#which like I’m not mad or impatient I told her I just want her to take her time to rest and recover!!!

[reesespeanutbutterfuck]

(im)perfectionist

vinny hong x jo!reader

jay jo's imperfectionist sister meets the flawful vinny hong.

part 8

part 7 | part 9

part warnings: fem!reader, jo!reader (jay is reader's 1 year older brother, but they're in the same class), second person's pov (you, you're, your), wb main story SPOILERS

—

“The fuck is wrong with you?!” Vinny kept spewing strings of curses while holding Sung by the back of his shirt’s collar. He was fuming mad. Furious.

“Ow, Ow! That hurts! I’m sorry! Let go of me already!” Sung, despite being held roughly, still had the balls to unremorsefully laugh at Vinny's pissed face, even enjoying angering him more. “It’s because you move too slow! I’m getting impatient, just talk to her already!” 

“I swear I’m gonna wring your neck–”

Sung released himself from Vinny’s hold on the back of his shirt’s collar by force, and once again saw it as an opportunity to escape and dash outside in the hallway. Now they’ve caught other students’ attention because of the commotion they’re making.

“You little shit, come back here, motherfucker!” Vinny chased his friend down the hall paying no mind to the stares they got and people they bumped into.

After a while, the two eventually got tired from all the running. Panting and sweaty, Sung slid down the wall near the classroom window. Vinny held his knees and fell beside him. When Sung turned to his friend he let out another breathy laugh.

“Not a word.” Vinny hissed to warn him to shut his up. His nose was almost fuming smoke from anger, and at the same time exhaustion. 

The reason for their little immature chasedown? Well… Vinny went out to get some fresh air for a while near the end of the class. And Sung, being Sung, suddenly decided it was a good idea to get ahold of his friend’s phone that was left unattended on his table to suggestively text you by the number he got from Minu’s phone.

“What? I did you a favor y’know. You can just deny you sent the text and she’ll believe you, obviously nobody would believe you’d text like that! You’ll have your first conversation through text.” Sung bowed his head while still catching his breath.

“You fucking–” Vinny cursed under his breath and decided to leave it. He was already tired from their little chasedown, he can’t hide Sung’s body if he murders him now. “I’m not interested in her. And I told you, she’s not one to fool around with.”

“I know that, but really? Nobody will settle with just friends after all that. I mean a girlfriend, as in a female friend is always cool, but I just wish you’d have a girlfriend. It’s enough already that I don’t have one, I’m saving you from the same fate.”

“Friends your face.” Vinny was the first to stand up and reach for his backpack, hanging it around one of his shoulders. “Who do you think you are, playing cupid? If you want to fool around you go talk to her yourself. I’m practicing with the crew tomorrow, and I’m giving back her glasses. If everyone else finds out about your little prank, I swear I will drag you all the way from wherever you are and slaughter you in front of everyone.” 

“We’ll see about that,” Once again Sung made it a laughing stock, “I'm still consistent with my prayer so you can finally get a girlfriend. Preferably a medical rookie.” he maliciously mumbled his last words and patted Vinny’s shoulder, prompting Vinny to threaten to hit him again, which Sung dodged before he picked his own bag up and exited the classroom first, his laughter echoing even outside.

—

“What’s that?”

“Calculus.”

Dom, who couldn’t find anyone to talk to, because the others were busy and won’t pay attention to him, squatted in front of you to watch you while you were sitting on the bench, doing your homework.

“Really? Studying? I thought you were here for us?” Dom pouted, you stifled a grin as you realized, Sometimes, Dom really does resemble Jordan. You were here as a bystander to their practice this afternoon.

“I can prioritize both at the same time.” You got back to solving the equation at hand. You need to finish this thing off so you can start writing your resignation letter and the two, or three remaining notes Jay lent you after you skipped school for a week because of your “flu”.

Dom kept watching you with doe eyes, amazed at how quickly you were jumping from one equation to another, his eyes can’t even catch up and follow your hand movements anymore.

You closed your notebook, startling Dom.

“All done.”

“What? That fast?!” Dom looked at you and then your notebook while you stretched your torso. “Can you teach me? Pretty please?”

“Another time. Not in the mood. Just copy mine.” You flung your homework to him, which he caught, great reflexes.

“Sweet! Thanks.” Dom took pictures of your homework. “By the way, have you completed your notes? I think I have the notes you missed during your absence, I can lend them to you as a token of thanks.”

“I'm done with them already. Thanks.” 

After being bedridden for weeks because of the stitches on your back, you were so bored so copied Jay’s notes, which he sent without you having to tell him to. You cannot help your bedriddenness, though. Not when your wound stings and travels from the wound to the back of your legs whenever you stand up even only to go to the bathroom.

“Okay, suit yourself!” 

Dom happily wiggled sitting on the floor and taking pictures of your homework placed flat at the seat of the bench. You left the bench to him and walked towards Jay, who seemed to be zoning out.

“Hey, how’s home these past few days? Is Kay eating well?” 

If there’s something you were worried about back at home, it’s him. You weren't worried much about Jay, you were more worried about Kay. Unlike you and Jay, he’s more vulnerable because he doesn’t know how to operate the stove to cook for himself. So looking out for his health is one of your concerns especially since he’s prone to starving himself to watch cat shows without interruption and forgetting to eat while doing his homework.

“Yeah. He started eating vegetables when you told him cats are attracted to vegetarians.” You laughed, he really believed that. Regardless, you were glad that you made him eat healthy. “He’s starting to overwork himself, though.”

Worry etched on your face, “Why?” 

“Mom keeps telling him she’ll throw Jack away from the house if he slacks off. You know how much he loves Jack.”

You thought hard. You can’t suggest Kay to live with you in the apartment instead. And besides, it’ll be a miracle if your mother ever agrees to that. She’ll see that as you recruiting Kay to rebel against her, too.

“Speaking of mom, is she trying to… patch things up with you?” Jay hesitantly asked. He knows what’s up. Even if he doesn’t show, he’s observant. You know he does.

You didn’t have to ask him what he meant. You knew exactly what he was referring to. You thought hard if you’d tell him the thing about the arranged marriage. The cause of your anger on the night you got stabbed and Vinny found you. You chose not to, come what may. Maybe another time.

“Yeah. Small talks.”

“Oh.” Jay chose not to ask further. He knows you’re not ready to talk about it even after all the years that have passed. He knows you’ll talk about it when you’re ready to talk about it.

Discomfort etched on your face as you remembered that feeling, but you shook your head and shrugged the thought off. You and Jay talked about some other things like snacks and light school stuff, until Mia called Jay to teach her how to bike. Jay excused himself and you got back to your seat on the bench a while ago.

“Okay, time to work on this.”

You began composing your resignation letter, as your Student Body adviser told you to pass your resignation letter within this day for the void to be effective the next day. What a pain. Instead of resting you’ll head back to the school after. You shouldn’t have come here if Vinny won’t show up to give your glasses back. 

Speaking of him though, where the hell is he?

You vividly remember this morning, while you were getting ready for school, he texted you unexpectedly while you were drying your hair with a towel.

—

“Damn it, I still have to write my resignation letter later. I guess I won’t be able to come to Hummingbird’s practice.” you mumbled to yourself. You messaged your Student Council adviser in advance and that's his reply.

Having that new knucklehead President as a replacement for Jay was impactful. Not a good impactful. A bad impactful. You were doing the important paperworks alone because he’s always missing in action, and council work became hectic. Your undereyes were darkening.

You pulled out of your drawer to use some concealer, but you were distracted when your phone beeped.

Angry tomato head: come by later at practice.

Angry tomato head: your glasses.

Well, guess the universe is telling you to come to their practice, after all. You can’t tell him to just hand it to anyone, even Jay. They’re already suspecting something between you and Vinny.

—

“There he is! Over here!” Yuna announced while waving at the redhead.

While dragging his bike, he accidentally laid eyes on you for a second but averted his eyes. He looked mad about something… as usual. He always looks like that. It’s obvious that’s his default face. He looks like a rottweiler practicing his scary face.

Minu immediately called the crew members to practice, so you didn’t get the chance to ask him for what you needed from him, and he was blocked by the others from your sight so he wouldn’t be able to pass through. You can’t interrupt their practice, looks like you’re going to have to stay for a while. Nevermind, you needed a place outside school to write the letter, anyway. You continued writing your resignation letter. 

A few corrections, crumpled paper, scribble, toss. Corrections, crumpled paper, scribble, toss, repeat. Corrections, crumpled paper, scribble, toss, repeat.

Finally, you raised the paper containing your final output, also hearing Minu’s voice in the background yelling, “good work, guys!”. You guess they finished their practice at the same time. You took that long to compose a resignation letter? You folded the paper loosely and sneakily looked for an opportunity to initiate a subtle close proximity as the others including Yuna and Mia. 

You were going to leave to pass your resignation letter, so you must approach Vinny now.

While everyone was busy yapping, you sneaked up behind Vinny—who seemed uninterested in what the crew were talking about, and stood almost beside him. Almost, because although close, not close-close. You lightly nudged Vinny, who didn’t notice you at first. He immediately got the signal and fished out from his jacket’s pocket. 

His hand was so close to discreetly handing over your glasses without a case, not until Dom creeped on the both of you from behind, peeking at the object on your hand. “Hey, why does he have your eyeglasses? Are you not telling us anything?”

Now all eyes were at you two. Even Minu, who was talking about random shit, stopped to look at you two, and Jay. You can tell from their looks that your not so secret transaction raised their suspicions even more than the first time they sensed something going on between you and Vinny.

Now you want to kill Dom.

***

© reesespeanutbutterfuck 2023, don't forget to support your creators by reblogging !!!

[marsstyles]

Love Language

Zilla Fatu + Serene Savage (OC)

Needin’ you to talk to me in you love language

Show me, yeah, how to connect to you

Help me understand how you speak your love language…

Talk to me in your love language

Show me, yeah, how to connect to you

Help me understand how to speak you love language

- Love Language by SZA

CW: Cursing, mentions of friends with benefits, 18+, a little bit of fluff

Blue Highlight: Serene’s thoughts

Author’s Note: Hi guys! I wanted to post this chapter next week, but since tonight is Zilla’s fight with Booker T, I thought it would be the perfect day to release Chapter 2. I hope ya’ll like it!💜

Chapter 2

Sometime in the afternoon….

After practicing in the ring with Fallon, Serene heads down the hallway to find a water fountain to fill up her tumbler as she finished the water towards the end of the practice. Unknown to Serene, she was being followed by someone behind her. Once she reaches to the fountain and takes off the cap of her tumbler to fill it with water, a voice stopped her from turning on the fountain. “Well, shiiit. I come here as a new member to the roster and Ion get no special welcome from you. How fucking rude, ma,” a deep, Houston accent voice sarcastically said.

Fuck, Fuck, Fuck! Of course he followed me. He always found a way to get to me by myself, in order to talk to me. Typical. Looks like some things haven’t change. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath, before opening her eyes and slowly turning to her left to see the source of the voice. And there he was, Zilla Fatu. Serene rolls her eyes and changes her voice to a fake, cheerful one, “Hiii, welcome to NXT. Hope you have an amazing time here. We’re so glad to have you!”, she sarcastically exclaimed, before dropping her smile and turning towards the fountain to start filling up her tumbler.

Zilla rolled his eyes and sucked his teeth, noting the sarcasm of that “welcome”. He knew that she was not happy to see him, especially after how they left things off a year and half ago. “Come on ma, you are still mad at me, even after a year and half. I thought we moved past this shit.”, Zilla said.

Serene scoffed as she was finishing up filling up her water. After closing up her tumbler, she turned towards him, looking more annoyed at his presence. “I would’ve loved to have moved on from what we had,” she pointed between them, “but unfortunately, seeing your face again just brought everything I’ve had tried to suppress and forget about ever since I came here.,” she said, taking a step closer to him. “When I said that I never wanted to see your bitch ass again, I really meant that shit.”, she said coldly, with a serious look on her face, staring into his eyes.

She starts walking away from him, but he grabs her wrist to stop and turn her around to face him. She yanks her wrist away from his grasp and puts her hand on her hip. “What?!”, she asked, irritated that he stopped her. She really wants to get out this space she feels trapped in with him. Zilla looks down with his hands inside his sweater pockets, swaying side to side and hesitating about what to say next, which was new for Serene to see.

“Look, I’m sorry for playin’ with your feelings like that. It’s just…,” he paused, biting his lip that shows his top grill. “It’s just, what?”, Serene asked, growing impatient as her time is getting wasted being with him. He looks down and takes a deep breath, before looking up at her, “It’s just that…I never expected to fall for you during our time together.”, he admitted.

Serene raised her eyebrows in shock, but tried to keep her expression neutral, after hearing his confession. “Bullshit. I don’t believe you.”, she scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. Interesting that he says that now. Where was this energy when I confronted him the first time? “Did you feel that way before or after you told me that you had no interest in furthering our relationship?”, she asked, pressing him.“‘Cause if I remember correctly, you said that the reason you did all of those lovey dovey gestures was to get me ‘horny’ because we were just ‘fucking’.”, she said, throwing his quotes back at him.

Zilla grimaced. “Whatchu talkin about? I didn’t say any of that shit.”, he stated defensively. Serene let out a loud “HA” after hearing him say that. Is he being fucking for real? Ain’t no way he’s trying to gaslight me again. As if I don’t remember anything he said. “Nah, I know you fucking lying, Zilla. There was a reason why I came over to your place that day and confront you about everything because you were doing shit that a boyfriend would do for his girl, which was hella confusing to me.”, she explained firmly, recalling the day she went to confront him about his feelings for her.

As Zilla stood there in silence, rubbing his chin and having his eyes wonder, Serene is unsure about what he is thinking since it’s so hard to read him. He always has this neutral expression, despite it making him look mad, when in reality he isn’t. Serene used to tell him that he has RBF (Resting Bitch Face) and he would laugh and tell her to “shut up” because he hated whenever she would point it out to him or to anyone else that would ask. Even though she had knew him prior to being friends with benefits with him, she still finds it difficult to know or understand how to read him, which frustrates her.

She rolls her eyes and lets out a sigh, “Yo, I can’t read your thoughts, uce. Can you answer the question, please? Was it before or after you told me that you had no interest in furthering the relationship?”, she asked, getting annoyed that he is being reluctant to give her answers.

His face shifted, looking more annoyed, scrunching his eyebrows. “Yo, give me a sec! I’m trying to think, uce!”, he said, rubbing his hands over his face, in frustration. Serene rubs her temples, in disbelief that he can’t answer a simple question. She takes a deep breath and puts her hands on her hips, then looks at him. She doesn’t know what to do with him, after everything. It just drains her energy out because it feels like she needs to pull his teeth in order to get something out of him.

As Zilla was about to open his mouth to answer, a female crew member came over to where they were standing, breaking the silence. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but we’re about to start the show soon. Serene you have to get ready for the show and Mr. Fatu, Mr. Michaels would like to see you to discuss about your debut tonight.”, she said. Both Serene and Zilla replied with a “okay” and a “thank you”, before the crew member walked away, leaving them alone once again.

After she left, they both looked at each other as an awkward tension was building between them. Serene looks down, biting her lip, as she feels Zilla staring at her. She almost feels scared to even look up at him because she knows how intense his brown eyes would stare at her at this moment. She hesitates, but slowly starts looking up and sees him staring at her, which was making her knees feel weak enough and her heart pounding out of her chest. God, as much as I hate seeing him again and no matter how much he has pushed my buttons, I do miss the way he used to stare at me. His eyes still get me. Every. Single. Time.

She sees Zilla walking closer to her and she wants to walk away to head back to the locker room, but she fails to move as if her feet were stuck to the floor. Once he got close to her and there was small gap between them, Zilla raised his hand and grabbed her chin to lift her head up so she could look at him.

Serene’s eyes were staring into his brown ones, feeling the intensity that was coming off from them, as she was holding in her breath. Even though he didn’t let some words come out of his mouth, she can see that he was trying to say some things with his eyes. Was it love? Was it lust? Was it regret? There were so many things that could be said from his eyes, but she couldn’t read them clearly. However, what she does know, is that will have to wait after the show.

She breaks the stare, drops his hand from her chin, and clears her throat, “Um, she’s right. I have to get ready and prepare for my match tonight. I can’t lose focus when there’s a title on the line.”, she says, unable to look at him. She had found the ability to move her feet off the floor as she starts to walk away from him, backwards while still looking at him. Zilla looks dejected for a little bit, but then switches to his cocky attitude. “Yeah. Yeah, you betta getcho ass out of here and get ready. Or else your fine ass will be leavin’ tonight with no gold.”, he said, biting his lip and smirking at her, easing down the tension that they had previously.

Serene stopped and rolled her eyes, scrunching her face and biting her tongue to prevent her from smiling after that comment. “Thanks for the advice.” she said, sarcastically. “Don’t worry though, Imma make sure that I leave tonight with some gold. It’s time for the Siren to shine like a champion that she is!”, she affirmed, confidently as she waved her hands in the air in a shape of a rainbow, envisioning her win tonight.

Zilla chuckled and grinned at her, showing the grills that she really loved and missed. “Yeah, yeah, yeah.”, he said, waving her off, “Nah, but you betta win, uce! Now, go!”, he yelled. Serene turned around to start walking, but then Zilla stopped her again to wish her luck. Now this time, she couldn’t help, but make a small smile at him. “Thanks. And good luck with your debut tonight. Welcome to NXT.”, she said, before turning around and starts walking away again.

“OH, so NOW you wanna give me a special welcome!,” he screamed at her, as she continues walking, pretending to ignore him. “Oh, so you tryna be funny now, huh?! Ight bet! You wanna be funny, I can be hilarious! Just wait til after the show!”, he yelled, as she rolls her eyes, but grins without turning around to him and continues walking down the hallway.

Author’s note: I hope ya’ll enjoyed the chapter! Good luck to Zilla on his match with Booker T and I hope he gives Booker the triple Zs lol. Chapter 3 will be coming in the next few days, I just have to proofread it and maybe edit some things. 💜

Divider design: @diviniyae

[raainberry]

Halloween Plans

« A plan is a set of intended actions, usually mutually.  »

Yunjin x gn!reader

Fluff (suggestive)

synopsis - yunjin but make it spider-man. that’s what she decided the plans were this year.

wordcount - 1.1K

T/W - suggestive towards the end

A/N - saw this edit of spider-yunjin on pinterest y’all i almost drowned in the air it was crazy. i had to share its too good like LOOK AT HER. n e ways i couldn’t just not write something with it so here, enjoy🗣️

“You’ll love me no matter what, right?”

You chuckled at your girlfriend’s words on the other end of the line. Not even a “Hello.”, “How are you?”, or her usual “Did you eat yet?”, nothing.

“What did you do?” You playfully sighed.

Her opening line gave away her guilt. It was her go-to whenever she’d done something you could dislike.

“You promise you won’t get mad?” She asked, confirming your thoughts.

“How bad is it?”

“I mean…” She trailed off, and the line stayed silent for a few seconds apart from the faint ruffling coming from her end. “Depends on the scale.”

A soft laugh escaped your lips despite the slight worry she’d been causing so far. Quite the conflicting emotions, but it was a common effect of her using that one line.

“Okay, just tell me, I have to get going in a few. Let’s get it over with.” You told her before putting her on speaker so you could get dressed to go to work.

“Okay, so you know how we agreed on a couple costume this Halloween?” She started, and you hummed, waiting for her to continue. “Well, I kind of… went my own way.”

Your pants were only buttoned halfway when you stopped to go over her confession. Last time you checked, both of you were happy with the outfits you’d chosen. The party was a couple days away and the costumes were ready in your closet as you spoke.

You wouldn’t be upset if she changed her mind about them, but something was odd in the equation.

Sure, she was prone to impulsive decisions, but seeing as you were invloved, she would have at least asked or even told you about it beforehand.

So if anything, this whole thing was making you curious.

“Is that your way of breaking up with me?” You joked, hoping to hear more.

You heard her laugh before calling you all kinds of stupid with all the affection in the world, “If you keep asking stupid questions like that I just might.”

“Threats don’t work on me, you know that. Now tell me everything or I’ll actually break up with you.”

She gasped, and you knew just the face that went with it. The fakest and most exaggerated offense all over her features; a sight that could never fail to make you laugh, even now although you weren’t there to see it.

“You know what, thank you because now I don’t have any remorse. I’m glad I did this, it’s the perfect revenge outfit.” She said, smirking to herself at the sight of her own reflection.

The mirror she faced gave her an idea of just how much you’d like that last minute change.

“Yunjin, what are you talking about?” You whined, growing impatient.

You joined your phone on the bed, the shirt you still had to put on only a distant thought now. All you cared about was finding out what your girlfriend had up her sleeve.

“Is it a good thing or not, I’m confused.” You whined some more, and the sound of her laugh was only frustrating now.

“I don’t know, you tell me.”

Her thumb hit send on the text and its attachment with no hesitation.

She’d taken the selfie minutes prior, right before deciding to call you. She initially wanted to send it to you with no context, but it wouldn’t have been as satisfying nor as fun if she didn’t witness your reaction in some way.

The phone buzzed in your hand, making you raise an eyebrow at the notification, but you did open it immediately. Muscle memory or circumstances, you couldn’t care less about the cause behind the action.

Especially when your eyes landed on its consequences.

The line fell silent for a good while, during which Yunjin had to hold herself back from a lot of things.

She’d seen herself in that Spider-Man suit, she knew you’d need a moment.

“Oh my gosh, wait don’t tell me you actually fainted!” She yelled after a while, startling you back to reality.

Your mind had drifted into various thoughts, some more wholesome and pure than others, but all held the same amount of love for their subject.

How dare she make a joke out of this, but gosh… how you loved that woman for it.

“Yunjin…”

“You’re alive!”

“Barely.”

That laugh of hers ran through the line once again, and you couldn’t help but laugh with her this time.

“So, are you mad? I found it while shopping with the girls earlier and it was too good, I’m sorry.”

“You know, I’m nothing if not forgiving.” You said, relieving her from a weight. “But you better have bought two of these because I’m just as vindictive.”

“They only had the original red and blue one in your size.”

“Good enough. It’d be weird being seen kissing your twin anyway.” You joked, making her groan.

“Ew, never say that again.” She laughed. “I’ll return it, I’m so serious.”

“As long as you keep yours.” You shrugged with a smile, looking back at the selfie she’d sent you.

“Didn’t you have to get going?” She changed the subject, only giving away the fact that you’d managed to make her blush.

“I can be late. Do you still have it on?” You asked, doing your best to sound innocent.

“I do actually. Why? Do you want to see the live action?”

You giggled, “You know me, I love Spider-Man movies.”

You really did. It was even part of why she didn’t think twice before buying that costume. However, as much as you loved the blockbusters, you had a feeling her performance would quickly snatch that number 1 spot from any of the emblematic character’s actors.

“You’ll see it this weekend. Now go, stop being late to everything.” She scolded.

“Fine.” You sighed in defeat. “You look so pretty by the way, I love you.”

“Thank you, I love you too.” She smiled, feeling all giddy. She loved it when you called her pretty, it made her feel shy; the good kind of shy. The one where you couldn’t help but play with your hair and blush like a teenager.

She blew you a kiss from her end of the line, and the sound made you feel that exact same way.

“Talk to you later!”

You hummed in agreement before hanging up and looking at the time.

The sight made you jump to your feet. If you lingered any longer you’d actually be late. So you hurried, putting on the rest of your outfit, your shoes, and finally out the door.

You made sure to be fast and efficient with your tasks, making things and time go by quicker. Maybe you’d get a raise that way, but it wasn’t the main goal. Just a bonus.

For the next two days, you hurried everything out of your way in hopes that the party would get there quicker.

It was going to be a fun one.

[thenotsoholyspirit]

The devil's in the details

(Matt Murdock x reader)

(💕First of all, I'm sorry I have not had the time yet to publish the 4 chapter for my other fic, my first semester at Uni is surely taking a load, but I still wanted to give an old idea a chance and try to see where I could go with it. It's mostly an introductory chapter hope you like it !) 💕

Summary. Trying to makes end meet as a young woman has never been easy, even less living in the turbulent city that is New York. When (y/n) will have to make an impossible choice, she'll have to decide between the ones she cares the most. It's never safe to fall in love, especially with that mysterious lawyer at the bar she's been working at and the secret she guards underneath.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“Another round for the tables two and one, and please don’t forget the missing beers for the group at table five”

It definitely was a busy night at Josie’s.

I had barely entered the bar when multiple orders were already piling up in the kitchen. Friday shifts were always the best to work they told me, and being new around here, I was kind of guilty to be glad Katy asked for a longer maternity leave.

“(Y/n)!”

I turn around, Josie looking at me impatiently. 

“I didn't hire you to stand there and look pretty princess” She sighs but gives me a small smile, she could never stay mad at us for too long, “Now, please bring these three beers to the pool table”

I nod excusing myself as I go grab the drinks.

The atmosphere tonight was intoxicating. The talking, the music, even the bursts of laughter and the smell of alcohol that surrounded me were enough to get dizzy on my own. It was almost too overwhelming.

I take a deep breath, as I twitch my lips, trying my best not to bite them as I had promise myself to stop that bad habit.

Normally I had a better handle on my anxiety, but I’m not used to work during the busiest hours. Yet, I need money, and Friday nights are generous on tips. I couldn't let such an opportunity pass, and when Josie asked for our availabilities I was the first to raise her hand.

It’s for her.. all of this is for her

I’m so involved in my own thoughts I don’t notice the man passing in front of me. I suddenly lose my equilibrium, the plate of beers now jumping in the air, as I stumble falling on the floor. I barely have the time to register what’s happening when I feel a quick hand behind my back that stabilizes me again. 

“Well… there go our beers”

I hear a voice from the back, a blond guy with slightly longer hair and another blond woman staring at me.

I look down at the floor, now with a puddle of beer and pieces of glass laying there. 

Josie is going to kill me

“Are you ok ?”

I look up now to the man in front me. He had dark glasses and his short yet slightly ruffled hair only gave him a more attractive look. I notice the big stain of beer on his chest, which admittingly looked quite well built under the white shirt he was wearing. 

C'mon you ain't here to flirt with clients

“Yes I'm sorry your shirt it’s”

I notice now the white stick on his left hand and the realization of his blindness hits me. I feel even worse now. “O.. o shit I’m sorry.. I’m awful I.” 

“Don’t worry” he gives me a small smile “It was due to clean anyways. Although.. I heard some glass breaking.. Are you hurt in any way ?”

I shake my head until I realize he can’t exactly see it. 

“No I’m ok just..” I sigh, why was I about to tell my problems to a stranger, “I haven’t quite been the best waitress tonight”

He smiles again, this time with a little bit of curiosity in his look. 

God if smiles could kill

“Too much of an ambiance ?”

”Is it that obvious that this is my first busy shift ?”

He slightly laughs, until I see Josie appearing with a loud sigh.

“(y/n) could you try not to kill one of our regulars ?”

“Hey Josie the beers are on us all right add it to the Murdock Nelson tab, this stuff always happens”

Josie smiles at the man, it seemed that they’ve been acquaintances for quite some time. She easily accepts as she also gives a nod to the other blond guy.

“I’ll bring the mop”, I shyly tell her as I leave the scene. When I arrive at the kitchen, I hear Josie chuckling at me.

“So Matt caught your attention ?”

I do my best not to turn completely red. 

“You know I ain't got time for that Josie” 

I sigh. It was true. Too many bills to pay, too many things to do. Where would the time for a boyfriend ever be? Josie’s face becomes then more serious, she also knew all too well about my situation  

“How's your mother been ?”

I try to smile, it was never easy to talk about that subject.

“Doctors say she may get a leave from the hospital next week, but you know, i'd rather not be too optimistic on that subject…. I still remember last time”

I take the mop as I sigh. I knew Josie wouldn't have hired me if she didn't know my situation. I was already working at some convenience store during the day, but I was still short of money for the rest of my bills. This without counting the community college classes I was taking half time. 

And still not enough money.. it's never enough money

She gives me a warm smile, patting my back as if she wanted to say more but had no words. 

“You’re a good girl (y/n), you’ll get through this” 

I just nod. There was no time for feelings. 

Before leaving the kitchen, I give a last look to the group where Matt and his two friends were happily chatting . 

I shake my head, not wanting to be too distracted. 

There was no time for stuff like this, I can only move forwards. 

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

At some corner of the bar, a man was sitting, stirring his cocktail as he gives an attentive look to the place. Nobody notices him when he goes out for a smoke as he makes a call on his phone. 

“We found her boss… she’s still here… at some bar in Hell's kitchen” 

“Perfect’" the voice on the other side of the line was professional, yet so cold and grave, “Tell Weasley to bring the guys... It's gonna be a long night”  

[home-for-wayward-fawns]

𝒬𝓊𝒾𝓉𝑒 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝑅𝒾𝒹𝑒

A comission I wrote for @selenezq in which her female OC has been avoiding him after an argument, and he's decided enough is enough!

It had been two weeks and he was growing impatient. 

Emma had always been challenging, but she was rather getting on his last nerve. He never thought he would see the day where The Radio Demon would be standing in an elevator, strumming his fingers impatiently on his cane, while he waited for their fair princess to call upon it. One little fight and she turned tail, as much of a coward as her father. He let out a frustrated breath through his nose as he heard the elevator ding and the door opened. She stared at him, and he did the same to her, raising an eyebrow as she slowly walked in to one side. 

He reminded himself that he was not angry at her as her heels bit into the metal grate of the floor. He was not angry with her at all in fact; he just wanted to talk. The elevator closed, slowly beginning to rise before it came to a sudden stop. He stood perfectly still, hearing her panicked breaths from behind him, and he snapped his neck to the side. She was a very pretty, but very stupid girl. He did not care for her title; he was not one to be ignored. 

“Al! Turn it back on right now!” She whined, stomping her foot and he couldn’t help laughing as he turned around to face her. 

“I know you’re quite used to getting what you want as soon as you demand it, mon joli diamant.” He sneered at her, stepped forward as he stared her down. “However, I am not in the business of giving into bratty demands. You have been avoiding me, and I’ll do whatever I see fit to put you back in your place.” 

She looked up at him with those beautiful ruby-red eyes—the reason he called her beau rubis—and crossed her arms. He could see the argument on the tip of her tongue, a silly meaningless response just to see how far she could push him. He loomed over her, gripping her jaw tightly, and he watched as she went very still. 

“Alastor.” She said curtly—she was still cross with him, how cute. 

“You’re very cute when you’re mad.” He told her, grinning widely before he walked forward, cornering her into the back of the elevator. “How about we make a little deal, hm?” 

“I don’t make deals with people I don’t trust.” 

“I’m wounded, pet, but I think this is a deal you can’t refuse.” He chuckled. Tentacles rose from the ground beneath them, wrapping around her ankles and spreading her legs for him as she gasped. He trailed the end of his cane up her thigh, pressing it against the thin fabric that barely covered her tight cunt. “You are going to be my good little pet; you’re going to be my pretty silent little doll and listen for once in your life. When I’m donem you can either get on your knees and beg me to forgive you, or I’ll let you go. You walk out of here, princess, then we’re done. Nod if you understand.” 

She nodded her head and he slapped the side of her face playfully, causing her to pout. He stood up, playfully tapping his cane up once against her clit, causing her to let out a whimper before he pulled it away, spinning it in his hand. He leaned it against the elevator door before he untied his bowtie, and began to unbutton his shirt. Her eyes watched him hungrily, because no matter how she protested, she was a girl of simple needs and desires. Her eyes widened when she saw his ugly scar that was spread across his chest. The blast from Adam had hit him hard, he was lucky to be alive. He had thought he would get the attention deserving of a hero’s sacrifice from his favorite princess, but rather she had been avoiding him, displeased after his refusal to visit her father for medical assistance. 

“Alastor.” She gasped in shock at the sight of his chest. 

“That isn’t being silent, now is it, mon chéri?” He teased but felt like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. He wasn’t supposed to waste time worrying about what his silly little princess thought of him; she was supposed to always be by his side. 

He walked forward, pressing his entire body against hers into the back of the elevator. She pressed a hand against his chest, feeling the healed tissue. It had been more painful seeking out her father’s insistence for such a matter, but he had done so with the expectation that his pretty princess would be there to pet his wounded ego. He had not expected for her to still be having her one of her infamous tantrums. 

“I have missed you dearly, mon diamant chéri.” He sighed, pressing his forehead against hers. He flicked his wrist and the elevator began to move again. “You're welcome to leave at any time my darling, but I don't think that's what you want.” 

The tentacles loosened around her feet and he watched her slowly fall to her knees. She looked up at him, big ruby red eyes, and he raised an eyebrow expectantly. She reached for his belt, deftly unbuckling it as she had done hundreds of times before. “Please forgive me, Master, let me make it up to you.” 

He ran his hand through her pretty blonde hair, tugging roughly as he yanked her head back. “Oh, you’ll make it up to me. You’re going to stay very still, aren’t you?” He purred and she nodded her head. She knew how the game worked, opening her mouth wide for him like the good doll she was, and lolled her tongue out. 

“Such a good girl,” He praised as he pressed the head of his cock on the flat of her tongue. He gripped her hair tightly, pushing her head down while she looked up at him with those brilliant bright eyes. “Take it all, my pet.” 

He pressed his free arm against the back wall as he pushed himself deeper into her tight, wet heat. He held her at the base, even as she gagged, and groaned before slowly pulling all the way back. He looked down at her, his beautiful princess with tears in her eyes, before thrusting forward again. She always took him so well, and he could hardly contain himself as he thrust in. She was so fucking good. She lifted her hands, pushing fingers in both sides of her mouth and pulling them apart, stretching her mouth as wide as she could. She wanted more, needed more, his perfect little bitch. 

“Perfection, you’re my perfect toy; aren’t you, my sweet?” He growled, pushing her head down on his cock. She was beautiful, and perfect, and he’d fucking kill anyone who dared try to take her away from him. He watched as drool pooled out of the corner of her lips. The tentacles he’d summoned earlier to hold her down, positioned themselves under her skirt. 

She gasped in shock while he grinned down at her. One tentacle wrapped itself around the fabric of her panties, pulling it down so the other could push into her wet cunt. She moaned around his cock, the vibrations doing wicked things to him as he thrusted into her. He groaned, his tight grip on her hair becoming gentle as he stroked her head. “That’s a good pet; you didn’t mean to be bad, did you? You’re just my silly little slut; you just needed to be reminded who owns you.” 

She whined around his cock, bobbing her head up and down, pushing him as far back as she could because she was just that fucking sexy. He released her hair to grab her throat, digging his claws into her flawless skin. She tried to moan, to say something, but it was unintelligible around his cock. 

“I reckon we’ve got about, hm, ten minutes before we reach your father’s floor. You’re going to ride my cock like the little slut you are, and you better hope I’m done with you by time those doors open.” He growled, stepping away from her. 

He took a moment to just look at her, Hell’s darling princess. Her face flushed as she panted, drool dribbling onto the floor while tears pooled at the corner of her eyes. He grabbed her hair, pulling her forward before shoving her against the elevator doors. She let out a gasp as she was dragged off of the tentacles and he yanked her skirt above her hips. He tugged at the thin strip of fabric that rode up her fat ass, hiking it up tightly making her whine. He tore the fabric off her, throwing it over his shoulder. 

“You have no idea how much I fucking missed this; do you have any idea how many sinners suffered because you wanted to be a brat?” He questioned her, slapping a hand across her backside. 

She moaned, arching her back for him, and he pushed his cock against her sopping wet entrance. She whined as he stretched her around the girth of his cock, widening her legs to try to better accustom herself to him. He grabbed the back of her head, pushing it against the elevator door as he thrust into her. 

“Your sister works so hard to redeem them and because of you they suffered my wrath. Do you care?” He growled, and she moaned, rocking her hips back into his. “No, no you don’t, because you’re nothing but a greedy little slut. You couldn’t care less as long as I keep your holes stuffed.” 

“Alastor, please!” She begged, his name on her tongue a melody in his ears. He yanked her hair back, and shoved two of his fingers in her mouth. Every moan, every whimper, sent an electric shock down his spine. 

Two weeks of nothing but silence from his favorite girl had been torture, and he’d remind her exactly why she didn’t want to do that again. He thrust deep inside her, angrily pounding into her cervix while she screamed in pleasure. 

“You like that? You like being stuffed full of cock, full of me?” He growled, and she nodded, her cheek pressed against the cold metal of the elevator. “I’m going to fucking stick a collar on you, drag you around on a leash until you realise who you belong to.” 

She moaned loudly at his words, because she was his perfect slut. He released her hair and pulled his fingers out of her mouth, digging his fingers into her hips as he picked her up off the ground. She let out a shout of shock as he held her in the air, taking a step back. He wrapped his arms around the back of her knees, pressing her legs against her chest with those sexy heels dangling off her feet in the air. He pushed her down on his cock, using her body freely while she screamed for him. 

“Alastor! Fuck, Alastor! Fuck me; fuck me; fuck me!” She squealed, her perfect pussy tightening around him. 

“You know what I want to hear, joli diamant; you going to give me what I want before those doors open?” He whispered in her ear, before he bit down on her neck. 

“Fuck, Daddy! Daddy, cum inside me; I want it; I need it; I’m your little princess.”

He groaned as he pistoned inside of her, releasing thick ropes of cum deep inside of her while she squealed. Her entire body shook around him, clamping down on his cock, and he slowly dropped her legs, wrapping an arm around her waist to hold her in place. Her head lolled to the side, resting on his chest as he saw the lights above the elevator turn green. The doors slowly began to open and he snapped his fingers, teleporting them back to his room where they fell on his bed. 

She giggled as she sat up, still rocking her hips on his cock. He hissed in pain but thrust up anyway. He was as much hers as she was his. 

“Alastor, you left your microphone!” She giggled, throwing her head back and he smirked. 

“I left your pretty underwear too.” He chuckled, watching as her eyes went wide. 

He sensed he’d be having another little chat with Lucifer soon.

[casp1an-sea]

Star Wars But Better Part 1

here’s the link to the master post so you can get part one: Master post

releasing part one because I’m bored as hell

this is a story I wrote a while back, I think it was sophomore year? Basically I replaced Luke Skywalker with @xen-blank. If you don’t know them and you’re a Star Wars fan, I think it’s still pretty funny.

not all of this is my words because I did take things directly from the script of the movie. If something is in quotations it’s a direct quote that I wanted you to know it was a direct quote.

—————————————————————————

A Long Time Ago In a Galaxy Far Far Away…

Civil war… Rebel spaceships…  striking from a hidden base… won their first  Victory… evil Galactic Empire… yada yada yada who cares

C3PO: (To R2) Did you hear that? They’ve shut down the main reactor. We’ll be destroyed for sure this is madness!

(Vader kills a bunch of guys and R2 gets some message. What's it for? I don’t know! He's very cryptic about it. Anyway he somehow knocks 3PO into an escape pod and the Kriffing Imperial Idiots scene no life in the pod so they don’t shoot it down. They land on a planet of sand… I hate sand… anyway who cares if they get captured by jawas or something. Either way they're not important so I’m not writing it!)

----Meanwhile on the Lars Ranch-—

Luc: (To droid) come on already! (Impatiently waits) Uhg you walk too slow! (Just picks the dang thing up and chuks it in the back of their speeder then drives off)

(Luc arrives at Anchorhead a woman angrily waves her fists at them as they drive by)

Old Woman: I told you kids to slow down around here!

(Luc ignores her and stops in front of the power station which is the only slightly interesting place on tatooine. It’s still hot as hell though so does it really matter? They walk into the station and see a rugged mechanic and Camie “a sexy” disheveled girl who is making out with the mechanic when Luc walks in.)

Luc: Ew

Waxer: Shut your porthole wormie

Luc: (Gives them an L) Losers

Camie: You're such a child!

Biggs: Well it seems like no ones changed!

(Luc turns to see their childhood Bestie Biggs Darklighter, “a burly handsome boy”)

Luc: Oh my gosh Bestie?! I didn’t know you were back!

Biggs: Yeah I’m surprised too. Nice to see you again wormie. I thought you’d be here. I certainly didn’t think you’d be out working. (laughs)

Luc: What’s that supposed to mean?

Biggs: (Laughs and ruffles their hair) It really is good to see you hot shot!

Luc: The academy hasn’t changed you much, but you’re back so soon. What happened? 

Biggs: Nothing bad, I got my commission. First mate biggs darklighter at your service (he salutes)

Luc: Man I’d love to see you with combed hair for once

Biggs: (Laughs) Well I came back because I wanted to say goodbye to all you land locked simpletons. (Pats them on the shoulder)

Luc: D-did you just touch me! That’s a hate crime! (Pretends to be appalled)

(Camie rolls her eyes)

Luc: Oh I almost forgot. (Speaks non shelauntly) There's a space battle going on. (Points to a spot in the sky where they had seen explosion through their micro binoculars earlier)

Waxer: Stop with that dumb bathat poodoo, I’m not falling for that again!

(Camie stares at the sky)

Camie: Yeah nice eyes wormie there's nothing up there.

Biggs: (Looks through macrobinoculars) Yeah sorry Luc they’re just sitting there. Probably refiling or something.

Luc: (Crosses arms) Well they were fighting earlier

Waxer: Yeah I don’t buy it!

Luc: Well that’s a you problem.

(Waxer shrugs and rolls his eyes, then drags Camie back into the station to play pool with Deak and Windy)

(Meanwhile Leia is insulting Vader and getting arrested)

(Luc and Biggs are walking outside drinking a “Malt Brew” (don’t ask me what that is) the others can be heard inside)

Luc: (Very animated) So then- get this because it was so cute! So next I went up to- Well, in the game in the game I was carrying all of these books, right? And they were super heavy, so- Ahh, it was so cute, so I picked the “intimacy up” choice- (this was written by Luc themself)

Biggs: You better take it easy Luc. You might be a good pilot but if you get too cocky you might end up as a decoration on the canyon wall.

Luc: Look who’s talking, you're the one who’s piloting big fancy starships!

Biggs: I’ve missed you kid!

Luc: Good! >:)

Biggs: Uh i didn’t come back to just say goodbye…

Luc: Don’t tell me you want to break up!

Biggs: What? Oh! (Laughs) Don’t mess with me like that!

Luc: Why’d you even hesitate? Oh whatever, what do you want to say?

Biggs: I made some friends at the academy

Luc: And you’re replacing me or some dumb druk

Biggs: This is serious (whispers) me and my buddies are gonna hop a ship and join the Alliance-

Luc: The rebellion? You’re gonna commit high treason! (Excitedly smiles)

Biggs: Hey don’t get so excited

Luc: Sorry breaking the law just sounds so much more fun than being stuck here!

Biggs: Then you should come with me

Luc: Bestie, you know my uncle. There’s no way he’s gonna let me have a life off this rock let alone join a kriffing war.

Biggs: What good is your uncle’s work if it’s taken over the empire? You know they are starting to nationalize commerce in the central systems. 

Luc: Wish I could tell him that

Biggs: It won’t be long before your Aunt and Uncle and maybe even you are merely tenants for the greater glory of the empire.

Luc: Nah because I’ll just take over the Empire before they can do that!

Biggs: You’d probably be a better leader then old Palpy.

Luc: Exactly!- Are you going to be around long?

Biggs: No, I'm heading out in the morning…

Luc: Then I guess I won’t see you.

Biggs: You never know. Keep a look out alright?

Luc: Yeah. I’m supposed to go to the Academy next rotation, after that I don’t know. I’m not gonna be some dumb pilot for pricy admirals to gauk over, thats for sure.

Biggs: Yeah (choked laugh) So long Luc (Messes with their hair)

(Biggs turns away and heads towards the power station)

------

[lil-melody-moon]

Hello darling! Finally Friday, huh? I bet you’ve been waiting for this day to come 🤭 Well, I’m bringing you two new fragments today, very creepy ones I must say 🤣

But first, I want to make the release day official. You’re going to get the first chapter of the fanfic in two weeks, starting on the 1st of November. I know you’re impatient, but I still need to finish the fic, correct the grammar, and also figure out how to publish it on AO3 🤣 That last part shouldn’t take long because I’ve got half of it sorted already.

Anyway, the chapters will be published daily, which means it’ll start on the 1st of November and end on the 5th of November. Is that alright with you? If not, please let me know when you’d prefer them, but it has to be in November.

Now, enjoy the first fragment of chapter three❤️

————————————————————————————

You needed to get out of the house, and fast. The encounter with Ernie at the pub had been playing on your mind ever since, and no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t shake the thought of him. He lingered there, like a song you couldn’t quite get out of your head. And then there was the other thing. You still weren’t comfortable at home. Every time you were alone, it felt like someone else was there, watching. It wasn’t rational, you knew that. But it was a feeling you couldn’t ignore.

You glanced at the clock on the wall. It was a bit late for your usual evening walk, the sun was already beginning to set, casting a soft golden glow over everything. But you needed the fresh air, needed to clear your head. Sitting inside much longer and you were sure you’d go mad.

It had been two days since you last spoke to Frank, and the worry was beginning to gnaw at you. It was a strange kind of worry, tangled up with so many other things. You were worried for him, yes. But there was also that creeping fear that he might come back. The very idea of Frank returning was enough to make your stomach twist, to make your eyes sting with the threat of tears. The guilt that came with that fear was like a shadow, always lurking.

Pulling on your coat, you stepped out into the cool evening air. You told yourself you’d walk just a little while, enough to clear the bad thoughts from your mind. The streets were quiet, mostly empty, save for the odd car passing by or a couple of people making their way home. You tried to focus on your surroundings, the familiar rows of terraced houses, the soft hum of distant traffic, but your thoughts kept drifting back. To Frank. To Ernie. To the uneasy feeling that had settled in your chest.

It wasn’t until you were on your way back home, the sky now fading from gold to deep blue, that you noticed something. A feeling, more than anything. Someone was behind you. At first, you brushed it off, telling yourself you were being paranoid. But the feeling wouldn’t go away. You picked up your pace, your heartbeat quickening, and turned your head slightly to glance over your shoulder. Sure enough, there he was. A man, walking right behind you. His face was obscured, and that made your stomach lurch.

You walked faster, hoping he’d lose interest, but no such luck. You could hear his footsteps quickening to match yours, and then, just as you were about to break into a full sprint, he spoke.

“Hey! you alright, love? Fancy a chat?”

His voice made your skin crawl. There was something off about it. It wasn’t just that he was too close, it was the way he spoke to you, as though he had a right to your time, your attention. You tried to ignore him, walking faster still, but he kept pace with you, getting closer.

“Come on, don’t be like that,” he persisted, his hand reaching out, brushing against your arm. “I just wanna talk. What’s your name, eh?”

You flinched at his touch, feeling a surge of panic. You didn’t like this. Not one bit. His hand lingered on your arm, and before you could react, his grip tightened. But then, out of nowhere, came a voice you recognised all too well.

“Oi! Leave her alone, you bloody fucker.”

Ernie.

He was there, storming towards you with a look on his face that could’ve melted iron. Before you could even process what was happening, Ernie had grabbed the bloke by the collar of his shirt, almost lifting him off the ground. The other man’s eyes went wide, his cocky demeanour crumbling instantly.

“I’m sorry, mate, I’m sorry,” the man stammered, hands up in surrender. “I just wanted to talk to her, that’s all.”

Ernie’s grip on his collar tightened, and he leaned in close, his voice a low growl. “She’s my girl, yeah? You don’t talk to her. Now piss off before I make you.”

The words hung in the air, and for a moment, all you could do was stand there, stunned. His girl? The possessiveness in Ernie’s voice sent a strange warmth rushing to your cheeks. You could feel yourself blushing, even though you weren’t sure how you felt about the whole thing. Still, hearing him say it made your heart race in a way you hadn’t expected.

The man in Ernie’s grip was practically shaking now, his eyes darting to where Ernie’s hand had slipped into his coat pocket, as if reaching for something. The bloke must’ve thought he was going for a gun, because in the next second, he was scrambling backwards, muttering apologies as he bolted down the street.

“Bloody coward,” Ernie muttered, watching the man’s retreating form with a smirk. Then he turned to you, his expression softening. “Are you alright? Did he hurt you?”

You shook your head, still trying to catch your breath. “No, I’m fine. Just… just shaken, I guess.”

Ernie took a step closer, his eyes scanning your face, checking for any signs of distress. “Good. If he’d laid a hand on you, I swear…”

“I’m fine,” you repeated, though your voice was a little shaky. There were so many questions spinning around in your head now, and one of them was particularly loud. “Ernie, what are you doing here? You don’t even live around this area.”

His grin widened slightly, and he shrugged. “What, I’m not allowed to take a walk?” But then, more seriously, he added, “I had a feeling. Thought I’d come check on you.”

The way he said it, so casual, yet with something deeper underneath, left you speechless. There was something about Ernie that unsettled you, but in moments like this, when he was standing there, having just chased off a bloke who was making your skin crawl, you couldn’t deny the sense of safety he seemed to bring.

Hello, yes I was waiting and I thought I'll die in the process - Gosh, this is a torture! 😂

I'm very happy about the release dates and the AO3 instruction I've promised you will make its way to you, I swear! 😂

Now to the comments!

Sitting at home alone can drive one nuts and I love how you portrayed it there - with addition of one pervert occupying my mind. There's also a slight confusion on what I'm feeling inside, which is honest to God, very good. I'm torn inside and I'm starting to fear, literally fear Frank's coming back home. Everything that once was would come back and the guilty feeling would eat me inside. You've actually showed it very well in one paragraph 💜

That fragment of a random guy following me, it so reminds me of the creep I've met a few years ago. The same behaviour and truly, there's no way I would speak at that moment, my mind rushing to a way to escape this situation, but it's night already so that would be even more problematic. But then here comes someone who saves me!

The impact of Ernie's behaviour is huge, I'm actually left speechless - wonder if Frank ever did something like this. The possessiveness though

This was me inside at this moment when I read it, I'm not joking 😂

Love the last fragment when we have a conversation. Ernie seems to genuinely worry about me and I can see a bit of a difference in his character. I don't know if you've mentioned it in send fragments or you just told me, but there is that different atmosphere to him when we're alone, in such rare moments. Lovely 💜

And yeah, just on a walk, walk to my home to peep on me!

[cozfics]

Impatience (Aqua x Reader)

Request:would u write an aquaxreader based right after kh 3 please ? (not platonic tho)

Word count: 1.2k

Tw:blood for like 5 seconds?

notes:Sorry for the wait, I had a long week at work this week, and I'll be honest. I haven’t written at all in like 6 years now. I’m really excited to get back to writing though!

You took in a shaky breath as you lowered my keyblade. Was it truly over? Was Xehanort really beaten? Does that mean that you finally get to rest? Finally, after 10 years? Your body ached in ways you hadn't even realized was possible. The battle had been the toughest thing you had ever done. You took a quick glance towards your friends. They all looked as beaten down and tired as you felt. Each and every one of them had fought their hardest. And they all had your respect for that. Especially Roxas, Riku, and Sora. Kairi too. They all had either little or no training, and they fought with ferocity. Like they were desperate to prove themselves. I turned to my other side, glancing at my old friends. Aqua, Terra, and Ven. They had all fought hard too. Aqua and Ven had been on a warpath to reunite our little friend group. You don’t think you had seen your friends that mad since… well ever. Definitely not any time before you had decided to stay in the room with Ven for the last 10 years. It felt absolutely wild to you that 10 years had passed since then.

Wow, maybe the adrenaline was talking but your thoughts were definitely going a mile a minute. And that became painfully obvious when the group broke off, milling about to check over themselves and their friends for any lasting injuries that hadn’t been healed or noticed before. Ventus and Terra were deep in conversation while Aqua started her way over to you. Now this brings on a silly little problem, which honestly after everything you went through kinda feels stupid. You had a big crush on the keyblade master. You had been hopelessly crushing on her since you were teens under Eraqus’s tutelage. You’d been meaning to confess and just get it over with, but it just never felt like the right time. She had either been busy with keyblade training, or she had just… not been alone. And by the light, if you were going to get rejected you definitely did NOT want an audience to your humiliation. 

The thing about a near-death experience is that it really puts things into perspective, and makes you realize you may not have time to wait until that elusive perfect moment. Maybe you should just suck it up and confess to her now? You made eye contact with Aqua and immediately felt any blood that had stubbornly stayed in your body during the war immediately rush towards your face. The other thing about a near-death experience is it makes you think crazy and stupid things that you should absolutely NOT do because it could destroy your friendships you quickly decided. 

Aqua made it to you within seconds. “(Y/n)..” she muttered, gently putting her hands on your face. Oh god. You could die right here and you’d be happy. “When’d you get this?” Aqua asked. You were suddenly aware of a painful sting on your forehead. Oh. You must have taken a hit in battle and not even realized it. You didn’t even get a chance to answer her before she was casting curaga. 

“Thanks. I appreciate it.” You told her. Okay come on (Y/N), you can do this. “Actually Aqua. I uh... Wanted to ask you something.” There, if you throw yourself in the deep end you have no choice but to confess. No chickening out. At least that’s what you want to believe.

“Oh, what would you like to ask?” Aqua asked, pulling her hands back. Her head cocked slightly to the side, making her hair cover her matching eyes slightly. Her gaze held such a softness in it, a stark contrast to the way her eyes had been just an hour ago, narrowed in the desperate analyzing way that battle called for. I was almost tempted to brush the hair out of her face, she’d probably let me. We had been friends for so long.

Friends. Focus. That’s what you were doing! “Aqua, I uh. I’ve been meaning to ask you something for a while now.” You started. You could feel butterflies in your stomach, twisting and turning. Why was this the most nerve-wracking thing you had done today? “Aqua I-”

Another thing about near-death experiences. They tend to bring into perspective how short life is. In other words, they tend to make you impatient. Maybe that’s why you didn’t get to finish that sentence before you were cut off.   “(Y/n), would you like to go out sometime?” Aqua suddenly blurted out. Even she seemed surprised by it. You must have looked incredibly disappointed at losing your chance to ask because she quickly backpedaled. “I’m sorry I just wanted to ask since I came back from the Realm of Darkness and it’s okay if you don’t want to.” she began to ramble “No, no it’s not that it’s just, I got so caught up in preparing to confess, and I was just about to, but then you beat me there!” you threw back your head in a laugh. Aqua’s shoulders quaked as she joined you, laughing yourself to tears. Seems like you weren’t the only one who had been waiting for the perfect moment.

“So I take that as a yes?” Aqua asked as her laughs stilled. She looked at you with such a softness, you immediately felt warm. You put your hands on her cheeks and paused, hesitating. 

“I uh… was about to answer with a kiss but, also I realize that might be moving too fast” you admitted, letting out a nervous chuckle.

You didn’t get a verbal answer to your question, as Aqua instead decided to move her head closer. She closed the gap and locked your lips, pulling you as close as she could. Time felt like it had stopped. The two of you were only aware of each other in the moment. 

You stood next to Aqua on the beach, laying your head on her shoulder. You grinned as you watched Terra, Roxas, and Riku charge past you. “I put 10 munny on Terra winning.” You said, grinning widely as you glanced at Aqua. Your girlfriend, (God that word sounded amazing. Like it was the perfect word to describe her. It just felt right) shook her head and grinned a little, though she was quick to correct her features.

“You know I don’t gamble,” Aqua said, lightly pushing your head off her shoulder. You stumbled for a minute at the loss of support. 

“It’s not like it's a casino,” you mumbled, following her as she walked towards the boys, now at the finish line of their race. Sure enough, Terra had won. From the corner of your eyes, you could also see Ven pull away from playing frisbee with Lea and Isa. Yeah, near-death experiences can make you have stupid and reckless ideas, but maybe, sometimes you get so caught up in your head, so caught up in what might go wrong. That you forget to stop and think about how an idea might go right. Honestly, you wish you had confessed sooner. You stood next to Aqua, slipping your hand into hers. You looked to the side and watched the sunset, feeling completely at peace.

[envihellbender]

Elias doing Michael’s statement of killing Father Thomas for him

Characters: Elias Bouchard, Michael Shelley (The Magnus Archives)

Content: murder, gore, body horror, testicular trauma, forced cannibalism, sexual abuse

[CLICK]

ELIAS (THE EYE)

[CLEARS THROAT] Statement of Michael Shelley, regarding the killing of Father Oliver Thomas. It occurred in Saint Augustine’s Church in Whitechapel, in the East End of London. Statement given on the 14th of March 2010. Audio recording by Elias Bouchard, the Head of the Magnus Institute. Statement begins. [A PAUSE, A CLIPPED SHAKY BREATH APPEARS IN THE BACKGROUND.] Michael. Do you wish to start?

MICHAEL SHELLEY

[HE STAMMERS, IT IS MORE THAN CLEAR HE WOULD RATHER BE DOING ANYTHING ELSE.] I… I erm. Right. Is this… this statement it- it will stay between us, won’t it? I mean…

ELIAS (THE EYE)

[HE SOUNDS IMPATIENT BUT NOT LACKING COMPASSION.] I assume whoever manages the tapes will hear it. [HE SIGHS.] But if your real question is ‘will Gertrude Robinson hear it?’ I can arrange for that not to occur.

MICHAEL SHELLEY

I… Right. Right. Thank you, sir. I’m very-[HE COUGHS AWKWARDLY AFTER RECEIVING AN IMPATIENT LOOK FROM ELIAS.] Do- do you need this for police records or-?

ELIAS (THE EYE)

I don’t see the need to involve the police, Michael. Now [HE GROWS IMPATIENT] in your own time.

MICHAEL SHELLEY

[NERVOUSLY] Of course! Of course. I do- right well. I first met Father Oliver Thomas when I was … eleven, I think? It’s hard to say my childhood is a little hazy and uneven at the best of times. I was definitely in foster care, so it was after I got taken from my dad. But… I don’t- maybe I was twelve? Or thirteen? Anyway, it- the specific age doesn’t matter I guess. I was in choir, and Father Thomas was in charge of the choir and he … got especially attached to certain members of- I’m sure you can figure out what happened. He’d stroke my hair, call me his angel, and he’d… [MICHAEL CLEARS HIS THROAT AND SNIFFS BACK TEARS.] touch me. Extremely inappropriately. Among other things. That’s- that’s not- it happened quite a lot. For a while. Until I was able to stop going to church out of my own free will. He said he loved me over and over again but I always knew that to be false because- [MICHAEL PAUSES.] Because everyone I love goes mad-

ELIAS (THE EYE)

[HE INTERRUPTS A LITTLE HASTILY. HE KNOWS THE ANSWER TO HIS QUESTION, HE JUST WANTS TI HEAR IT AGAIN.] Could you expand on that a little? For the tape.

MICHAEL SHELLEY

Oh! Oh of course. Yes. Well. My mother had quite severe postpartum psychosis, and- and she was institutionalised when I was seven. And- and I’ve only seen here during hospital visits since. And- and even when the nurses and doctors said she was improving she- she always regressed whenever she saw me. [HIS VOICE GETS HIGHER AND SADDER] And- and I- they said it wasn’t my fault but- but it wasn’t just her. My dad he- well- his madness was the bottle I guess. He’d hide into the bottle and forget I existed. Then- then there was my friend, my school friend who went mad and killed and ate his family. Then- and I had a boyfriend at Art College. He- he killed himself. It- it always happens to people who love me. Always. I was hoping- I was hoping joining the Archive would help me figure out why. And- and we think- I think- I think it’s the effect of- of the Spiral. Which… which I guess is how I got the idea to kill Father Thomas-

ELIAS (THE EYE)

[HE SOUNDS GENUINELY SURPRISED] The Spiral gave you the idea?

MICHAEL SHELLEY

Yes! I- I went through the door. Like you told me to and- and it wasn’t so bad? It was quite calming really. Nice. And- and the being that I found there it- I don’t know it was just a feeling really not a person- a voice? It led me down a corridor that- the door it opened to a room in a church and I saw him! I saw- [HIS VOICE GETS FASTER AND ANGRIER] He must have been- have been moved to a different church. I saw- I saw him there and I saw him- I saw him and- and he was happy. He drank his brandy and just stuffed his face with a nice steak and- and I couldn’t- So I- I let it- the voice I- I let it come through me. Just a little. Just once. I let it take over and I- I had… it was fun… [HIS VOICE TRAILS OFF INTO SILENCE]

ELIAS (THE EYE)

[HE PRESSES] What happened then Michael?

MICHAEL SHELLEY

I- I asked him if he recognised me, he didn’t at first and I laughed. I- I towered over him. He’s such a weak old man now, and I choked him. I choked him until his lips went blue and then- and then- I could hear the Spiral’s voice talking to me. It was telling me what to do. I followed it’s- I followed is instructions. I- I slammed his head against the wall repeatedly. The Spiral it- it let me- it kept him alive, when he should he dead. I ripped off his- his erm- his testicles, sir, with the steak knife he had on the table. And I shoved them in his mouth. I held his mouth shut until he chewed and swallowed them, sir. Then I- then I stabbed his gut over and over and over and over and over again. And- and he begged me for forgiveness but- I… I should feel guilty shouldn’t I, sir?

ELIAS (THE EYE)

I can’t answer that for you, Michael. [ELIAS IS REMARKABLY QUIET AND UNDISTURBED.]

MICHAEL SHELLEY

I’m not sorry. I’d do it again. He deserved it. And- and I’m glad the Spiral led me there. That it helped me.

ELIAS (THE EYE)

I have to say, Michael. You are doing remarkably well, you’ve taken to the Spiral far better than I could have imagined.

MICHAEL SHELLEY

But- but I’m not- I’m not the Distortion. Not yet.

ELIAS (THE EYE)

No, but you will be. You’ll be a strong, brilliant Distortion, Michael. I promise.

MICHAEL SHELLEY

I- thank you, sir.

ELIAS (THE EYE)

Statement ends.

[CLICK]

[weepynymph]

The Gilded Age season one rant

I’m extremely late to the party but I just finished season one and I have thoughts that must be released or I’ll go mad.

Worth watching for the costumes alone I could not stop staring at everyone’s dresses in every scene (and the sets too like wow)

The actors are all great, both the older cast of well known actors and the newer less known actors bring so much to the show and embody their characters so beautifully. They do a lot of the heavy lifting along with the production. 

Unfortunately in the last third of the season I remembered the thing that always bothered me with Julian Fellowes writing back when I was watching Downton Abbey as it was coming out (particularly later seasons) - he sets up these really potentially interesting dynamics and conflicts and then… nothing happens. One by one every interesting conflict just fizzles out or is resolved in the least dramatic way possible. (well, maybe not every one but I came away from the first season with that feeling).

Like things happen, kind of, sometimes, but they are almost always presented and staged in the most underwhelming way possible. Nine times out of ten he chooses to communicate information in scenes outside of the action, or in the least interesting and emotionally resonant way possible. (for instance, Larry walks Marian home after the ball and we learn that she told him about her failed elopement at some point during the evening but we just don’t see that happen?? Why??? I would much much rather have seen her confide in him during the ball rather than have them suddenly reference this hugely emotionally vulnerable moment as having happened offscreen - what a wasted opportunity to showcase their growing closeness!) 

We end up with repetitive dialogue and scenes which communicate the same information as was communicated last episode with no progress made. Scenes would end and I'd be like 'That's it? What was the point of that conversation?' especially towards the end of the season. It's frustrating as there are so many characters and plot lines with potential but hardly anything ever comes of them. I kept holding my breath waiting for something unexpected to happen and it never did. In fact, more often than not I became impatient waiting for the pay off of storylines which I had already predicted (see: Mr Raikes). Big emotional moments, when they do come, sometimes ended up feeling unearned as I didn’t feel like I knew the characters well enough to really feel their struggle (Bridget for instance that revelation came waaaay too early and then felt so swept under the rug??)

The Russells had some really good stuff, they felt like the most active characters in terms of actually shaking things up, being determined and morally grey and tenacious. I enjoyed their story the most because it felt like there were real stakes and opportunities for surprises, the two of them were some of the only characters that did surprise me with how they resolved things or escalated them.

I loved Marian, I think the actress did a wonderful job of playing this compassionate, loving, yet opinionated and headstrong person in this really gentle subtle way - a lesser actor would have really hammed it up and she didn’t and I was really invested in her. 

Peggy too I really enjoyed and I loved their friendship and wish we’d seen more of her storyline especially with the globe. Once they established her working there they just kind of dropped it? In favour of some fairly repetitive scenes for other storylines. I also felt with the revelation of her past we did an awful lot of telling instead of showing - they could have really dropped clues and hinted at her past instead of having her not want to talk about it throughout and then just suddenly dumping it on us.

Loved the aunts, of course, who wouldn’t? Just wish that they’d had them actually do stuff instead of being stuck in their house all the time. Or at least if you're going to have them stuck there all the time, make a point of it, make it more meaningful or thematically resonant.

Also where was Larry??? He should have been a main character and yet he’s so absent?? Hope they actually focus on him next season it was so weird how little of this he was in.

Anyway, I’m going to stick with it because I want to see if next season can deliver on the promise of this season. Plus I’m obviously not missing out on the pure joy of just watching those dresses move the costume team deserves a Nobel prize.

[yezzyyae]

The Bear: Sydney is really the villain.

I can write about Sydney’s character being so annoying allday. I know Ayo Edebiri executive produce the show so she okay her character so I blame her. Sydney is came in with a chip on her shoulder she never ran a restaurant wasn’t in the best restaurants like Carmy but she came in like she did. She is soo impatient and that’s not a great trait. Sydney is the real villain in this show even my mom said so as she watched. And I’m black but I don’t root for everybody black esp if they are a rude person. Sydney never apologized she owes Richie an apology she owe the whole business one because Tina, Richie, and Marcus worked with Mikey and he was chaos she didn’t even give Carmy enough time he only been there like 1 month. Sydney is very impatient and it annoys me plus she is an asshole. I know hurt ppl hurt ppl and she was mad she back in her dad’s house but that weird always stuttering act she do is annoying.

Plus Sydney asking Carmy to help her on the expo when it was getting busy was so selfish you are the CDC it’s your job Carmy have other things to do. She messed up the vibe that’s why Carmy go upset and stuck in the fridge. It’s always Sydney but she play this role like everybody are assholes but her. She came right in judging the restaurant like Carmy who worked the best restaurant in the world couldn’t see that. When the staff stole her onions she acted like it was the end of the world she is sooo emotional and it sucks. She was a mad the executive chef Carmy went out the his gf’s table I am lost because how would Carmy being back there next to you make your life easier. Smh she always need reassurance which is def “Only Child Syndrome”. Carmy can’t okay everything that’s why he made Sydney his #2 & why would he call you when he tore the wall down Sydney can you help gut the walls out or have the money to pay to get it fixed. She is just in the restaurant acting like this is her life when she don’t have anything invested in it. She can easily walk away it’s weird cause how is she a partner. Sydney and Carmy only work in the menu together which Sydney don’t get anything right as they practice.

It’s so much for me to write about Sydney. I bet in season 3 they start exploring her asshole ways more. She is the only one who never accept when they are wrong she rather quit. When Carmy told her to cook the 7 fishes over or get another chef too she really was arguing with him then waited until Carmy signed her “I’m sorry” I was screaming like wtf Syd do what he say she always questioning Carmy when it comes to food when she can’t because he is a way better cook then her! I’m screaming now in my head over how much I hate Sydney’s character.

[divinemissem13]

The TARDIS Takes a Holiday

Flufftober, day 18: “Did you plan for this to happen?”

Fandom: Doctor Who (primary)/ Voyager (referenced)

Read on AO3

———

Donna Noble excitedly threw open the door of the TARDIS, ready to greet the bright sun, sandy beaches, and abundance of attractive men she had been promised. She was in for a surprise, however, when she stepped out onto a sparsely populated cobblestone street and a bullet whizzed past her and bounced off of the side of the police box.

Donna quickly ducked back inside and slammed the door shut, pressing her back to it for extra security. “Oi! Spaceman, that is not the beach!”

The Doctor barely looked up from whatever controls he was fiddling with and said “Sure it is. Risa, twenty-fourth century: biggest party in the galaxy. The whole planet is beaches.”

Donna stalked toward him, temper flaring. “Well then, we are not on Risa because that is not the beach, and I prefer parties WHERE I’M NOT BEING SHOT AT.”

“Shot at?” The Doctor finally looked up and gave his companion his full attention. “Well that is unexpected…” He hurried to the door and peeked his head outside. When he came back, he had a grin on his face so big that it made Donna want to scream.

“Donna, do you know where we are?” he asked, his eyes dancing with glee.

Donna glared back at him and replied slowly, “Not. The. Beach.” But the Doctor wasn’t listening as he had already started to pace back and forth across the control room, rubbing his hands together in that mad way of his.

“It looks like France during World War II - but it’s not. Did you see the scaly guys with the bumpy faces?”

“You mean the ones who were shooting at me?” Donna interrupted, fixing the Doctor with a glare that would melt the polar ice caps. Which didn’t phase him one bit, of course.

“Those are Hirogen, one of the most brutal races in the galaxy; worse than the Sontarans by a mile!”

Donna crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. “It is disturbing how much impending doom gets you going, you know. Can we go?”

“Go!? Why would you want to go?! I haven’t even told you the best part! Everything you see out there, it’s all a simulation! We are actually on a starship that has only been made to look like World War II so that the Hirogen can hunt the crew for sport!”

“I’m almost afraid to ask how you know so much from just a quick glance outside… Did you plan for this to happen?” Donna asked, eying him skeptically.

“Of course! I always have a plan!” the Doctor declared confidently, and then immediately recanted. “Well - no - the TARDIS always has a plan. Usually has a plan. Oh, come on,” he began tugging Donna toward the door but she dug in her heels and refused to budge.

“First,” she demanded, “you are going to explain to me what is so great about being hunted by a bunch of violent aliens in a simulation of World War II era France. Then, if you’ve convinced me that this will be better than the beach planet, I will need to change into something a little less conspicuous,” she continued, indicating her floppy straw hat and bright green sundress, “and finally, we will still go to the beach when we’re done with whatever this is.”

“Well it’s the crew! Didn’t I tell you about the crew?”

“Nooo,” Donna drawled impatiently.

“They’re explorers, stranded decades from home,” he began, eyes gleaming. “Most people would have given up years ago. But this crew… this crew! Some of the most resourceful, most dedicated, most determined people in the history of humanity!”

Donna still wasn’t convinced. “Is this going to be another one of your tragic fixed moments in time? Like Pompeii? Because watching the best of humanity die is NOT how I like to spend a holiday.”

“Not fixed. Probably not tragic, assuming all goes according to plan. But ooh it will be fun to watch!” The Doctor turned sharply to face Donna who still stood with arms folded across her chest and an annoyed expression.

“Beach,” she insisted, yet again.

“Did I mention that the crew is full of human men who have been looking at the same small group of human females for the last four years and running?”

Donna raised her eyebrow, indicating for him to continue.

“Oh, yes. Very strong, strapping, military types. Almost all of them are single. There’s one in particular I think you’d get on with… very tall, dark, handsome, and he rarely talks.”

“I’ll just be a minute!” Donna called over her shoulder, already running off to change.

The Doctor spoke to the empty control room, shaking his head in amusement. “Oh, Donna Noble, you marvelous creature, I hope you never change.”

[lightningandfireinmybones]

romeo and juliet au’s have my mind 🤔🤔🤔

the blacks and greens have been split long before viserys died but…his death brings them together. aemond has been married to alys for a few years (she’s fine enough and needed alicent to stop asking him when he’ll marry since she knows he’s the only kid that’ll do what he’s told) (also i’m making his ass like 30 in this). at the funeral he sneaks a peek at his niece that he’s never met and becomes a infatuated with her (this man can’t believe that he’s been kept away from her his whole life). meanwhile valaena fresh out of university has been warned by her family (of course) to stay away from him but there’s just something about this tall older man that makes her squirm. cue the big family party where they sneak away and talk and hook up. cue them falling in love, cue him cheating on alys since they’re not completely ready to expose their relationship (daemon suspects and they know that if aemond divorced alys out of the blue then everyone will know). but also cue valaena teasing him CONSTANTLY at family events where he has to keep appearances up with alys and the RISK factor of them being caught makes things more spicy. (bestie i can’t outline a story for a life of me can you tell i’m not a writer). i feel like cheating trope (not on each other obviously) is totally valaemond’s thing which is why we’re gonna exclude alys from joining in this scenario

YES BESTIE LETS DO THIS

i am not a cheating apologist EXCEPT,,, soulmates!!!! who have no other way to be together!!!!

aemond, determined to be the perfect son, keep their family together, marrying mother approved alys rivers for the connections and her own power,,, she's a good match for aemond, but they're not in love,,, aemond can always feel something missing, that someone is out there, his true match (rhaenyra knows her daughter, her brother,,, she's been careful to let valaena stay as hidden as she wants,,,, generational trauma and tropes are hard to escape and if her daughter shows no interest in the danger of their famiy business she'll let her stay that way!!!!!)

and then his father dies and his whole world shifts

suddenly he has power, authority, an even greater depth of wealth than before, the whole family and operation in his hands,,, there truly is no one that can stop him or control him now,,, a tyrant has been born

and at the wedding, he sees his niece for the first time in maybe 15 years,,, she's young and fresh but not innocent (she wears a black silk dress a touch too short but not enough for anyone to say anything, fishnets, and heels) , meeting his gaze with a shrewd curiosity and resistance that has him hard at his father's funeral,,, she's been warned, but that only makes her more interested in her powerful uncle

an obsession is born, on both their sides

they're sneaking away and fucking in a coat closet at a funeral, aemond showering her in gifts and jewels, luxury hotel rooms, promises of their future together, threats of what would happen if she ever let another man touch her

but valaena is impatient,,, she starts teasing him, taunting him, driving him to the edge of madness with flashes of her garter at dinner, pictures of the lingerie he buys her, laughing stories exchanged with baela and rhaena about "her men"

[hell-much]

Cutting Room Floor - Once In A Lifetime - IV

JON’S PHONE CALL

Cut scene from chapter 6. An alternate version to Jon’s call interrupting the girls first kiss.

...

“I’m glad if they’re enjoying themselves.”

A moment of silences passes between them, that lets Sansa hope that they’re almost done, but then Jon clears his throat in that particular, nervous way.

“There is something else I need to tell you.”

Funny, Sansa thinks. That should really be her part, shouldn’t it?

His tone alarms her still, despite the irony.

“Did something happen?”

“No,” Jon assures and she can hear rustling in the background. “We’re fine.”

Impatience gets the better of her. “Well then, what?”

She can feel a knot at the pit of her stomach. And for a second her paranoia and her guilt get the better of her. What if someone saw her today or yesterday? What if someone saw her just now in the kitchen with Margaery and told Jon? What can she tell him if he asks her about that?

It comes even worse.

“Harry is among the vendors here.”

That threatens to pull the ground away under Sansa’s feet faster and harsher than any accusation of infidelity ever could. For a second she feels a heaviness in her chest. One she hadn’t felt in a long time.

“Did he see you?” Is the first thing she can bring herself to ask.

“Not consciously. Honestly speaking Sansa, I doubt he even remembers me.” 

Sansa nods slowly. That makes sense. Jon was barely more than a sidenote on her own radar at the time. Of course Harry wouldn’t remember him.

“I want you to keep out of his way,” Sansa says firmly.

She sounds like Jon is to blame, which of course he isn’t he never was. He just had the misfortune of sticking around. Other than Harry. Harry. It’s unbelievable the sense of anger that man cause her seventeen years after they last spoke. That sense of helpless anger, the worst kind.

“I know,” Jon says perfectly calm. “I will do my best to keep him away.”

That settles Sansa, but only a little. The thought of them all in such a proximity drives her mad. So mad for a second she can only think one thing.

“Maybe you should come home early.”

She regrets it as soon as she says it. The kitchen door is open. Surely Margaery must have heard her. The thing is though, a part of her is serious. A part of her wants Jon to come home early. To pack the kids up tonight and forget all about the judging and the steer and just come home.

“I knew you’d overreact.”

“Is that what I’m doing?” she bites out.

“Yes.”

“Then why did you bother to tell me?”

He sighs. “Maybe I shouldn’t have.”

She wishes he hadn’t. She wishes he’d never called.

“Maybe you shouldn’t have,” she agrees curtly.

The line is silent for a moment. She can hear a muted noise from the kitchen. A liquid being poured into a glass. Sansa wants nothing more than to hang up and to return to the kitchen. Or better yet turn back time and never answer that stupid phone in the first place. She wants to go back to being in Margaery’s arms, melting away under her lips. Instead of being confronted with the one other major digression of her life. 

Jon sighs into the phone and that brings her attention back to him. “Look, I just wanted to check in. It’ll be okay.”

“Okay,” she gives back tonelessly.

Only in that second nothing feels like it will be okay.

“I’ll call you tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

“Bye.”

“Bye.”

She hits the x when the words still sounding in her ear. For a moment she just stands there and her eyes fall to her own reflection again. Twenty minutes ago she felt like the most beautiful woman, now she’s back to feeling ridiculous. The fluttering in her stomach from earlier is replaced by a different kind. An anxious, sickening one.

[drea-exclusives]

Short Story 1

Alyssa’s POV

“Honey, you need to wake up. It’s urgent.” I squinted as Derrek pulled the blankets off me, peering at the clock on our nightstand to figure out what time it was. Usually, I would protest in a whine and ask why he woke me up so early on the weekend but this time, I could tell something was different; by the look on his face and the tone of his voice, something was evidently very wrong. His voice was stern as he stood at the bedside, one arm crossed and the other touching his tensed-up face, waiting impatiently for me to get up as if he had serious news to break.

I sat up in bed slowly but felt as if my head was cloudy and I couldn’t remember anything from last night. “It’s probably just a headache,” I thought to myself, brushing it off and not thinking too much of it as I pulled myself together to listen to what Derrek had to say. “I don’t know how else to say this but... Lauren was found dead this morning on her kitchen floor. She was found with stab wounds on her abdomen, it seems to have been a homicide...”  Wait, I have to be dreaming, this doesn’t feel real. “What did you say?? Lauren is dead?? Does Kevin know about this, what on earth happened??” I exclaimed in utter shock as anyone would upon hearing that their neighbour was found stabbed to death.

“Kevin was the one who told me. He came back from his business trip this morning and found her that way in their kitchen. The police are investigating now, and I think I saw Cathy when I went to talk to Kevin. I think she’s on the case,” Derrek said as he let out a sigh and put his face in his hands, visibly speechless. “Cathy’s on the case? Is she still at their house? I-I’ll go look for her and see if they need any help. Oh god, I can’t believe this is happening,” I say as I hurriedly grab my coat and bag on the hanger and rush out before Derrek could finish what he wanted to say. My head was still fuzzy and in a haze, and now on top of that all this is happening so quickly. But I had no time to question it, they needed all the help they could get to figure out what happened to Lauren, and I was ready to help in any way I could with my previous experiences in investigating, even though I never ended up working in this field professionally.

I dashed over to Lauren and Kevin’s house and locked eyes with Cathy who I hadn’t seen since our college days. As I couldn’t go any closer to the scene that was being investigated, Cathy came out and gave me a reassuring hug. “I’m so sorry, Lyss. You and Derrek must’ve been close with her,” she said with a look of sympathy yet determination to solve this case. “We were, but I want to help your team out if there’s any way I can. I know it’s not my profession or responsibility, but you know me, I’ve had some experience in the past and of course, I’m Lauren’s neighbour as well. It would be relieving for me if there was any way I could chip in, please consider it Cath.”

And just like that, I was set to help them figure out any clues that would be useful in solving Lauren’s case. I’m no expert, and heck I’m not sure if I could be of use at all, but it would lighten something in me knowing that I could get Lauren the justice she deserves. I’m going to find and hunt down the person behind this no matter what it takes. Speaking of which, although I don’t have the same skills and abilities as my best friend and her colleagues who were trained in this field to decipher mysteries and get to the bottom of homicides, what I did discover recently is that I could hear and talk to the shadows that linger in the dark. And when I say talk to them, I mean full on, insightful conversations with them. 

I know, I sound like a mad woman. I thought I was losing my mind too when I began hearing them call my name, I was petrified the first time it happened because who wouldn’t be hearing voices coming from the shadows in your room. But ever so slowly, I realised that they weren’t out to get me or had malicious intentions, they’re just like friends speaking to me! Which is all the more why Derrek and Cathy don’t know about this yet, because they probably would have an exorcism performed if they had found out. Plus, I want to find out more about these talking shadows before I let them in on my abnormal abilities.

I snapped out of my daze and found myself back in my room, hearing said shadows whispering in my ear. “Don’t get involved in the case, Alyssa! Back off now before it’s too late!”Just as those voices whispered to me eagerly, I recalled what I was thinking of before I started daydreaming — what was going on with the shadows? They are usually nonchalant, but ever since what happened to Lauren, they seem to be restless and afraid, as if they are warning me about something but I haven’t the slightest idea what it is. It’s been like this for a few days, and every time I try to ask them if they know anything about what happened to Lauren they disappear and go back into hiding, refusing to tell me anything. The only significant hint they’ve left is about Derrek, who I’ve found myself being more wary and anxious around lately for reasons I can’t pinpoint. Nonetheless, I brush it off. I can’t let some shadows throw me off course, I must get to the bottom of Lauren’s murder.

But as the days start to pass, the more confused and tangled up I find myself in this case. The clues I’ve gathered along with updates given to me by Cathy and her team don’t seem to add up. Moreover, from alibis to witnesses to security footage, something about it all elicits an uneasy feeling in me. My head begins to hurt more as well, as I find gaps in my memory recalling what I’ve been up to the past few days; everything is just a little off. The shadows included have been acting up and behaving disturbingly, muttering noises of panic and fear that become progressively more concerning every day.

Distressed, I was about to head downstairs to tell Derrek about my symptoms and perhaps ask him to bring me to the clinic when suddenly, my phone rang. I was startled by the ringtone playing from my phone, it seems that everything that has been happening lately has flustered me. “Lyssa, I need you to come in now. There’s something we need to talk to you about,” Cathy said over the phone in what sounded like a serious manner, which is unlike her usual self. At this point I’m afraid to find out what else I’m about to encounter after all the recent events. The familiar whispers of the shadows begin to make me second-guess my decision to participate in this case. “What was it they knew that I didn’t?” I thought to myself nervously as my palms started to sweat, trying to console myself while preparing to head to the police department to find out what urgent matters the police had to discuss with me.

Just as I was about to leave the house, Derrek called out to me. “Alyssa, what is this??” He exclaims with a look of shock and confusion on his face. I stopped in my tracks upon seeing the medical records in his hand. “When were you going to tell me about this? ‘Medical Diagnosis: Schizophrenia’,” he read aloud from the papers. I stood frozen, unknowing what to reply for a couple seconds. I had been diagnosed for a while but hadn’t had the chance to tell him yet, the diagnosis just didn’t sit right with me and I felt the need to get a second opinion, that is until all of this went down recently.

“You know what? It’s all beginning to make sense now. I didn’t want to tell you since I know you’ve been busy dealing with Lauren’s case, but the way you’ve been acting lately has been out of character. This doesn’t feel like you, Alyssa. And with this diagnosis, it all adds up to the way you’ve been talking to yourself lately. You’re mentally ill, Alyssa. You shouldn’t be working on this case, and you know that. Please.”  Derrek’s train of thought that he had been withholding lately began to unravel, and so did mine after everything he had just said. “Excuse me?? How dare you claim that I am mentally ill, and it’s not myself that I’ve been talking to lately but the shadows. I can hear them, Derrek. They’re speaking to me and lately they’ve been reacting unusually and it’s making me go insane, and-”

“The shadows aren’t real, Alyssa! They aren’t there! Honey, please. You need to wake up.” Derrek begged, holding me by my arms and shaking me as he interrupted what I had to say. All of a sudden, my thoughts were clouded upon hearing what Derrek said. Everything was starting to untangle as I began recalling the memories which I had lost for the past few days. I fell to the ground, feeling my head spiral as I felt my consciousness awakening as I pieced it all together. The shadows which had been my subconscious, voices in my head preventing me from finding out the truth of the homicide.

I stood up from the floor, gobsmacked as more things started coming back to me all at once. My eyes darted to Derrek who was standing in front of me, waiting to see what was happening to me. “You. It was you who made me kill Lauren. Both of you with your little affair behind my back, you betrayers!” I yelled, finally figuring out the missing piece of the puzzle, the explanation to everything. But Derrek stood there, as if waiting for me to finally work out the mystery. I felt myself becoming feral, losing the ability to control my emotions and actions. “How could he stand there and not say anything?? Had he known this the entire time?? Why did they do this to me, why did they make me like this??” The thoughts ran through my head as Derrek finally made a move, stepping closer to me.

I ran to the kitchen, throwing any furniture that was within my reach towards Derrek to stop him from following me. “Alyssa, please. Listen to me!” he said in a concerned tone. I laughed, why on earth would I listen to him? And after all the torture he had put me through. As I had finally reached the kitchen counter, I grabbed a knife; recalling that this was the very knife I had used to kill Lauren, all of it was right under my nose. As I turned around with the knife in hand, ready to make Derrek pay for everything, the noise of a shot gun went off.

I collapsed to the floor, my mind beginning to go blank as I stared at the wound in my chest. Everything is foggy, my vision starts blurring and my heartbeat unstable, finding it difficult to breathe. I take a last glance up at Derrek who has tears streaming down his face, barely keeping it together as he calls for paramedics. Everything flashes back to me for the last time, the scene of catching Derrek and Lauren cheating and going over next door that Friday night, stabbing Lauren with my kitchen knife and watching her bleed out to her death. “I’m in the same position as her now,” I thought to myself as my breath hitched and my eyes closed for the last time. 

[leaderpinhead]

Harry (OC) - Spice Is Life

“Sugar, spice, and everything nice—these are the essential ingredients to any cake!”

Harry groaned and flopped back into her chair. She didn’t care about the dirty glares the other girls shot in her direction. She absolutely adored Mother Flowers, but she equally abhorred the mother’s home economics class. It was so boring!

Which was why—for the third year in a row—Harry was subjected to this never-ending torment.

Min politely cleared her throat beside Harry. That got most of the girls to turn back towards the front where Mother Flowers never broke her stride, enthusiastically drawing a twelve-tiered, lopsided cake on the chalkboard.

When the last set of eyes turned away from them, Min leaned closer to Harry to whisper. “Harry.”

“What?”

Harry’s blunt tone made many of the girls turn back to them. Mother Flowers happily pulled out buckets of sprinkles from beneath her desk, oblivious to Harry’s obvious disgruntlement. Min sighed again. None of the girls would meet Min’s eyes when she stared straight back at them. Cowards, the lot of ‘em. This was why Harry couldn’t get a decent dodgeball team together in PE.

“I know you don’t like baking,” Min whispered, acting like they hadn’t already disrupted the class twice now, “but this is literally the last credit you need to graduate! The Head Godmother won’t allow anyone to graduate without at least one home ec class.”

“I don’t wanna bake cakes though,” Harry groaned. She flopped forward onto the table, her long ears nudging a set of mixing bowls. She expertly twitched her hare ears to knock over a bottle of vanilla extract. “Baking is boring. I’d rather just eat store-bought cake.”

“What if Maddox wanted a cake for a tea party?”

“Mads prefers jam toast.” Harry stretched her arms across the table. Her fingers tapped against a set of measuring cups. “He doesn’t love me for my baking skills. He loves me for my energetic spoon playing. Wanna see?”

Harry snatched up two wooden mixing spoons and started clanking them together. Another round of glares just made her play more aggressively. Mother Flowers giggled around her giant tub of blue frosting. “What wonderful rhythm you have, Harriet! You should play for Mother Annie. I’m sure she’d find the perfect place for you in the orchestra!”

Harry shot Min a See? I told you! look. Min sighed and shook her head. She didn’t bother speaking in whispers again. “Just bake the cake, Harry. I told Phyllis I'd be sure you passed this class this year. Do you want to have to go through this for another year?”

Harry frowned and stacked her spoons on the table. Min was right—she didn’t want to spend another year here. Not when she was only a few months away from complete freedom. Four years at the Mourning Dove Institute should be classified as torture.

Harry tucked her hands into her lap and impatiently listened to the rest of Mother Flowers’ instructions. When they were released to work on their tiered cake, she turned directly to Min. She bowed deeply at the younger girl, who only blinked back at her with confusion. “Oh, wise Kai-Ming. Share with me your secrets of the cake baking.”

Min’s pale face blossomed with color. She swatted at Harry’s ears. “Stop that! Let’s just follow the instructions Mother Flowers gave us.”

Instructions were boring though, and it quickly became apparent to Min why Harry had failed the same class twice. Harry didn’t make it a secret after all. “Why can’t we add more cinnamon to the batter?”

“Because the recipe doesn’t call for cinnamon at all.”

“Well, that’s a bad recipe then. We should fix that.”

“Harry, don’t.”

“What about this then?”

“Why did you grab red pepper flakes?”

“Mother Flowers said it herself—spice is an essential ingredient to make any cake.”

“She didn’t mean that kind of spice.”

“She should have been more specific then! Why can’t we make a carrot cake? I’d learn how to make that if it was my mum’s carrot cake.”

Min sighed and wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. The gesture left behind a streak of flour, which she didn’t notice because she was too busy placing greased cake pans in front of Harry. “Just fill these up. Mother Flowers said they don’t have to be exact measurements. You can at least do that, Harry.”

Instead of taking offense to the growing attitude Min voiced, Harry happily obliged. It filled her with unfettered glee to see the imperfect measurements across the set of pans, one pan barely filled with batter while another was near overflowing. It was a testament to how insane Mourning Dove Institute’s rigid rules made Harry. “Done!”

“Now we bake them for—Harry no!”

“Harry, yes,” Harry said with the same unfettered glee. She shook heaps of red pepper flakes across the tops of five cake pans before Min stopped her. “We need more spice.”

“We’re going to fail,” Min groaned. She whipped around to look at the clock and back again. It was just enough seconds for Harry to sprinkle more pepper flakes in the other cake pans. “We don’t have time to redo the batter and frost the cake. We’ll just have to make do.”

Min popped the back of Harry’s hand every time she tried to do anything for the rest of the class period. By the time their lopsided tiered cake was haphazardly decorated with blue frosting, Harry thought she would vibrate out of her chair. “Can I just—.”

“No.”

“Just one tiny—.”

“No.”

“All right, girls!” Mother Flowers cheerfully announced at the front of the class. “All of your cakes look absolutely scrumptious! I’ve asked Mother Mary to help me with the taste testing, so I hope you are all prepared.”

Harry’s cackle drew the attention of the entire classroom. Min slapped her forehead with enough force to leave a noticeable red mark. Just as Harry had hoped, Mother Mary made a beeline for their table, her stomping gait matching her perpetual glower. Harry gleefully held out a slice of their cake to the mother. “Mother Mary! Try ours first!”

“You better bet I’ll be judging your cake the harshest,” Mother Mary grumbled. She snatched the plate from Harry. Harry had to tuck her hands under her thighs to keep from bouncing out of her chair. “This is your third attempt at Fairy’s Birthday Cake. I expect perfection at this point.”

“Oh, it’s perfect, all right,” Harry cackled. Min had left the table to bury her face into one corner of the classroom. Mother Flowers hovered over her with concern. “Very perfect with no lack of spice.”

“There is no spice in Fairy’s Birthday Cake,” Mother Mary said around a mouthful of cake. Her thorough chewing gradually slowed. Sweat began to form on her wide brow. “What in the name of—why is it so spicy?”

“Because spice is an essential ingredient to every cake!”

Harry didn’t hear Mother Mary’s biting comments over her loud cackling. Nor did she hesitate recalling every second of the baking process later when her and Min were carted off to face the Head Godmother. The Head Godmother only sighed afterwards and turned to the huffing, puffing Mother Mary. “Really, Mary? I would think you would have learned your lesson at this point too. Were you not out an entire week with food poisoning the last time you tested Harriet’s food?”

Harry didn’t mind the passing grade she received in home ec at the end of the semester, nor did she argue with Mother Flowers when the lovely woman nervously asked her to never bake another cake again.