed under his breath.

"Well we got the package.... Let's hope she'll adjust to whatever comes her way." He voiced as Ghost came behind him. His eyes glaring as he sighs

"What's so special about her anyways?"

"She killed multiple soldiers a month again half a team wiped out. Multiple generals wanted her capture... To test on her or convince her to join."

"What the fuck is wrong with them..."

"You know as much as I do. Everything."

Soap and Gaz huffed as they finally returned. Their eyes sore as they were tossed into the cold river behind the forest. A good few miles away.

"Sir can we leave now?" Gaz asked as his feathers flicker from water.

Soap whined as he shook off his fur. A bit panting as he stared to the woman.

"Wee thing tuckered out... Good for us right?"

"For how long...?"

"Let's hope a while." Ghost spoke up as he scooped the woman into his arm. Tossing her over his shoulder.

Ximena whined as she eased up finally. Her hair covering her face, her dainty hands clung to his shoulders.

Ghost froze as he didn't wanna give away the interaction as they started to trudge back through the misty forest. Well the mist vanished once she was knocked out.

The lads a bit impressed she was able to control so much at once.

She ended up being out for three days. And when she came to. Locked in a glass cell. Her eyes looking around as she missed something. A warmth.

"Hello...?" She called out as she pressed her hands against the glass. Not being able to look out.

But everyone could see in. The fear on her eyes. The way her hair was freaking out, smashing against the glass wanting to let her out.

And eventually. Just mist filled the cell. Blocking out their view in.

Who knew what else was in store for their team with this new element to their team.

[whimsicalmeerkat]

WIP Wednesday

@dear-massacre tagged me! This is from a role reversal fic I am writing for @deterweek. It’s gonna be Steterek, because Stiles crept his way on in there. Enjoy!

~

“Peter's aura was different than any I'd ever seen. I learned later it's because he's a werewolf. You guys have more going on in your auras than most humans, at least to me. I was drawn to Peter because of it, so I kept visiting. Most of the nurses didn't mind, and the one who does was overruled.”

The change of tense doesn't slip past Derek. He wonders why a nurse would still care this many years later. He'll have to ask Stiles once he finishes his story.

“You're the only non-omega werewolf I've met besides Peter,” Stiles says. “I would have known more was wrong with Peter than the burns and coma after meeting you, even if you hadn't mentioned the pain.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You and Peter both have the overlay of a wolf when I look at you. They're both howling. Peter's used to look like yours—sad and lonely.”

Derek winces at the accurate description.Hes not sure he wants to know what's changed about Peter's wolf that makes Stiles look so solemn. He jerks his head, hoping Stiles will correctly interpret it as a request to keep talking.

At some point, Stiles had leaned forward and rested his elbows on his thighs. At Derek's gesture he sits up and scrubs his hands down his face before rubbing one over his short hair.

“There have always been flames in Peter's aura, but there were two shining ropes and—and ten burned ones surrounding his wolf that formed a sphere. The bright ones seemed to hold back the flames.”

Stiles stops. He seems hesitant to go on. Derek isn't sure if he wants to hear what comes next, but he knows he needs to.

“Just tell me.”

Stiles takes a deep breath, blowing it out noisily.

“One of the shining ropes was gold and red. The other was solid silver, but brighter. Now the gold rope is limp and the color of dried blood. The silver is wrapped in red, but alone it isn't enough to hold back all the flames.”

“That's why he's in pain.” Derek says in horror. “One pack member isn't enough to keep them back.”

Stiles nods. “I think so.”

“Fuck,” Derek says.

“There's one other thing,” Stiles says. “With only one bond I can see a chain around the wolf's neck. It's covered in runes. Some of them are for stasis.”

It takes a minute for Derek to get it. “You think someone is keeping Peter in a coma? Can you break them?”

“Probably,” Stiles answers, more confident than Derek expects. “He'll need more than just one bond if we want him to be remotely sane.”

“How are we supposed to do that if he's unconscious.”

“Well,” Stiles says. “I might have an idea for that, but you're not gonna like it. C'mon, we need to take this conversation somewhere you can yell at me.”

~

No pressure tags: @thotpuppy @lavender-lotion @definitively-different-drivel @calenlily @bad-at-names-and-faces

[voidfxndoms]

Something Blue (Part 2) // Sterek

Derek is getting married and Stiles, as his best man, decides to bring in an old bridal tradition.

Warnings: swearing, a lot of built-up feelings that don't come out in the best of ways.

W/C: 2,487

A/N: Here come all the feels :)) (oh, and Derek is just slightly dumb)

Read part one here

✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:✧･ﾟ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ:✧･ﾟ:

The two werewolves followed in shock as the situation quickly escalated. "How can you marry someone and not put effort into it?! Look at the state of this thing!". He held the loose tie up. "It's a completely different and incompatible color, stained and- look here" he nearly shoved it into Derek's face, "It's coming unstitched! How can you do something like that to Braeden?! How can you think of no one but yourself?!" The room was silent, the only sound being the heavy breathing of a now completely disheveled Stiles. But the tension in that silence was dense. So thick, Scott's calling came muffled to his friend's ears. "Stiles?" Scott hesitated for a moment. He took a shy step forward, but Derek extended his arm, stopping him before he could do or say anything else.

"Scott," he said, turning his head just enough to see him. "Can you give us a second?" The young alpha nodded quietly, before making his way out of the room. Stiles was still frozen in place, avoiding Derek's gaze. "This isn't about Braeden or style, is it?" Derek took one slow step closer to Stiles. "Of course it is. Who else would it be about?" Stiles blurted out. "Stiles. Look at me." Derek's voice was calm and tender. It wasn't the voice of somebody angry. It was the voice of someone worried. When Stiles finally held his gaze his eyes were red, the tears now evident. "You know I don't have to listen to your heartbeat to know when you're lying to me."; the corner of Derek's mouth turned up into a smile. He never smiled at Stiles. Well, rarely. The only times he did that was to calm him down, to let him know that everything was okay. Except for this time nothing was gonna be okay, and Stiles knew that. "I'm missing something blue. Why don't we finish your ritual, hm?" Derek asked, his hand on Stiles's shoulder as soft as his voice when he spoke.

Stile's mouth suddenly went dry. With hesitation, he rummaged through the pocket of his pants, before pulling something small out of it. "Something blue, of course.", Derek whispered, looking at the dangling keys. "Stiles, why do you want to give me your Jeep?" "So you and Braeden have more space for groceries, suitcases, babies-" Derek's look was enough to stop the amber-eyed from continuing. "Why do you really want me to have your Jeep, Stiles? You'd never give that thing to anybody." Stiles opened his mouth to come up with some stupid excuse, but that's when he realized there were no words in any vocabulary behind which he could hide. And he didn't want to. The whole point of this charade was for him to confess his feelings to Derek. And so he did. "Because I'm scared you will forget me." Derek chuckled, shaking his head. "We both know that is impossible." "No, it isn't." "Stiles. There is no way I'm forgetting you. You're my anchor, my safe person, the one who keeps me sane when everything else around me screams for me to give in and let the wolf take over." Derek briefly paused and a glint of hope made its way through Stiles's eyes. Maybe there was a chance. And then Derek spoke again. "You're the closest thing to family I have." For a second, everything around Stiles went black. He didn't hear a single word Derek spoke after that sentence. He was sure that if the werewolf had focused his hearing, he would have been able to hear the sound of Stile's heart shattering. "That's not what I meant" was the only thing Stiles managed to get out. "What did you mean, then?" "God, how are you this clueless?". Stiles stepped away. His eyes were resentful and sad, but his face was somehow unreadable. "I don't… I don't understand." "Of course you don't, you idiot! I love you!" Stiles screamed, tears brimming his eyes. The room fell silent, Stiles's gaze piercing through Derek. After what felt like a lifetime, Derek's eyebrows furrowed, his eyes staying on the young man in front of him. "What do you mean you love me?". The question came out quiet, almost shy. "I mean I love you. I have loved you since the first time I laid my eyes on you that afternoon in the preserve. And I hate you for that. I hated you then and I hate you now. I hate you because there is no waking moment where I'm not thinking about you, and there is no dream of mine you don't hunt at night. I hate how good your aftershave smells, how perfect your hair is. I hate how warm your laughter makes me feel. I hate how whenever you hug me I wish we could stay like that forever, how destabilizing the sight of your body is. I hate everything you do to me. And you don't even realize it. You don't understand I would go to the ends of the Earth for you." Derek's puzzled expression did not falter. If anything, his eyebrows furrowed even deeper, if that was possible. "Okay.", Stiles scrubbed a hand across his face in frustration. "Maybe this will clear things out for you." He took a couple of long strides, enough to close the distance between him and Derek, before crashing his lips on his. Being caught off guard, the werewolf didn't react immediately. But then his brain started working again, his reactions to the kiss changing as the information was being processed.

Stiles loved him. He loved him in a way nobody else had ever loved him before. Derek deepened the kiss, flattered. His heart was brimming with affection for the clumsy young man who had irreparably made his way into the wolf's heart. But that was all it was. Affection. Not the romantic love Stiles had just poured all over him. And that's when he pushed him away, taking a step back to put even more distance between himself and Stiles. "I- I can't do this." It was now Stiles's turn to look puzzled. "Why did you kiss me back, then?" "It-it was a mistake. I let my emotions get the best of me and reacted without thinking." "Oh, so you're saying you love me too, but can't do this? Why, is it because of Braeden?" "Yes… No. I don't know.", Derek sighed exasperated, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Look. Me marrying Braeden has nothing to do with you. I love her. And I love you too, just…" it pained Derek too much to finish the sentence. "… Just not in the same way as I love you." Stiles finished it for him. Derek's gaze fell, knowing this would probably be the breaking point for Stiles. And, just as likely, for their relationship. He wasn't as clueless as Stiles made him out to be. He had noticed the glances Stiles would steal at him, how he would use all possible excuses to touch him, how he was always there for him, always available, always prioritizing him. Derek wasn't clueless. He had just been living in denial the entire time. Because he was scared to lose Stiles, too. Truth be told, he was terrified. Stiles's hand came to rest on Derek's shoulder. When he looked up, he saw a faint smile on Stile's face. His eyes were still filled with sadness, but Derek knew what he was doing. Stiles was putting him first. Stiles always put Derek first. He pulled Stiles into a tight hug. "I'm sorry.", he whispered. "Don't be.", Stiles replied. "I can finally stop waiting for you. Now, what do you say we get you married, huh?"

[turningsoft]

Richie Tozier & Will Byers Werewolf Metaphor Post

@pinkeoni's old What's up with all the werewolves? post and its further discussion made me think of a lot. Seriously, it's lengthy.

I wanna preface this by saying I don't actually believe everything is connected or intentional, as it would be a huge reach. However, it's rather interesting to draw connections even where there were intended none. Proceed at your own peril.

As we all know, the Duffers originally wanted to write Stephen King's IT remake. Naturally, we also know they took some inspiration from King's various work, so for me it was a really small leap from werewolf references in Stranger Things to Richie's werewolf in IT.

Richie Tozier Was A Teenage Werewolf

In the book, Richie goes to see a horror double-feature, which includes movies I Was a Teenage Werewolf and I Was a Teenage Frankenstein (both 1957). Let's read the excerpt from the novel.

The Teenage Frankenstein was suitably gross. The Teenage Werewolf was somehow scarier, though… perhaps because he also seemed a little sad. What had happened wasn't his own fault. There was this hypnotist who had fucked him up, but the only reason he'd been able to was that the kid who turned into the werewolf was full of anger and bad feelings. Richie found himself wondering if there were many people in the world hiding bad feelings like that. Henry Bowers was just overflowing with bad feelings, but he sure didn't bother hiding them.

Now, this quote contains a lot of information to suggest that Richie at least empathizes with the character, but we don't actually see him relating to Tony until Richie comes face to face with Pennywise — for the first time, or so he thinks. During this encounter, It takes the form of the Teenage Werewolf and chases Bill and Richie out of the house on Neibolt Street. His appearance is described in great detail and mostly doesn't contradict the original movie, except for the werewolf's silk jacket.

It was black with orange piping — the Derry High School colors.

And a bit further on:

It was the other thing that made him feel as if he might faint, or just give up and let it kill him. A name was stitched on the jacket in gold thread, the kind of thing you could get done down at Machen's for a buck if you wanted it. Stitched on the bloody left breast of the Werewolf's jacket, stained but readable, were the words RICHIE TOZIER.

In the movie it's Tony's signature jacket that allows others to recognize him in his werewolf form, so it only makes sense to assume Richie's scared because he's forced to recognize himself in the monster. The implications affect him so deeply that he considers giving up his own life.

Bad feelings

It provides a bit of insight into Richie's head and makes us question what exactly he considers “bad feelings” within himself, if not anger (he doesn't seem to be an angry person). Some speculate it has to do with growing up and becoming an unstable, hormonal teenager in the future. Others link it to his possible undiagnosed ADHD, self-hatred and the ever-present fear of being ostracized for his differences, both visible and not. Being a queer person in the 50's would also fit the narrative pretty well. For those who are interested, I strongly recommend reading expanded analysis on the matter here (werewolf as a symbol in IT), here (bisexuality viewed as “monstrous”) and here (Richie's fears explained).

Not his fault

Obviously, none of the aforementioned reasons justify putting such strong labels (monster, werewolf) on a literal child. Richie seems to understand he's not at fault for whatever makes him a target, but he also believes in a strong possibility someone can inflict this inhuman identity upon him. Despite already being bullied, he fears his situation can take a turn for the worse. And despite having a wonderful support system, he somehow knows it's not enough. If someone or something decides to “fuck him up” and exploit his vulnerable state, they will, so he cuts down on the amount of vulnerability. Heavily. I can't believe I'm still not talking about Will Byers.

Hiding stuff

As ironic as it sounds, Richie Tozier is canonically good at hiding. Other people find it difficult to make up their minds about his personality and actions — the most famous instance being, perhaps, this quote.

He had known Richie Tozier for four years, and he still didn't really understand what Richie was about.

Richie uses his Voices and “numbers” both as a shield and a weapon. He shows raw emotions only when he considers it absolutely safe. He takes “refuge in absurdity”. To reiterate @/jasperathrifteddoll's werewolf symbolism post, Richie 1) is confusing; 2) tells half-truths; 3) puts up facades; 4) “through his concealment of his inner thoughts to the reader, seems almost aware of his status as a book's narrator”.

All of Richie's fears are connected to or based on public perception. “But he knew well enough” has earned a meta post in and of itself.

Will Byers Has Werewolves In His Closet

So what's the meaning behind this werewolf costume in the Trick or Treat, Freak episode? Maybe it's a manifestation of one of Will's fears, or maybe there's no hidden message. After all, even if Stranger Things and IT are connected, I Was A Teenage Werewolf has nothing to do with ST… Unless we consider it left a huge legacy and inspired The Cramps to write a song of the same name — the one that introduced Eddie Munson to the audience in S04E01. Frankly speaking, I don't think this was an easter egg the writers were actively trying to include, but it doesn't take away from the parallel. It's still fun to compare Will and Richie, especially because on a surface level they're so unlike.

To execute Stephen King's werewolf metaphor, one would need:

a character with enough emotional baggage,

who is afraid of being perceived as a monster,

especially as a result of trusting an authority figure,

who breaks his trust and exploits his vulnerable state,

potentially making him dangerous in the process.

Let's see if Will ticks all the boxes.

Bad feelings

Will's otherness is easy to pick up on. It's either “being a sensitive artistic kid who grew up to be gay in the 80's” or “being a child who was abducted to a horrific dimension and is now attached to it”. Arguably, we don't even have to choose: these two plots are closely related and can become one through the AIDS metaphore. Not to mention the whole “growing up poor with an abusive and neglectful father” thing. Simply put, Will Byers has plenty reason to experience “bad feelings”. On a rare occasion, we can hear about his struggles firsthand.

Bad feelings = self-hatred

So far, Will has internalized a variety of epithets:

“Zombie Boy”

“Freak”

“Stupid”

“Mistake”

We can see each of them affect him to some extent.

In season 2, during multiple heart-to-hearts with Jonathan, Will expresses his desire for everyone to stop treating him different, like there's something wrong with him. Meaning, he himself doesn't think there's something wrong. He stubbornly insists: “Yeah, I am. I am [a freak],” but he's quick to be offended when Jonathan agrees. It reads as a defense tactic, not his own opinion. After all, when you pointedly address yourself in a hurtful fashion, shouldn't those words stop holding power over you?

When drawing the Zombie Boy, Will essentially tries to reclaim this identity in a way that's true to him — by using art. He doesn't want to passively accept the label, he wants to strip it of its negative connotations. But then again, when a kid deemed as dead comes back to life, it's a pretty dumb reason to bully him. Will probably knows it's dumb, so he fights back. His homosexuality, though, is a harder pill to swallow.

There's no denying he feels guilty for his attraction to Mike (well, boys, but Mike specifically). Guilty and other things as well, a mixture of shameful, jealous, hurt, confused and angry. In seasons 3 and 4 he learns that even the tiniest portions of his affection and his sincerest attempts at salvaging a friendship can be neglected or misconstrued. It cuts deeply.

Then there's, of course, the van scene. Will says he feels like a mistake sometimes. Not all the time, he clears up. Mike makes him feel better for being different, and yet Will cries after the speech, knowing full well his differences don't make his life any happier or simplier, or better.

Bad feelings = past trauma

Still, all of it pales in comparison to plain old trauma and its prolonged effects. This anon ask and @/heroesbyler's answer have summarized it better than I ever could. Here's a quote that I can't not mention:

His trauma is one of the most if not the most multifaceted in the entire story, and also he literally is the main character foil to the big villain. Saying that Will hates himself for being gay is such a gross oversimplification of what we see. It's haunting to know that people want to project a stereotypical situation to his nuanced one.

Additionally, there were theories that Will is a victim of CSA, and I'm not only referring to the ones about Vecna/MF/UD allegories (these I very much agree with) but those about full-on CSA by Lonnie. While I'm still on the fence about it, I acknowledge this is also a possibility.

To sum up, our boy Will has been through a lot. Emotional baggage? Check. Susceptibility to “monstrous” labels? Check.

Not his fault

Up until this point I was being ambiguous about whether my theory is applicable to S2 only or other seasons as well. I have to admit, right now the werewolf costume guy is no more than a little foreshadowing of the S2 plot. However, given the fact that S5 is promised to take inspiration from S2, some of its key elements or plot points may be reused, albeit probably in a different fashion. Additionally, new information might be revealed, meaning that the metaphore has potential to grow into something bigger in the future.

For now I'll focus on the S2 events mainly and compare them to I Was A Teenage Werewolf.

___

Movie: Tony Rivers embodies a typical delinquent from the 50's. He's a troubled rebellious teenager with anger issues. He exhibits such violent behavior that he's advised to seek psychological help.

IT: Richie doesn't fixate on the anger part and instead uses “bad feelings” wording to convey broader (or perhaps, entirely different) meaning. Ultimately, we're led to believe that it doesn't matter what character traits Tony possessed. What's more important is 1) he had psychological issues; 2) he was advised to seek out professional help.

ST: Will has a lot of unresolved trauma from his experience in the UD, which manifests in “bad feelings”, so-called flashbacks and coughing up demonic slugs. He's advised to undergo medical supervision/scientific surveillance at Hawkins Lab.

___

Movie: Dr. Alfred Brandon embodies the classic mad scientist archetype. He conducts experiments on people by using hypnosis and medication in unconventional ways and claims it's for a greater cause. He draws out Tony's traumatic childhood memories during their sessions. Brandon has an assistant, Dr. Hugo Wagner, who comes across as compassionate and humanistic.

ST: Dr. Martin Brenner is affiliated with multiple scientific projects that conduct experiments on people by using sensory deprivation, psychedelic drugs and various abuse/manipulation tactics. He, too, claims it's for a greater cause. Also works with traumatic childhood memories, e. g. the whole NINA project. If twelvegate is proven true in S5, these parallels will become positively unhinged. Brenner repeatedly works with Dr. Owens, who on the outside seems more sympathetic towards main heroes.

___

Movie: Tony finally accepts Dr. Brandon's help after a Halloween party gone wrong. He decides to trust everyone's opinion, goes through the procedure and ends up becoming “possessed by wolves” (= made into a werewolf).

ST: Will accepts the fact that he's spiraling and needs help on Halloween night. He decides to trust Dr. Owens, Joyce and Bob that his visions are just PTSD-related episodes. He follows Bob's advice and ends up possessed.

Ultimately, this is the moment when Will's trust is broken. Although it's definitely not Bob's or Joyce's fault, a collective authority figure represented by Hawkins Lab fails Will. It fucks him up big. And one can argue, Owens' incapacity to protect him wasn't a simple negligence but an extension of Brenner's politics. @/runninguplenorahills suggests the following:

If Owens knew about Brenner being alive and deliberately kept that information to himself (which he did), and if Owens knew about Henry and everything that happened (which seems to be the case too)……. Well….. doesn't that make Owens' inability to help and protect Will in s2 a deliberate choice?

Regardless, it isn't Will's own doing that turns him into someone dangerous — it's the Lab's fault.

___

Movie: Dr. Brandon and his assistant argue about the necessity of transforming Tony because it might be harmful or even fatal to him.

“But you're sacrificing a human life!” ”Do you cry over a guinea pig?”

ST: Dr. Owens argues with other scientists over attacking the UD vines/tunnels and potentially harming Will in the process.

“And if it kills the boy?” ”Then quite frankly, Sam, it kills him.”

___

Movie: In his werewolf state, Tony kills a bunch of his classmates, a random dog, Dr. Brandon and his assistant.

ST: While being possessed, Will leads the soldiers into a trap and gets them killed because they've upset the MF. Owens ends up injured, and Bob gets killed. We can view them all as Brenner's “assistants” to different extents.

All in all, I'd say the metaphor fits. But wait, there's more!

Hiding stuff

Once again referencing @/pinkeoni's posts, there's a long history of Will hiding his feelings. Fascinating how the conversation that basically establishes this trait of his, aka his exchange with Joyce, happens in S2 and specifically in relation to his not-actually-PTSD episodes. But the motive of hiding, be it in a literal or a figurative sense (as in hiding parts of himself), is integral to Will's character. It is continually present troughout seasons and is supported by in-show elements and costume design choices alike.

Billy Hargrove And Henry Bowers Are Overflowing

Parallels should be drawn between Henry and Billy, too. This section is small, but nonetheless I like it — it's a finishing touch to the story and a cherry to top it all off.

Richie completes his train of thought by contrasting Tony and Henry Bowers, accentuating how the latter “didn't bother hiding” his bad feelings, e. g. his anger, bigotry and violent outbursts. The same could be said about Billy. Both of them killed people under the influence (Flayed!Billy, Pennywise-inspired!Henry) and definitely were capable of assault regardless. For both of them a relationship with one's father seems to be an instigation of their descent into madness, although Billy hates Neil, whereas Henry appears to have a more complex, effectively love-hate attitude towards Oscar.

It's also noteable that Billy is a foil character to Will, who is mirroring him in many ways, while Henry and Patrick may be seen as foils to Richie and Eddie when it comes to handling “their same-sex attraction”. And by the way, if sexuaility and attraction is consired “bad feelings” within Will's mind, one particular part of this post becomes all the more relevant. To quote and paraphrase, “Billy wears his sexuality proud and openly”, yet Will's sexuality is suppressed — another case of hiding versus overflowing.

I'd love to TL;DR this post into something concise and coherent, but I fear I'd just end up repeating my points and wording. I'd rather say I have more thoughts on Richie and Will's similarities, so there's gonna be a short post about it sometime down the line. Thank you to anyone who decided that this was worth reading!

[sushisusii]

Apologies! I looked for your preferred pronouns but didnt spot them specifically so I’m going to use they/them just so I dont misgender you 😬

How did you come up with your werewolf? Did you have a clear vision of them? Or did you go through a couple versions before perfecting them?

Those are actually my preferred pronouns! They/them but I also accept he/him. I'm non binary, trans masc. If I ever get misgendered I try not to take it personally because I don't actually label it anywhere. The only thing I have on my profiles is 'Enby'. So Naoma started out very different when I was a kid. But they have grown with me as I've gotten older.

^ This is the first character I used for myself a LOOOOONG time ago.

^ Second version after I was allowed to be online.

^ Really short lived version

^This version I used for a really long time and made some minor adjustments a bit later on.

^Minor changes, got rid of the gold and just made the limbs black, added a stripe and tail pattern.

^Another set of minor changes, but started drawing more anthro rather than feral. But because people were getting too much NSFW art WITHOUT my permission I decided to make a whole new design for them.

^ I spent DAYS trying to figure out a design for Naoma. I wanted more natural colors and pattern. So after like 2 weeks or so I came up with this design.

^I ended up making making their limbs black again and stopped using gradients.

^But with a friends input and my own want, I changed up the pattern, added more red and changed the limbs color. It's been like this ever since. (Ref base is by twistedhound) Naoma means everything to me. They are me in every single way. I draw them being an Idiot, I draw them being sad, angry, hungry, depressed. The scars they have, I also have. Eye color, eyebrow buzz. hair style(The fluff being tied back into a little pony tail/bun). So this is them now. I know this thread was long and I'm really sorry for that, but I hope it was fun to see the evolution of my fursona. Small little tid bit, Naoma is a Eurasian Dire Werewolf and stands at 14ft tall on their toes. All the art in the thread is also by me over the years, except the ref sheet by Twistedhound

[saturnaous]

I have to preface if anyone in relations to my dnd group sees this NO YOU DON'T. and don't tell nightmare. you see nothing. get out of here. anyways.

@nightmareeyest haiiii haiiii here's the guys every. I love character making very fun. waves

okay. so I'm gonna be a little bit silly with uhm. dnd characters because I LOVE dnd characters. thus far none of them have been used but both Nico + Carmine have set places already to work in!! anyways. This fella is Nico!!! he's so neat 2 me. Nico Cybil, Deepsea Merfolk, a paladin who adventured to the surface to try to ease the sin of the surfaced/sun touched world so that everybody wouldn't DROWN.

The worldbuilding done by our wonderful dm is that there are these Titans that flood the world when awoken, and the part of Nico's religion from far down below is that their god, who sees through the sun, became terribly sad when she saw all the sin in the world and cried so much she drowned part of the world with her tears when her children awoke or whatever. Nico thinks that if he basically goes up and says "Everybody stop sinning!!!" It'll stop the flooding of everything. So his whole town thing basically sent him up with some magic armor and a little teardrop shaped piece of gold(who's supposed to be the sign of god being sad again; the first tear or whatever).

Nico also had a best pal named Clancy who he convinced to come up to the surface with him. about the point when they finally started being able to see sunlight some raiders(or something; Nico doesn't know, I don't know. that's up to my dm) came around and yoinked up Clancy. Nico logically thinks that Clancy is dead, but he still clings onto the hope that they didn't kill him. He does hold onto a lot of guilt about leading Clancy to his death and thinks about all the signs about him not bringing him along. Nico's constantly thinking about if it was his own fault for taking him to danger against his better judgment or if he didn't listen to signs from god that this was a mission for him and him alone and Clancy paid the price. anyways.

Nico's a fucking idiot. a big part of his village in the trenches or whatever is that they are free of sin; Sunlight(aka their god's gaze) doesn't get deep enough to see them so clearly it's because she doesn't have the need to watch them because they are so perfect and holy all the time. This feeds into a big complex that Nico has of "Me(holy, good, savior of all these sunlit creatures), and them(sinners, everyone born in the sunlight, those who need saving)". He's also an idiot who's never been in any semblance of any version of the real world. He has way too much confidence for a 5'3 guy who walks like a duck and doesn't know what colors are. I'm so excited to play him because he's SO stupid. his catchphrase is going to be "God loves me" followed by something stupid. They'd tell him he can't make a 50ft jump in which he'll respond with "Maybe YOU can't. God loves me" and then. he has to get held back . He's just going to be so stupid. I'm really excited. he's going to be very socially inept because he's just fucking like that. I'm genuinely so excited for him. His wisdom is actually an 8 and his intelligence is at 10. a -1 and 0 modifier respectively. hilarious. Nico you are so special to me I'm SO EXCITED.

ermmmm this be Carmine!! more dnd. shrug. Carmine Ryder, the Werewolfe Barbarian. big ass lesbian who's going to smush faces with @orange-t-apple's siren lesbian lady HI SHROT HAIIIIII HAIII hope you don't mind the @. the @ errrrrr. ya. anwyays Carmine is very neat she's from a village thing where everybody are like werebeast creatures. she's from a line of werewolves though. Her dad is kind of a prick so she's always been a "stick it to the man" type thing towards him so she started basically brawling to prove herself to him or whatever. he hated that shit so she kept doing it. at some point it got to where she would just leave. for like long periods of time and then come back to visit her mom and rub it in her dad's face. But last time she left Carmine and her dad got into a big argument or something and she stormed out. Then at some point she got a letter saying her dad was died and it was her fault for reasons I don't think I nailed down yet . so she just never went back. she doesn't know if he's ACTUALLY dead or not but she does know it was NOT her fault but she just doesn't want to deal with that. Anyways. She's very neat. delightful even. she never wears a shirt if she's not fighting because she doesn't see what the big deal is about her tits. she only wraps them up when fighting bc her jacket is heavy and they get mad at her when she leaves them thangs out. her future girlfriend is great too if. vaguely gestures shrot would be so kind to even speak about her. Annie the girlfail bard lesbian. she's a delight as well. ermg. anyways. RUFFLES AROUND IN MY BAG LABELED MY BLORBOS.

OKAY FINALLY. something non dnd related. swag. okay.

This is Kurgou!!! I've had him for quite a few years now but I've recently been reworking dragons in the world they are in so he's been through some updating! very swag.

Kurgou is a dragon; dragons in the world he's in are very reclusive since the great burn(the overthrowing of dragons with a divine flame from the gods), and mostly live in mountians in small villages. Kurgou's father is basically akin to a village chief. His mom was sweet, his dad is kind of an ass, yk the jist. his sister is swag though. anyways.

Kurgou was basically born with a magic deficiency; his body basically can't store magic correctly, so it leaks out. He had to constantly eat stuff just so he wouldn't get to a deadly lack of magic. His dad didn't like that; basically started resenting him as soon as they found out.

At some point, he'd start lashing out when he'd get to a bad level of magic. didn't help that his dad really sucked with parenting towards him. His mom was really nice about stuff though. very swag. jist of it is 'daddy issues'. ermng ggg. yeaghg.

most major incident was when he was mayeb 11? kurgou was left with his dad while his mom was off doing stuff but his dad basically said "I'm not dealing with you" and left him on his own. 11 would normally be okay to be left along but dragons age differently than humans or whaatever, so he was striaght up just a little guy left on his own.

his momma came home like "holy SHIT where did my husband go!!! he left my son here!!!" and panicked and gave him some food or whatever because he basically was fucked. he was like a shivering pile of whatever. worst state he'd been in before. fevery like fuck. anyways. his brain wasn't working correctly in the moment and bit part of his mom's hand off . He never meant to hurt her but she was the best source of magic at the moment and that's what he needed so in his fucked up state he didn't register anything other than what he needed to eat or whatever. anyways.

this fucked up a LOT of shit for him. his mom didn't blame him, even if she was scared of him or whaetver, his dad started to HATE his guts, even going as far to convince the rest of the town or whatever to see they could ban his ass with his track record of being violent and now actively attacking someone, someone who he even loved and didn't antagonize him.

long story short, 12 year old booted from everything he knows and forced to go find somewhere else to call home. he's been traveling for like 20+ bc he's like 34 now and stumbled upon some little mountian village where he meets a vampire fae and a lion demihuman with a reputation he doesn't really seem to uphold which is going to become his forever family mefinks? we haven't roleplayed with them in a long while but they are delightful. very swag. Kurgou is neat 2 me.

ermmrmbhngrgrmrghgm. that's all I got for now but I have more. if you ever want me to make a list and you can pick a handful for me to talk about :) ermmmgnggg ya. I lvoe making characters it's delightful

[spookberry]

thoughts on that Wednesday Addams show

-the writing is incredibly juvenile in a way only an adult man who is not actually nor ever has been an "outcast" could accomplish

-that being said all the actors were really amazing! Especially Jenna Ortega!!!

-One thing I liked but felt was more by accident than by design was the way that this school of "outcasts" were like, really normal?? Like theyre just teenagers who happen to not be human. Which makes the fact that Wednesday is a human who's Not Normal kind of compelling. Wish this was an intentional idea though, it could've been played with a whole lot more.... also i just kinda wish they'd picked a word other than "outcasts" to call them. like oh my god i could absolutely see some line during the climax where theres all this petty teen drama where someones like "i might not be human, but at least im not a Monster like you Wednesday" woulda been AWESOME

-Wednesday's love triangle was lame and if she had to get with a guy I'd've preferred Eugene. I love his sibling relationship with wednesday sooo much. One of my favorite dynamics. However if she HAD to get with a guy. Id pick him. He reminds me of Joel from Addams Family Values.

-the fact that two guys fell wildly in love with Wednesday without her doing absolutely anything and also very clearly not returning the sentiment whatsoever and instead just using them whenever she needs them was really funny and on brand, wished the show had been self aware about it

-I really wish the other female characters played bigger roles? Like Enid was Great and I loved the glimpses of her friendship with Wednesday and Thing and their HUG omg,,, I wish the romance plots had been axed in favor of giving Wednesday's friendships more time to shine.

-I also wish Enid and Wednesday had danced together at the Rave'N. Enid goes and dances with all her friends but she never goes over to have fun with Wednesday :( it just felt wrong like, narratively, we saw how excited Enid was about Wednesday going to the dance and then the camera seems to cut to show Enid get excited from watching Wednesday dance and then they dont even Talk?? I hated that.

-also, Bianca. I really loved the way she was basically friends with Wednesday by the end of the show. Wish the show had done a better job at the Enemies to Friendly Rivals to Friends dynamic. Bianca in general is a REALLY cool character that I want more time with.

-Both Enid and Bianca would've made better love interests than the guys imo

-I did like the mysteries, though I'm not sure how well it actually works with the Addams. Because they wound up adding this plot line, no spoilers, about Gomez being accused of murder and Morticia gets super touchy about it. But like?? theyre the ADDAMS why would they be behaving like this about a death???? Makes no sense to me. Needed to be reworked, cuz there definitely are Ways to have made it work imo.

-I really loved all of the costuming for Wednesday though the color correction done on the uniforms makes me kinda sad. i think it would've been fun if the school had been more vibrant and full of life to better contrast who Wednesday is and how she stands out.

-Wednesday's relationship with Morticia is really weird, but in general I get the feeling that certain people involved didn't actually know what Morticia's character was like... at all? And a lot of the problems with the family dynamics stems from this mischaracterization of Morticia in particular. I know some people didn't like Wednesday going through a rebellious phase, but I actually think that fit her character just fine, it's how her parents react to this rebellion that feels out of character to me.

-the fact that they had a romance arc about a werewolf who struggled to be a werewolf and an awkward gorgon..... Very Monster High 2022 to me ngl

-Wednesday is Autistic and you can't convince me otherwise. Everything from the way all of her social interactions are written to the way she literally diverts eye contact whenever theres a closeup shot while she talks to people. shes just like me fr.

overall i give it a 6 out of 10. I wouldn't go around recommending it to people, it's kinda bad, but I got some enjoyment out of it,, so not fully the worst.

But Also if you haven't seen it I WOULD recommend you go watch the fanmade Adult Wednesday Addams series on youtube. It's a classic!

[ghostradiodylan]

what do you think all the counselors' favorite colors are?

Thanks for the ask moth! This is a bit of a challenge because I associate them so strongly with the colors they wear in the game and that doesn’t necessarily mean those colors are their favorites. But I’m gonna free associate, pull some design theory, and figure it out!

Max - Yellow. “Max Brinly loved the color yellow until he saw it in his own eyes,” popped into my head out of fucking nowhere thinking about this ask. Baby ducks, golden retrievers, early morning light. An energetic, cheerful, supportive color for an energetic, cheerful, supportive lad. Also the color associated with soldiers away at war, danger, the longing for reunion.

(This is not a joke about him being afraid lol also I know that’s orange, the tumblr font color palette is limited okay?)

Laura - Pink. I was definitely thinking about her wearing the tracksuit Max ends up in. But there’s also just something about associating a true badass with pink. It’s an unexpected twist, like going to summer camp expecting to dole out bandaids and ending up a one-eyed werewolf hunter. Pink is playful, kind, and optimistic.

Dylan - Green. His forest green phone is such a choice (everyone else has basic black or gray phones, right?) and I love it! He just strikes me as a green kind of kid. It’s a color the offbeat kids were more likely to choose when I was the age that we talked about favorite colors a lot (vs. blue, red, pink, the usual suspects). It’s the color associated with both inexperience and jealousy, but also hope, renewal, growth, the anticipation of things about to bloom.

Jacob - Red. Jacob seems like a red kind of guy to me (though, like Max with yellow, he might be a bit tired of it after the canon events) This boy has a temper and ‘sees red’ easily, but he’s also tender and lovable. Associated with passion, enthusiasm, heart, hot-headedness, fire (and fireworks!), blushing, and blood.

Ryan - Blue. He might be a little bit goth on the outside but Ryan’s a sailor, I feel like he’s drawn to water and sky. I think he’d like a teal or aqua kind of blue, think Caribbean ocean water and swimming pools with no dead bodies in them whatsoever. Blue is loyalty, dependability, a tranquil exterior, transitory sadness, and peacemaking. Blue is apparently the most popular favorite color in the world (humans love the sky, is what this tells me).

Nick - Orange. Maybe it’s because his best scenes are in the golden hour with Abi, but I imagine Nick might vibe with a sunset orange. Softer and more restrained than red but not quite as cheerful as yellow, associated with the sweet fruit of the same name, but also positivity, caution, warmth, and difficulty with commitment. Orange, like Nick, can be a polarizing color in design.

Kaitlyn - Red. There are only so many colors, we have to double up somewhere! Kaitlyn’s red has a different flavor to Jacob’s. It’s bold, alert, and protective, like the light on top of an ambulance, but also flashy and action-oriented. Fire can be equally as defensive as it is destructive. We can assume Kaitlyn shares Brenda Song’s Chinese and Thai heritage, and red is an extremely auspicious color in Chinese culture. Also, on a shallower note, I love Kaitlyn’s red shoulder stripes in her 80’s ‘fit! I wish they’d made her high top converse red to match!

Abi - Purple. She doesn’t wear anything purple in the entire game, in any of her ‘fits, and you might make a good argument for her favorite being red, but I think Abi is a purple gal at heart. Maybe a soft, romantic, sweet shade like lavender. Associated with dignity, intuition, a rich fantasy life, and emotional depth. (My personal favorite, with teal and green not far behind).

Emma - Green. Doubling up again, but I have to let the game guide me here. Emma consistently has green as a major color or accent across all three of her outfits, so clearly she’s drawn to it. Shes the only one with a color theme like that! Maybe she likes that it brings out the greener tones in her hazel eyes. I imagine her gravitating toward a more emerald shade, associated with success, wealth, and abundance. There’s a dramatic flair to green that fits Emma well.

🌈 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈

I could probably talk myself out of half of these and have reasoning for alternate takes, tbh, but I’d love to know what others think!

[bunnierps]

Was feeling on a roll with my writing lately, but I’m tired and burnt out. Which makes me kinda sad :,)

So enjoy some more snippets of stuff

The beginning of the Vampiress and the Wolf of Wallowdale

(A vampire/werewolf love story)

Smoke filled the air of the Lilithorn Mannor before we even knew it, well into the afternoon while most of the coven hid from the sun. I hadn't noticed at first as I practiced my piano just like on most afternoons.

In fact, I hadn't even noticed the smoke until I heard screaming echoing down the halls. "They've found us" a voice shrieked from the great hall "We've been-" the screaming stopped abruptly followed by the sound of wood piercing flesh.

My last note hung in the air, haunting around the smoke. In one quick movement, I lept from the piano bench and grabbed my cloak. Throwing back the curtains of my room, groaning as the light hit a small bit of my exposed skin.

Debating on if I should leap from the 3rd story window or see if there were anyone around to save, but the decision was made for me the moment my bedroom door was pulled open "stop right there foul demon!" god really? That's the best you've got?

Without another thought I lept, landing half gracefully on the grass below. I didn't look back as I ran to the grove behind the manor. Only slowing when I reached the cemetery. Running my fingers along each of the cool graves as I passed headed towards the mausoleum pulling open the heavy stone doors.

Barely through the threshold, Thalia let out a weep and wrapped me up in her arms "Oh you're okay! Val oh Valeria!" my shoulder almost immediately dampened as soon as she rested her head on me.

Salem slammed the heavy door behind me "Thalia," he scolded " Seriously leaving the door open. And while we're under attack?"

I glanced around to see who had made it. Of course, there's Thalia and Salem, Thalia being a small girl the youngest of all of us well physically anyway. With long riglet curly blonde hair, the color of straw, and forest green eyes. She was 9 when she turned, to save her from an illness. You'd never know now that she was ever sick.

Salem, he's more of the strong silent type. He’s been alive much longer than us and is second in command. He runs his fingers through his choppy straight hair and closes his stormy grey eyes, lined with black smudged liner"We really should just wait this out right here," he insists turning to our Queen mother.

Fleurdelice purses her lips together and looks to the rest of us, a serene look in her dark eyes. She tucks a lock of her raven black hair behind her ear. "I want to know those hunters are gone and then I shall personally search the Lilithorn Manor myself." she brings her hand up to her mouth as she thinks, not looking as regal as she normally does sitting there in her hello kitty pajamas.

Tobias made a soft little squeak and held up his hand, "Uhm, your majesty I do hate to be the bearer of bad news." he glances at the rest of us for support and relaxes when Ivory lays a hand on his shoulder "Uh...the... the um, manor, well it's burning."

Fleurdelice simply nods "Oh now, the Lilithorn Manor has stood for centuries a little fire couldn't possibly take it away from us."

Jett pursed his lips and shook his head "I hate to disagree your highness, but the place may not be able to withstand this attack it was quite a hefty one," Jett insists.

“Valeria, my sweet girl,” Queen mother Fleurdelice ignores Jett’s pleas as she turns to me. “I have been training you, and you are doing quite well.”

My eyes widen as she tucks a strand of my ebony black hair behind my ear “Mother please…” I whisper, slightly embarrassed as everyone around us seemed to soak in what it was she had just said.

“Valeria please, you are the eldest daughter of my coven. You and Salem have been by my side since the inception of the Bloodlilly covenant. I need you to take our coven to Wildevalley. I will meet you there with the rest when it is safe, and act as Queen mother until I return. If I do not-“ Fleurdelice smiles sadly as if she doesn’t dare say the next thing. “Well if I do not come for you, then do not try to look for me.”

Tears prick my eyes as she takes my face in her hands, swiping away each tear with her thumbs. Physically she was no older than 16, but she had been a vampire for nearly a decade before. I have long since forgotten what my human mother’s face looked like.

“Okay Fleurdelice please…be careful.” I lean into her touch ever so slightly, before she pulls away and makes her way for the door.

Once she is gone everyone turns to me. I take in a deep shaky breath and make eye contact with Salem. His stormy grey eyes serious as ever with his brows furrowed. If he’s surprised at all by what Fleurdelice had just said to me he doesn’t appear to show it at all.

Then I sweep my gaze across the room to the rest of the convent that I’m supposed to be leading now. Thalia clings onto Jett’s arm as he tries to comfort her but she’s clearly incredibly scared. Tobias and Ivory are holding hands and looking to me, Tobias’s mouth hangs agape ever so slightly as he’s shocked at the interaction he had just witnessed.

Though there are three more who I had yet to take note of, Lucian stands strongly his shaggy brown hair wild and unkept and barely covering his intense gold eyes. He stands with Saphhira and Gwendoline behind him. The girls are our fledglings at the moment, not full vampires who had only recently been turned at a sleepover in town. Saphhira’s eyes are forest green and filled with fear, surely a vampire hunter was the last thing she had exepected so soon into being turned.

Gwendoline looks just as afraid as her friend, trying to stick as close to her as possible. Gwendoline’s deep brown eyes are red and shiny with tears as she hides behind her dirty blonde hair.

They’re all looking at me, and with Fleurdelice already on her way back into the burning manor I need to lead them. And I need to lead them away from everything I’ve known and gotten comfortable with over all this time.

I don’t know a whole lot about Wildvalley. All I knew was how to get there, and that it would be a bit of a long journey. I close my eyes and take a deep breath recalling the escape route I’d gone over so many times in my head on the map.

“Alright, I guess we should get going huh?” I lock eyes with Salem who offers me a slight nod and helps lead the way into one of the long dark tunnels. I pull a torch off the wall of the crypt as I follow behind Salem letting the rest of the coven follow our lead.

We walk in silence for a while through the cold damp corridors underground. I can’t get Fleurdelice off my mind, I hope she’s alright. Hopefully she’s just right behind us…I’m not exactly sure if I’m ready to lead our coven just yet.

“Val?” Salem speaks softly trying his best to keep his voice from echoing through the crypt.

“Yeah?” I respond softly, but my voice seem strange even to myself. Too quiet and far away.

Salem doesn’t say anything else he just reaches back and takes my hand with his. His cold fingers wrap around mine as he continues to lead me through so I don’t have to think about where we’re going.

As Salem’s hand settles in mine and he idly rubs his thumb over mine.

He’s not usually one for much affection, so I appreciate this small gesture

[rubyvroom]

The Halloween 2024 roster so far: leaning pretty heavily on new and indie horror this year. I actually liked most of these to some degree or other. Lots of unexpected sci-fi but I'm not complaining.

The Company of Wolves - beautiful, dreamlike, features not one but two of the craziest werewolf transformations I've ever seen. Mr. X insists this is not a horror film, but it has an Angela Carter screenplay and werewolves, so I say it counts.

Deathstream - Horror comedy with a very convincing YouTube channel spending the night alone in a haunted house. Some legitimately funny bits here and good use of the premise.

Army of Darkness - I've heard the quotes for many years but I had never actually seen the movie until now. Bruce Campbell really should have been allowed to star in more films. I enjoyed every minute of this, allowing for the bog-standard 80s-90s misogyny.

Speak No Evil (Denmark) - I am not watching the US one if they changed the ending. The ending is the entire point. It's a commentary on Danish society and if you couldn't adapt that to the US then why are you remaking the movie? Stop wasting my time. Anyway this was great. Frustrating, but again, that's the point.

Happy Death Day - Better than expected. Groundhog's Day slasher, has fun with the premise. The actress sells it.

Happy Death Day 2 - The same but make it sci-fi.

Synchronic - Cool concept, which I don't want to spoil too much except to say it's about a convenience store drug with an unexpected side effect. A little lazy as a film but I enjoy watching Anthony Mackie do his thing.

Something in the Dirt - This film and the one before are from the guys who made Resolution and The Endless. Neither are as good as those but worth seeing if you liked their other films. This film is again a sci-fi scenario, sort of cross-polinated with William Friedkin's Bug.

Bodies Bodies Bodies - Takes the slasher theme of "insufferable youths die one at a time" to its natural conclusion. Perfect casting. Had a great time with this.

I Saw the TV Glow - Magical, haunting, endlessly sad. Still thinking about it.

Oddity - NO THANK YOU SCARY WOODEN DOLL. THIS MADE ME UNCOMFORTABLE.

Freaky - Another comedy horror, a body-swap where a teenage slasher victim swaps bodies with the killer. Resulting in Vince Vaughn portraying a teenage girl and taking it pretty seriously? Like he's all in? But I enjoyed the teenage girl serial killer even more.

Abigail - The trailer gives most of the plot away but it's still really fun and the ballet really adds to the action scenes. Cast is really good. Goes in a couple unexpected directions, one of which had me saying oh THAT'S why Dan Stevens is in this, now I understand.

Hold Your Breath - Kind of meh but the setting itself was engrossing, in the middle of the dustbowl farmlands. Sarah Paulson doing the most again.

She Will - Lowkey involving, though I've forgotten most of what happens.

Immaculate - Search your feelings. Are you willing to cheer on a priest being strangled by his own rosary? If so, watch this immediately. As a heathen I found it, as Glen Weldon would say, a hoot and a half.

Caddo Lake - Did you like Dark, the twisty and moody german tv show? This is the American version. I mean it's not but it very much is.

Ghostwatch - the legendary banned BBC broadcast, which you can now watch on Prime, is still pretty effective.

The Dark and the Wicked - This was trying waaaaaay too hard to be Hereditary. Didn't really enjoy it.

We Are All Going to the World's Fair - Mr. X slept through this but I was hypnotized by it. There are two kinds of people.

Maxxxine - Not as good as X or Pearl, and it if was a stand-alone film it would be pretty incoherent. But it is very stylish and has a lot of fun with the 80s LA setting, and I can watch Mia Goth do her thing all day long.

Suspiria - Legendary. Loved it. When did we stop using COLORS in movies?

Longlegs - this one at least remembers the color red, for the very striking opening. It runs out of steam a little bit throughout but pretty exciting for a lot of the run. Liked the probably-autistic protagonist a lot. There are some Nicolas Cagisms and I never for a moment forgot it was him, but he does have some genuinely frightening moments.

The Quatermass Experiment - Most of my favorite things were influenced by this so figured it was time to check it out. Glad I did. Fascinating and makes good use of its low budget. Free on Youtube!

Eyes Without a Face - I may have had some nightmares after this.

Glorious - Surprise, you got some cosmic horror in your rest stop bathroom freakout, and JK Simmons is here!

Next on the list is probably Possession which I fully anticipate is gonna fuck me up.

Top films so far? Suspiria, Eyes Without a Face, Longlegs, I Saw the TV Glow, Bodies Bodies Bodies