#which was being friendly and that getting mistaken as reciprocation

[immortalsins]

got my list of tasks to tick off and one is 'reply to all whatsapp messages' because i'm a terrible person and can't socialise. got one more response to send but it's from a guy who tried to make a move despite my clear disinterest and he's online rn please go away so i can reply in peace then leave and tick this off my list without getting into a conversation

[mystic-sky]

A/N: In honor of reaching 400 followers, I decided to make this into a short series. I don’t know how many parts it’ll be. Thank you guys for reading my stuff and showing me love 🥺💕 you’re all so sweet 😭😭😭😭😭 I would also like to thank @teoran for the precious idea that allowed this story to come to be ❤️❤️

✨Part 2 here✨ | ✨Part 3/4 on ao3 only✨

“So, you’ve never actually been here before?” Suguru let out an annoyed sigh as his best friend draped his arm over his shoulders.

“No, but I heard this is one of the nicer ones.” Satoru says. “Besides, none of them are hard to look at.”

“I would’ve been content going out to dinner with everyone else-

“Lighten up! You do that all the time. You’re single so why not spoil yourself a little?” The white haired male insisted.

“Stuff like this feels degrading, and some of them are topless.” Suguru really hasn’t been to a strip club before. He wasn’t a prude, but surely his respect for women had him steer clear of places like this.

“Yeah— strippers do that sometimes.” Satoru laughed, taking hold of his drink. 

“And it’s not degrading- they’re hard working women. Stop talking like an old man and enjoy the show.” He added, respectfully. Suguru took a sip of his drink, watching a new dancer approach the platform. A sweet, caramel skinned girl had taken the stage, swaying around the pole in front of them.

“This is Tasty.” Someone over the loud speaker introduced her. “We recommend Tasty for new comers. She’s a bubbly, friendly dancer who feels like the girl next door. Tasty is currently ranked 3rd in our private dancer line up for this week.

“Look at her,” Satoru said, pulling his lip between his teeth. “That’s Tasty. I heard so many good things about her. She’s so much more petite and cuter in person.” 

Suguru only nonchalantly took another drink, but he was definitely looking. The tan skinned girl wrapped her body around the pole, delicately twisting herself right in front of the both of them. After shaking her ass for a bit, she moved down the stage, dancing for other customers. 

“I’ve got so much cash on me, Suguru-chan~! We’re gonna have so much fun.” He nudges his barely flustered friend.

“And try not to look so serious, before you scare the ladies away.” He rolled his eyes underneath his dark sunglasses.

“You think I’m scary looking?” Suguru raises an eyebrow.

“Yeah but in a sexy way.” Satoru leant forward, almost touching noses with the dark haired male. He really had no regards for personal space. 

“Wait til the girls find out you’re a huge softy underneath.” Satoru laughed. 

The tan stripper on the stage descended down the steps, wrapping up her routine and passing the two of them. Satoru pulled his shades down, winking at the girl, and handing her a generous tip. He watched her swoon a bit before running off, bra full of singles. 

“Candy, you’re on next.” Tasty called out to you as she entered the locker rooms. You were intently positioning your false lashes on in the mirror. You heard all the girls bustling on about some attractive men who were tipping nicely tonight as you got ready.

You hum in response, bending down and adjusting your straps on your shoes. 

“He winked at me, he winked at me!!!!” Tasty said, fawning with the other girls who were peaking out the doorway.

“Girl, you have to see this. They’re the hottest guys I’ve ever seen.” Tasty cooed at you. 

“They’re so tall. I got so shy and ran off. I’m sure the one with the sunglasses was flirting with me. I’m gonna go give him a dance, I just needed time to collect myself.” The tanned skinned girl held her cheeks in her hand as she spoke.

“Tasty’s got a crush hmmm?” You say smugly before standing up straight. You look at the hundred dollar bill sticking out of her bra amongst the many singles. You raise an eyebrow at her before you take both of your breasts in your hands, doing a jiggle test to see if they’d pop out your body suit. 

“You’ll have a crush too as soon as you see them.” Tasty rolls her eyes. You’re barely intrigued. You’d been infatuated with the same man since high school, and no one could compare to him.

Granted, the both of you weren’t actually dating, nor do you believe he had any idea about your affections or actually reciprocated them. He would occasionally flirt with you, but do not be mistaken— he was a complete asshole. You often rejected his advances, telling him to fix his off putting attitude. This led him to tease and mess with you more, but he still loves to do his best to get you flustered all the while. You couldn’t date someone who lacked so much compassion. But even so, every time you saw him, your knees went weak.

You were partially rejecting him because you were also a busy woman, and you barely had time to fraternize with him the way you wanted to during your day job. When you both were younger and went to school at the academy, he actively made you feel like you were losing to him because he was such a prodigy. Being on his team really sucked because even though you were producing proficient results, standing beside him only made you look just above average.

“Let’s see what this is all about.” You say, strutting towards the huddle your co workers created in the hall. You worm your way through, getting a glimpse of the two men that had everyone’s hormones in a frenzy.

“Oh no.” 

You watched as the white haired narcissist threw his head back in laughter, conversing flirtatiously amongst the other waitresses and dancers that crowded around him.

Fucking Gojo Satoru.

“Oh no, no, no.” 

Impossible. You were upset that you’d know that laugh of his anywhere. Not to mention his hair made him stick out like a sore thumb.

The only person who knew of your double life was Shoko. And Shoko wouldn’t tell a soul. 

Beside Satoru was a seemingly mellow Geto Suguru, grinning softly towards all of the women around them.

You sought death. That was the only way out of this situation- on a stretcher, covering your face and body and keeping your anonymity.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.” You say, squatting all the way down to the floor and crawling back into the locker room, praying not to be seen.

“Candy, girl, are you okay?” Your stage manager peered down at you as you slumped behind the love seat in the corner.

“Those guys out there— the two of them work at my day job.” You mutter, burying your face into your knees.

“You know them?!” Tasty interjects. 

“Unfortunately,” you nodded. “And the white haired one likes to mess with me a lot.”

“You wanna go home early?” Your manager asks. You had bills to pay, and but quite honestly, one day wouldn’t hurt. 

But for some reason you couldn’t help but feel like you’d be allowing him to win somehow by doing that. It was silly- he had no idea of your existence here so this was hardly considered a competition. But this was your space, and you refused to be forced to cower within it.

You stand up, scanning the room for something unique to wear. 

“I’m not letting that bastard ruin my bag. I’m getting my money tonight.” You sway towards the vanity, discovering a silk blindfold with eye sockets. You wrap the cloth around your eyes, adjusting it so you can see properly.

“Are you sure?”

“Yup.” You say confidently, fluffing your hair in the mirror. Besides, it’s only one night, you thought.

You walk out of the prep room, walking towards the steps of the stage. You walked right past the two of them, feeling so many eyes on you as you slowly ascended the stairs.

Both their heads shifted towards you, the sound of pre-cheers and compliments from regular customers ringing with your every step. 

“This is Candy.” The host spoke into the loudspeaker. “All the boys want a piece of her. She’s the sweetest dancer here, and she’ll make you forget all your troubles with her playful smile. This week, Candy currently ranks number one in our private dancer line up.”

You were above the two gentleman who were posted up in the front of the stage. Just how did these fuckers find this place? You looked down at the two of them, like a queen looking towards her subjects. You started your routine, smiling your signature smile just like you always did. You wrapped your hands around the pole, swinging your body. The cheers and music rang through your ears. Dollars were being thrown at you, but you were so distracted by two of them.

The both of them had been eyeing you just like everyone else, but you couldn’t help but feel self conscious anyways. You swayed your hips, swooping down elegantly to pick up some of the money while you danced, offering winks to some gentlemen in the crowd. Your eyes caught on Satoru, whose sunglasses were tilted slightly downwards. Your eyes nearly met, and you swiftly shifted your gaze towards Suguru. He really dragged you here, you thought. Poor Guru-san.

You watched as Satoru threw a generous wad of singles towards you. You refused to pick it up. 

It was a 10 minute set before you would go around and flirt with other customers. You eventually collected your earnings before you gracefully walked down the steps, flipping your hair.

“Candy~” The bastard called out towards you.

You didn’t want to turn around, but you did anyway, breasts bouncing full of bounty. 

“That’s for you,” he cheekily handed you a folded wad of cash. You felt the thickness of the money between your fingers. You almost wanted to give it back to him and walk away. Unfortunately, it was custom to lurk around customers who tipped that generously. Your eyes shifted towards Suguru, who had been subtly ogling your breasts.

“Thank you.” You smile plasticly, which you don’t normally do. You were typically and genuinely nice to customers. Most of them abided by the no touch rules and were decent.

“What brings you both here?” You say, leaning on the banister, breasts in full view.

“It’s my buddies birthday.” He grinned. “I wanted him to get a private dance with this weeks number one dancer, or Tasty, if she’s not too busy.”

Your eyes panned over to Suguru, who honestly didn’t look like he wanted a dance from you. You knew better though, not all customers were forward like that, so you didn’t take it personally whatsoever. You even contemplated going to get Tasty to take your place, but something in you made you want to dance near Satoru. Knowing you could rub your hot body in his face and he couldn’t touch you turned you on just a bit. You had no idea where this power complex of yours was stemming from. 

“Sure,” he had already paid you more than what the dance costed. “So do you wanna stay out here or go for a private one? I’m fine with whatever, baby.” 

You could’ve cringed at yourself, calling your childhood friend baby. You tucked the wad of cash into your body suit. There was enough money here to pay for either kind of dance, possibly two of them. 

“I’m good actually.” Suguru says, taking a seat on the sofa. Your eye twitches a bit, and you looks towards Satoru. 

“Sugu-chan’s just shy. He couldn’t stop talking about how good you looked.” The white haired male waved his hand. It must’ve been true, because the blush on Suguru’s face was something you could’ve burst out laughing at. Keep it together (Name), you thought.

He was so reserved and gentlemanly at work. You never would’ve guessed he could look this worked up about getting a dance from a beautiful woman. You sit beside him, crossing your legs. 

“If what he said is true, thank you. I’ve done my best to perfect that routine.” You said proudly, shifting your body towards him. “Do you really not want a dance?” You ask again, completely ignoring Satoru, who had been going on about something. 

Suguru shifted in his seat, and he was obviously trying not to look at your breasts when you squeezed them together with you arms like that. 

“I guess I wouldn’t mind one.” He breathed out. You smiled at him before standing up and spreading his legs a bit. You danced in between them, while he laid back and admired you. Satoru sat on the other end of the couch while another dancer attempted to make a pass at him. He accepted her offering, tipping her nicely as well. While she danced for him, you could feel his eyes burning a hole through your back.

You whipped your ass a round, graciously showing Suguru what you had going on. You were feeling mortified on the inside considering he was your childhood friend. However, he was undoubtedly good looking. A little part of you found some sort of sweet satisfaction showing yourself to him like this. He didn’t seem to know it was you, casually sipping while he watched you do your thing.

Your eyes met Satoru’s, who had been peering at you through the body of your fellow dancer. He could feel himself getting aroused at your womanly form, shifting in his seat. He found it hard to focus on the lap dance he was getting from the lovely woman in front of him. 

So this is what she’s really like, he thought to himself.

He had been staring for so long your were getting spooked. Did he realize it was you?

For God sake’s, please no.

He offered you a wink and smirked devilishly before going right back to giving his attention towards his current dancer. Your blindfold was your safety shield, and if he stripped that away from you, you would quit your day job and the go find work in a different club. 

After some time, you and your partner finished, receiving generous tips yet again. 

“Thank you Candy~” Satoru hummed, thanking you on Suguru’s behalf. You waved goodbye, before going towards a new set of customers. He never did stop staring at you that night. Not until you completely removed yourself from the floor. Once your shift was nearly over, and you needed a breather, you seeked refuge back in the prep room.

“I’m glad that’s over,” you sighed, sinking your body into one of many beauty chairs. You decided you had made enough money for the night, removing your blindfold and setting it down on the vanity. Tasty trailed in moments after, swooning excitedly.

“What’s up with you?” You ask, removing your earrings as well.

“I got the dark haired ones number.” Tasty squealed. You were happy for her, considering Suguru was always a decent guy growing up. 

“He’s not bad,” you throw your head back, throwing your hair out of your face.

“It’s the other one I’m particularly wary of.” You say, attempting to tie your hair into a ponytail. 

“Oh yeah! The white haired one told me to give this to you.” Tasty tore another piece of paper from her bralette. 

You stared at the folded strip between her fingertips before anxiously grasping it with your own. You unfolded the thing, eye twitching in agitation.

Call me, if you want ;) XXX-XXX-XXXX

This motherfucker.

[runwithwolvcs]

You Know I’m No Good - o n e

Summary: Tallulah Forester isn’t a bad person, she’s just made one too many bad decisions. Which is why she has now found herself four hours away from her home in Seattle, to her estranged fathers little home in La Push, with her stepmom and two half sisters, whom she has only been with a couple of times in the past 15 years. Her mother and father had agreed, shockingly, that the small town lifestyle would be beneficial to their wild child, but bad habits die hard, especially when it comes to being in control.

Timeline: Takes place a few years after the events of Breaking Dawn

Pairing: Paul Lahote x OC (Tallulah is 18)

Warnings (future chapters): Drugs/Alcohol, Sexual Content, Sexual Tension, Jealousy, Mental Health, (Mentions of SA, but no details)

There are losses that rearrange the world. Deaths that change the way you see everything, grief that tears everything down. Pain that transports you to an entirely different universe, even while everyone else thinks nothing has really changed.

Tallulah stared out the window in the back seat with her knees tucked up to her chest, arms wrapped around them tightly as her father drawled on, switching from topic to topic, your sisters and Kira are so excited your coming to we’ve already enrolled you at the school to do you remember this person or that person? Anything to fill the silence from creating a  suffocating atmosphere in the car. It all sounded like white noise to her, she barely remembered La Push. 

She moved to Seattle with her mother when she was six and the two of them never looked back, whenever she would see her father or half-sisters, they would meet halfway in Port Angeles and then head their separate ways. It was easier that way for everyone involved. 

Josette and Lenna, her half-sisters, were ten the last time she spent any actual memory inducing time with them. Although they are only two years younger than her, they were so different. So in tune with the tribe, whereas she barely knew anything about the histories. She doubted anything would have changed in that respect.

Tallulah's headaches from her hangover, or maybe lack of sleep, she thought, and as she laid her head against the window she listened to the sound of passing cars and her dad's voice as she slipped into a dreamless sleep.

--------

Tallulah awoke to the sound of the car door shutting and a nearby dog barking, she rubbed the sleep from her eyes, grateful her headache was gone, but now in its place was a lump in her throat, as she looked around her surroundings outside of the car. The little blue house she vaguely remembers. The tire swings in the old oak tree. A woman's laugh caught her attention, as she looked to see her dad and stepmom, chatting away, happier than ever. Tallulah felt so out of place. Like she was an intruder coming in to ruin her fathers happy, little family with her black cloud of disappointment. 

Tallulah groaned to herself as she unbuckled herself, might as well get this over with, she thought to herself while opening the car door and slowly stepping out, stretching as she did. She could feel the two adults eyes on her as she shut the door gently, looking towards them, Kiras big smile, that if she didn’t know better would look insincere, but she did know. Her stepmom was a tryhard, doing anything and everything to be the perfect wife, the perfect mother and stepmother, no matter how hard Tallulah pushed against her kind persona. She was the reason her family was in pieces. Kira and her father were no doubt in love, even when her parents were still together, they never looked at each other the way she sees her father looks at Kira and vice versa, like they are each other's reasons for being. She moves, he moves. Tallulah nearly physically cringes. It's not something she ever wants for herself, that fairy tale love.

She walks toward them slowly, Kira meeting her halfway, wrapping her arms in a bear crushing hug that she doesn’t reciprocate, looking past her at her father who has that ‘be nice’ look on his face, and clearly, she was in no place to fight that. She couldn’t help but think, if this doesn't work out the way her parents think it will, where is the next place she would be shipped off to? 

Kiras' soft, sweet voice shakes her from her thoughts, “it's so nice to see you again. Your hair has gotten so long.” Tallulah raises an eyebrow before stating, “I've cut it a few times since I saw you last.” Kira laughs off the dig, before walking towards her father and saying, “the twins are out, we’d figured you'd be better off getting settled without a full house.” Tallulah nodded in response as her father spoke up for the first time since arriving, “besides, we have some things to discuss. Expectations and what not,” 

Tallulah eyebrows furrowed in confusion, “Rules? I’m eighteen. I don’t need to have any rules.” Her arms crossed over chest, as if she were a child. 

“If you think that you will be continuing your..extracurricular activities that you have picked up in Seattle, you are wrongly mistaken” he says in what she assumes is his fatherly tone that works on the twins, but not her, he gave up that right fifteen years ago. “Your mother has filled us in on everything, Tally” She rolls her eyes at this, as if she knows everything, she thought to herself.

Kira stood up on the porch, just inside the doorway, “Joseph, let her settle in, we can have this conversation tomorrow, after the bonfire.” she said in ‘dont fight me in this tone’, to which Tallulah appreciated, yet was confused, “Bonfire?” she asked, as she made her way up the steps of the house leaving her dad to bring in her few bags, “The tribe bonfire party happens once a month, the girls love it, plus you can meet some of your classmates before you start school.” Kira spoke as if this was something she should look forward to, but in all honesty, large gatherings were not Tallys scene, despite what her mother thinks. But, she would attend, save face and hope with good behaviour she would be back in Seattle with her friends in no time. This thought reminded her to shoot them a text quickly explaining her situation, hoping they would see it as an SOS, before shoving her phone back in her pocket and following Kira around the house like a little kid, listening to where things were kept, which rooms were which and then finally a stop at the room in which she would call hers. The walls were a blank, cream color, with light blue bedding and a wooden desk shoved in the corner, along with what looks like textbooks sitting on top.She nods politely as Kira mentions they will be leaving within the hour but try to settle in and suggests she may want to change out of her cotton shorts, as it “gets quite cold compared to Seattle” as she put it.

-----

7:14 read the time on Tallulah's phone as they walked up to the beach, the sun had just begun to set and the temperature had, in fact, dropped quite a bit, thankful for Kiras advice, Tallulah had changed into a pair of loose, blue jeans and had tucked her hands into the pockets of her oversized, black hoodie, fingers curled under the long sleeves to keep them warm.

She walked slightly behind Kira and her father, standing off to the side as they were greeted by people, before they had reached whom she suspected to be the twins. They looked so different from what she remember, her father lowly spoke to her, as Kira caught their attention, pointing out the smaller of the two as Josette and the taller, as Lenna. Josie dawned a baggie pair of dark pair of overalls, with a striped sweater underneath, her hair in two space buns, which was quite different from her sister, in her plaid mini skirt and form-fitting long sleeve shirt, her pin straight, dark hair fanned out behind her back. Tallulah could already tell they wouldn’t get along.

 She watched as Lenna stalked away from her mother to a group of people who looked around their age, before snapping her eyes back at the sound of her name being called, to see Kira and Josette waving her over, before she could even move her feet willingly, her dad was nudging her in their direction, as if she would turn and walk the other way. 

Josette moved over so she could sit directly beside, a friendly smile that resembled Kiras on her face, “ Hi Tally” she spoke her childhood nickname softly, “it’s been awhile, you look so much older, not in a bad way, like mature, adultish, but obviously your only two years older than me so not technically an adult..” she rambled off, “Hey Josette” and before Tallulah could say anything else, she was interrupted by the younger girl, “Its Josie or Jo, whichever fine, just not Josette” she spoke quickly, a pale blush crossing her olive toned skin, to which Tallulah just nodded and asked, “How long do these things last?”

“That depends,” Josie spoke, “Typically the adults leave once the stories and tribal matter finishes, so maybe an hour or two. But we usually stay later, or at least Lenna does.” she said, looking in the direction of her twin, who was now surrounded by a group of other rambunctious teenagers. “Sam Uley's crew is here tonight, so who knows if that will even happen, especially after last time.” Tallulah didn’t question the younger girl, mainly because she just didn’t care to. She looked away from Lenna and her friends, her eyes gazing on all the unfamiliar faces sitting on logs or picnic tables surrounding the growing fire. 

Her eyes stopped on what seemed to be a couple, the girl was beautiful, her long black hair was tied up into a neat ponytail, she was talking to a man in a wheelchair beside her, who looked like he could be her dad, her eyes shifted to the man sitting next her, his arm wrapped around her shoulders, he was in shorts and a shirt and looked perfectly comfortable in the frigid air, he was joking around with the boys next to him, as if the beautiful girl next to him was really there, despite his arm around her, “Thats Paul Lahote.” Josie said from next to her, causing her to flush from her obvious staring, he looked in their direction, as if he had heard Josie say his name, they locked eyes for a split second before Tallulah looked away embarrassed she had been caught. “Don’t worry, Lenna stares at him too,” Josie laughed jokingly, “I wasn’t staring” Tallulah spoke defensively, Josie raised her hands in surrender before leaning in close, “looks like he's the one staring now” Josie grinned, watching as Tallulah looked back at the older boy, noticing that he was staring at her, almost like a deer in headlights. He looked so familiar, though she doubts that they have ever met before. He smiles at her slightly, his arm retracting from the girl beside him despite her protest to his movement, and now the beautiful women is also looking at her, causing Tallulah to look down at her sleeve covered hands that lay in her lap, only looking up again when her father sits in the spot next to her, asking if she's alright, to which she absentmindedly nods her head. Is she alright after her entire life has been altered in the last 12 hours? What kind of question is that?

Her eyes are drawn back to the spot Paul Lahote was sitting in, or had been sitting in, the seat was now vacant, the man nowhere in her line of sight, and she can't help but feel a little disappointed.

[theodora3022]

Freaking Me Out

Pairing: Neito Monoma x F!reader (I’m not really good at this kind of stuff…)

Summary: What scares Neito Monoma more than death, is his irrational attraction to you. He was able to hide it behind his petty insults often, until one day he saw you injured, something in the blonde snapped.

Notes: Reader is a student in 1A. If you do not like it, the exit button is there for you. Otherwise, enjoy! I honeslty don’t like how this turns out, but there you have it.

Warning: Verbal abuse (It is Monoma come on, what’s the surprise), superiority complex (obviously), fluff?Insults?

“Now I hear sounds in the hallway,

rocking chairs are moving on their own,

I’m falling for you, so much so

It’s freaking me out.”

           You’re a student of class 1A, that is a good enough reason for Neito to pick on you. Even though you have always been polite and friendly. His distain is towards 1A in general, you just got caught up in the wave.

           He might still act like a bully towards you, but that doesn’t mean he hates you, in fact, he found you quite charming, it almost made him want to stop with his verbal abuses. Almost.

           Ironic enough, Neito has a soft spot for sociable people. Most people would be appalled with his rude attitude, which is what he expected. But he never got any reaction out of you with the usual insults. You brush them off as if they were nothing and kept that friendly façade, keep treating him with kindness. You are too nice, abnormally so.

           Neito is curious, what could make you lose your composure? You are always so calm and collected, it’s honestly irritating. How can he rip off that smiling mask off your face and see who you really are? Class 1A is full of idiots, so why are you any different. The way you act all welcoming, it’s all fake right? Inside, you must be just like those egotistic maniacs you called friends. Nothing had drawn the blonde’s attention this much in a long time, so when he caught a glimpse of your backside, walking towards the library, Neito followed.

           You had a terrible day, you got a bad mark on a recent test, accidently slipped on a banana skin, and landed sideways. It’s only a minor injury, so you didn’t bother to visit the Nurse’s office.(They must have more pressing injuries to deal with then a small cut) Now you got a bandage on the left side of your chin. So, you decide to treat yourself some quality time to relax in the library, surely nothing worse can happen in that calming atmosphere?

           Oh, how naïve you are.

           Coincidentally, it happened to be a bad day for Neito too. What’s his favorite pastime these days? Read Franco-Belgian comics Make fun of someone he doesn’t like. You’re just sitting there, concentrated on a history book, as if inviting his insults. The library is nearly empty, and the table you’re sitting at is behind some shelves, far away from the Liberian’s prying eyes. Perfect.

           Inviting himself to your table, Neito sits down across you with that arrogant smirk on his face. Then he starts to examine you. Oh, how adorable you look, so focused. Suddenly the book makes him feel jealous, how pathetic of him. He really got it bad. He wonders what you’re going to look like all angry, finally letting out your true self.

“What you’re reading there, (y/n)?”

           You are now scowling; obviously not too happy he had interrupted your reading. “Good afternoon to you too, Monoma. Has anyone told you it’s rude to interrupt?” You were hoping to ignore him, that he would leave on his own. Well, that’s evidently not happening.

           She seems annoyed. Never seen that before, interesting. Then Neito notices the small bandage on the side of your chin. It’s clearly not properly treated, as he can see blood leaking from its edges.

           “You’re hurt?” That smirk is gone…Is that concerns you see on his face? You never imagined someone like him is capable of such compassion. “Oh this? I tripped and I cut it. No big deal though.” Avoiding his caring gaze, you’re starting to feel uncomfortable. He is acting so…nice? Who is he and what has he done with the real Neito Monoma?

           No big deal? If it is not cleansed and closed properly, it could very well leave a scar on your flawless face! Monoma doesn’t know why this bothers him this much, what he does know is you need to get proper medical attention immediately. “None sense. Come, that’s get you to recovery girl.”

           “I’m fine, really. Hey, let go of me, Monoma!” He took your left hand into his without permission? What the hell? The next thing you know he is dragging you out of the library.

           “If you don’t want to cause a spectacle in the hallways, better stop being a brat and shut your trap.” Ah, there it is. The normal insults of Neito Monoma. You silenced yourself, nevertheless. Thankfully, it’s afterschool, so no one is in the hallways. You can just picture how rumors were going to spread if someone sees you and Monoma “holding hands” like this.

           The Recovery girl is busy with someone’s training injury. Much to your surprise, after taking some antibiotics ointment and a couple of cotton swabs, he decides to tend to your wound himself.

           Slim fingers carefully peeling the bandage off, the blonde’s brows knotted when you let out a hiss of pain. “It might hurt now, but it’s going to scar if you just leave it like this.” He is so focus on cleansing your cut that he missed your shock. After making sure the wound is hygienic, Neito starts applying the ointment with such attentiveness, making sure no corners are missed. His eyes are filled with worries, instead of the usual condescending attitude. It all looks too good to be real, so you stay quiet.

           Neito used to be quite clumsy as a child, so he learned how to tend to minor wounds such as yours. Fortunately, your cut is not deep or long, with the correct care it would heal in no time.

           It was not until he finishes up, after putting a new bandage over your treated wound, that Neito realizes what he has done. Not only he had literally dragged you here, but also tended your wound himself! If he does not know better, he would say he genuinely care for you. Biting his lower lip, the Blonde’s head start to spin, to think how he can excuse himself out of this awkward situation.

           “Neito?” You are calling him by his first name now? That is new. Not that he hates it.

           Then you just look at him with those innocent eyes, those beautiful eyes. And those lips, they look so tasty, he would not mind a tast-

           Wait, where did all those obscene thoughts come from?

           You two are standing in an empty hallway beside the nurse’s office, staring at each other in silence. “Thank you for that, Neito. I really appreciate your help. I wouldn’t want to have a scar.” Is that all you have to say? Normally that would be enough, but for Monoma?

           “You got two options, (y/n). One, just walk away, pretend this never happened and carry on with your normal life.” He paces towards you, you realized how he had backed you into a corner. He is close, too close-you can feel his breaths gently brushes your cheeks. Up close, you noticed he is actually quite handsome, with that well-trimmed blonde hair and those crystal blue eyes. If he were not such a jerk, he would have been quite a charmer. Wait…is he trembling?

           “What’s the other option?” You asked that out of pure curiosity. Childish, you know, but you cannot help but be amused at the blonde’s shacking form. It is not everyday you get to see so terrified and flustered, a major blush across those usually pale cheeks. A rare but delightful sight.

           Don’t you get those hints? Your innocence, while cute, is driving Neito crazy. He is so done with playing subtle. Let his knuckles brush against the uninjured side of your face, touches so soft that can be mistaken as lover’s.

           “Or” He whispers near your ear, almost towering over you; “You can show me how thankful you are for my care. I been thinking about kissing you for a while, you know.” He is buffing. Neito is screaming in his head, praying that you reciprocate his feelings. It is the least you can do after making him swoon over you for so long.

           How dare you! How dare you making him feel attached? Like you are the only thing he wants in this world? Who gives you the right to make him obsess over you?

           Neito is scared, terrified, even. This had never happened before. Due to his handsome appearance, there had been girls interested him before, but they all backed away once they learned about his personality.

           You were too astounded to move. Neito Monoma, the infamous rude prick from Class 1B, has feelings for you? Someone pinch you on the arm, to make sure this was not just some lewd dream. “What, so shocked that you can’t even speak?” Forcing your chin up with his thumb and index fingers (but still careful not to touch your wound), his face begins to lean close. You shut your eyes, half-hoping for it to happen.

           But you only felt a quick peck on your cheek. Of course he would not steal your first kiss here. Neito would want to make it a moment he could treasure forever, after a date. Not in this little dark hallway.

           “You, me, tomorrow at noon, in front of the gate.” Then he left without saying a word, almost stumbling. Only his faint cologne still lingering around you, reminding this is all real.

[i-donot-forget]

4 Days

My Candy Love - Love Life

Eric - Candy/Sucrette - Nathaniel

Words 2373

Spoilers Ep 12 - 13

So I was thinking about the days between the kiss with Eric and our date four days later, but from his perspective.

I don't speak english very well, so this is like 90% google translate

DAY 0

I ran away like a coward after what I had done, what was I thinking? How did I let it happen? But they weren't my imaginations, she reciprocated, right? The more I tried to remember the details of that slip, my mind could only think of one thing, her and the softness of her lips, steal her breath, her glassy eyes and flushed cheeks despite my misdeed, I couldn't help but smile because the reality was more delicious than anything I had imagined. 

The loneliness of my apartment took me out of my reverie, now I had to deal with the consequences of my actions, the only question was when? surely as soon as she got home she would tell him how I took advantage of the situation, maybe Nathaniel was on his way here right now to beat me up, which I deserve anyway ...

I still felt the light touch of her perfume on me and it was driving me crazy, I went to take a cold shower with the horrible sensation of hearing a knock on the door, a product of my tormented imagination. I could not think and I had no one to talk to, I was going around the place like a caged lion, I looked at the clock again helpless when I saw that even time was making fun of me, I changed with the idea that there was only one thing that could distract me now, go for a run. I was going fast, lost in my thoughts with the uncomfortable feeling that I was being followed, stopped at a traffic light I was left blank when I saw a blond guy in a white jacket on the other side of the sidewalk, I knew it was not him and even so I could not take my eyes off him until I was 100% sure, I trotted past him receiving the smoke from his cigar fully on my face, By the time I got to the other side of the street, I needed a cigarette more than I needed oxygen. 7 years in the trash, I thought as I ripped off the plastic and opened the box, that first puff was the only thing that managed to calm me down a bit and before I knew it I was on the second.

I walked home calmer or the fact that my head was spinning absorbed some of my attention but when I closed the door the adrenaline and excitement had passed, now I was on the floor, I saw the time and resigned that tonight I could not sleep I dropped into the chair in front of the table that was overflowing with reports, I opened the laptop and gave myself to the escape who had rescued me from Melissa for the last year and there I could see an e-mail from Ben that I should have checked that afternoon if I wouldn't have been in such a rush to get to a certain cafe at 8pm.

DAY 1

By the time the sun rose I could no longer bear the thought of not knowing what to expect, so I called Nathaniel against my logic and common sense, put the phone on speakerphone, and put it on the table as I clung to the wood tightly. Each ringtone fed my paranoia. I expected the worst, screams, insults, threats, at the very least, and then he answered, I stammered incoherencies until I realized that he didn't know, she hadn't told him… yet. I told him about the information Ben had sent me feeling slightly relieved, I hung up the phone calmer but not better, this secret was a time bomb and I felt like garbage. 

I froze as I tightened the doorknob, because by inertia my feet would take me straight to the Cozy Bear, like every morning before work and every afternoon at closing time, but I couldn't go back there like nothing else, I was a criminal returning to the scene of the crime simply couldn't break into her space after what had happened, not without her authorization. I walked towards the station in the company of a cigarette and for some reason I could not remember when was the last time I had done this, I was tense, distracted, I could not concentrate even on the simplest idea my mind was restless and I simply could not ignore the why, I would have to look at his face and act like every day, I had to be convincing and it felt horrible. I hesitated before entering and after crossing the entrance I stopped for a few seconds to look inside, searching quickly, I took a deep breath out of inertia thinking I still had a few minutes left.

- I am glad I am not the only one who is affected by the investigation . -

A friendly slap on my shoulder caused me an exaggerated start but Nathaniel passed by directly to the Chief's office, I saw how he stopped at the threshold, looked at me and gestured for me to enter. I explained the progress in the investigation with few details until our superior resumed the meeting, luckily without a field operation on the agenda I could keep my distance without raising suspicions. The day was eternal and tortuous but it was already after 10 o'clock at night when I went to vent to the gym, 3 hours later I was at home, another night awake.

DAY 2

-  It is the second day you arrive smelling of cigarettes instead of coffee. I believed that with age your habits would improve, not worsen. Is the wisdom of old age a myth? -

Nathaniel joked as the sound of his fists on the punching bag filled the air, I set the dumbbell I was lifting on the ground before giving him a look.

- Yes, yes, I want to see in what condition you will be when you are my age, young man. -

- But seriously, two days without coffee? That's a record, the Cozy Bear will go broke without you. -

- Yes, well I'm changing the coffee for the gym. With the whole move in I realized that I am not in such good shape. -

- Have you already adapted to your new apartment? -

- I finally have a bedside lamp so even though I don't have a TV, or real china, I was able to finish the last book you recommended. -

- Great. Did you start something new? -

- Yes, in fact I'm already halfway there... it's something different, more suspense with some science fiction. -

- Boring… -

- Whatever you say... to tell the truth... I had discussed it with... Candy. -

- Oh yeah? -

- Yes, now that I think about it... she asked me for the reference, I saved an article from the internet with several titles of the same style. -

- Would you send it to her? will you do me a favor. -

- Sure, mmmh I don't have her number. -

- My phone is in my jacket, the pass is 4444. -

- Don't you know her number by heart? -

- Mmmm no. -

Upon unlocking the screen, the background photo was like a kick in the stomach, it was her with a beaming smile, which I did not remember ever seeing, I imagine that smile is only for him. I looked for the contact, "Honey" of course ... I sent it and put the phone quickly as if it burned in my hands.

I avoided the excused lunch with an imaginary date with a divorce lawyer, I drove through the city with no clear destination, away from those streets where by any chance of life I could come across her, I parked at a gas station when it became apparent that no matter how long I was behind the wheel I would not find the right words and finally I called her, dial tone and after a few minutes, mailbox. Come on again, she must be tending the cafe after all. Second try, back to the mailbox, this is more difficult than I thought. What if she doesn't want to answer me? No, how could she know it's me, maybe she has my number. But what nonsense are you saying? Of course she doesn't have your number, let's go once again the third time's the charm. And I was defeated, after the third attempt I did not have the courage to call again and the uncertainty began to fill my head, I drove back to the station with a thousand ideas going through my head and in all of them I am the villain.

I was collapsed on the desk in my office after the afternoon meeting when the phone rang, seeing her name on the screen made my heart race, I closed the blind on the door window and I hesitated for a moment before locking with key.

- Hello, Candy? Thanks for calling me back. I think we should talk ... -

- Eric? I don’t remember giving you my number. -

Yes ... I simply continue to deceive Nath to calm this uncertainty that is killing me, I continued to accumulate crimes and although I believed that I was prepared to face the consequences, I was surprised at myself, at what I was willing to do to find out. 

- Ahem... I asked Nath for it. I told him I wanted to share the name of the book we had talked about with you but… we both know that’s not the reason. I wanted for us to talk... about what happened between us, the other night. -

- And ... You couldn't have just stopped by? On the phone, it's a bit ... -

- I agree! But I wasn't sure that you wanted to see me. Well, anyway… -

- Okay, well, you know where to find me, right? I don't close before 8, if you haven’t forgotten… -

- Well ... I'm busy today... And tomorrow. I thought…… Maybe we can get a drink together in two days? I promise, it won't take long. -

- Uh… Okey, see you after tomorrow, then! -

When she hung up I felt that the world was turning again, that everything had stopped just with her voice, in the middle of all this a part of me was glad to hear her again. Little by little the plea that had almost stuttered became clearer,she could still hate me, disown me and want me as far as possible from her life. Maybe that was what I deserved, maybe that was for the best.

That night I slept fitfully waking up with a start until dawn, a single nightmare repeated itself in a loop, she laughing in my face for having been so stupid as to believe that there was something between us, that I was mistaken her sympathy for interest and I don't know how I could even dream of her leaving him for… for someone like me.

DAY 3

Jogging accompanied by the morning dew helped me wake up after not resting, somehow a choppy night's sleep was more harmful than a sleepless night, this lack was beginning to take its toll and it was already more than evident in my face that I was not having a good day. Today I would have a little field operation, nothing more to watch in case I saw anything suspicious, although I definitely couldn't see anything if I could barely keep my eyes open.

I hadn't been able to escape lunch today and Nath had already been staring at me for a couple of minutes.

- Everything is fine? -

Hearing that question aloud I hesitated, as if I was no longer physically capable of following this lie, I thought of confessing everything to him, not just the kiss, but this forbidden feeling that I had allowed myself to cultivate, how traitorous and scoundrel I was, but then I thought about her, and how I couldn't take away from her what belonged to her by right, if someone had to be the great antagonist it was me, the only one who would have to pay for deception and lies.

- Yes ... Although I think my attempt to give up coffee for something healthier is ironically killing me, I think I'll go back to my old habits. -

- Take care Eric, I still need you around for a while, someone has to stick up for this department. -

Who would say that words could cause physical pain felt like his words were digging into my back and blocking my throat. I could only smile. Sitting alone in an incognito vehicle my mind was blank, no, not blank really an idea had been fixed in my head as a clue that appears after rereading for the tenth time ... I could not, I simply could not do that to Nath, this had all been a huge mistake, a confusing and totally out of place situation, and it had to end as soon as possible. 

That night I couldn't sleep either, I spent the hours thinking about her, saying goodbye in some way to the moments that I had collected in my memory, I had kept this absurd fantasy for too long and I couldn't continue lying to myself.

DAY 4

This morning I was calm, despite being the day of our meeting, but perhaps it was not tranquility but resignation, today the suspense ended, this story that should never have existed ended.

The hours passed quickly because I had already made a decision, if I wanted to end this forever there should be no doubt, I had to tell her absolutely everything, so when she rejects me and denies each and every one of my hopes, I could turn off that light that still wants to see her, that not even the fact that she is with someone else has been able to extinguish, it must be her and it must be brutal.

I was surprised at how quickly the orange glow of the evening began to creep in through my office window, it seemed that after all I did not really want to go to my “date”. My discouragement was turning into nervousness with each step I took, by the time I realized I was outside the cafe.

And then I saw you through the window and I smiled without being able to contain myself because only when I saw you did I realize that I missed you and that I had not liked spending so many days without seeing you and that everything even seemed a little brighter... 

Oh… Shit, I'm really screwed...

[heartbreaknow]

The Enneagram & Peter Parker

Hey @thebonerpit​! Thanks for responding to my post! (For some reason tumblr was messing up the formatting when I replied to your ask directly, so I had to do it this way.)

I wrote an examination of Tony’s possible enneatypes, if you’re interested, but in this post I’m going to focus on Peter, since it’s his enneatype you expressed doubt over (though I’m not going to be much help in eliminating that doubt I’m afraid 😅).

The difficulty I have with typing Tony is that he feels glaringly representative of multiple enneatypes. By comparison, the difficulty with typing Peter is that he just doesn’t feel overwhelmingly representative of any of the types.  

I think you’re right about the Type 2 being Peter’s closest match. He is definitely generous and people-pleasing. He wants to help, he wants to give love and support, and he wants to be loved.

The problem with him being a Type 2, imo, is that he doesn’t have the 2’s expectation of reciprocity and gratefulness from the people he helps, and he doesn’t have the average-to-unhealthy 2’s tendency to feel that his generous nature makes him superior and deserving. He also doesn’t appear to feel the need to convince others of his selflessness.

So basically, he has all the positives of the Type 2, without a lot of the negatives. I do perceive him as being quite healthy, though, regardless of what type he is. So I suppose he could simply be a really healthy 2.

*

Type 9s and Type 2s are often mistaken for each other, so I tend to default to Type 9 for characters who don’t quite fit the Type 2. But in Peter’s case, I don’t think Type 9 really fits.

Is keeping peace really that important to Peter? I don’t think so. I don’t think “peace” is ever really Peter’s aim. Peter wants to help, but he’s not at all afraid of disrupting the peace in order to do it. And if something is remotely important to him, the risk of conflict will not deter him from doing it. Plus, he never strikes me as disengaged or detached from whatever is going on, which is a pretty fundamental aspect of most Type 9s. In short, Peter has the open, accepting qualities of the Type 9, but beyond that I’m not so sure.

*

He actually shares a fair number of qualities with a Type 7 (a realization which honestly surprised me a little, as my mind doesn’t go to the Type 7 for Peter at all). The basic description of the 7 is:

extroverted, optimistic, versatile, and spontaneous. Playful, high-spirited, and practical, they can also misapply their many talents, becoming over-extended, scattered, and undisciplined. They constantly seek new and exciting experiences, but can become distracted and exhausted by staying on the go. They typically have problems with impatience and impulsiveness.

That honestly sounds a lot like Peter.

I’m having a hard time putting my finger on why I don’t think he’s a 7. I think the motivation behind his 7-ish traits just feels wrong? He has a lot of Type 7 traits because he’s young, and kids have a lot of Type 7 traits by nature (there’s a reason Type 7 is often referred to as the “Peter Pan” type). But Peter isn’t driven by the Type 7’s relentless impulse to glut himself on all of life’s many possibilities. Also, he just seems way too selfless and people-pleasing to be a 7 (a type known for being a little self-involved).  

*

Which just leaves the Type 6.

On the one hand, Peter’s strong desire for someone he can look up to, emulate, and be mentored by is very 6-ish. And as with the Type 2, Peter exhibits a lot of the 6’s positive qualities—he’s hard-working, loyal, and willing to fight harder for others than he will for himself. Also, his academic bent recommends him for the Type 6, as 6s are commonly the type most strongly suited to formal academia.

However, like with the Type 2, Peter lacks most of the Type 6’s flaws and weaknesses.  

Type 6’s are generally distrustful of others, whereas if anything I’d say Peter tends to be too trusting. 6’s are generally pessimistic, while Peter is fairly optimistic. And most importantly, 6’s generally struggle with constant self-doubt that influences everything they do and hinders them from making independent decisions, and while I can see self-doubt in Peter (particularly in FFH), it doesn’t seem nearly severe enough to be typical of the Type 6. He makes a lot of his own calls, often without hesitation. If anything, his ready belief that he can handle tricky situations on his own often gets him into trouble.

Also, I think Peter seeks approval (a preoccupation of types 2, 3, and 4) more innately than he seeks security (a preoccupation of types 5, 6, and 7).

*

One final note that feels necessary to make is that Peter’s youth can’t help but interfere with his ability to be accurately typed. For example, is he rash, impulsive, and willful because those traits are fundamental to his core personality? Or is he rash, impulsive, and willful because he’s a teenager?  

I’m typing him anyway, because it’s fun, but if we were to examine his character in ten years, who’s to say what of Peter’s present day characterization would remain the same, and what would be different.    

That said, right now, without doing further research, I would type Peter as a healthy 2w1.

And while I typically don’t explore the tritypes much, in Peter’s case I found them useful, so I’ll go further and call his tritype 2/6/9 (fittingly labeled The Good Samaritan). Though I could also see his tritype as 2/6/8 (The Rescuer).

269, 296, 629, 692, 926, 962-The Good Samaritan If you are a 269, you are caring, inquisitive and accepting. You want to be helpful, supportive and peaceful. You like people and want to find ways to engage with them. Your sense of pride comes from getting along with others and being of assistance. You are known for your easygoing, and friendly disposition. You hate conflict and may struggle with being too passive.

268, 286, 628, 682, 826, 862-The Rescuer If you are a 268, you are caring, supportive and protective. You want to be helpful, engaging, and straightforward. By nature, you want to be in charge of your world and are attracted to the noble cause. You wish to shield others from harm and will challenge what is unjust. You want to know what the rules are to feel safe and to know when you can break them.

[libertasrpg]

We welcome Coraline Jones to the city. She’s 20 years old and is a geography student. Coraline is often mistaken for Alba Planas. She’s open.

→ Background Information

TW: alcohol abuse, emotional abuse

Coraline’s childhood was a turbulent one. The main source of drama was to do with her parents. Her parents were gardening catalogue designers. Many said that they should have never become parents. They were incredibly neglectful of Coraline. Melanie Jones in particular was awful. She had an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, which often left Coraline and her father on the receiving end of her anger. While Charlie Jones himself was a good guy, the abuse he received from his wife had quite clearly worn him down over the years. Coraline only has fleeting good memories with her parents from her childhood. Good moments were far and in between, and almost always book-ended with bad memories.

→ Relocation Explanation

Coraline looked forward to heading to college all her life because it was an opportunity to get away from her parents. There was always so much instability and controlling that she couldn’t wait for the chance to start out on her own. So, when Coraline came across the potential to move to a brand new city for college, she couldn’t have thought of a better place to start an adventure. Obviously all the applications were done in secrecy and Coraline had to arrange moving there all by herself. It was stressful, but worth it.

→ Living Situation

There was no way that Coraline was going to be able to afford a place by herself so she had to sign up to share an apartment. Little did she realise that her college would assign her the most annoying person on the planet.  To say they butt heads when Coraline first moved in is putting it lightly. It wasn’t until some time after they started living together that Coraline warmed to Wyborn. Aside from roommate issues, Coraline is quite happy with her little space. She loves having the opportunity to decorate her space however she wants. A lot of it is very vibrant and colourful, simply because she didn’t have the chance to have a fun room when she was younger.

→ Her Personality

You can’t say that Coraline isn’t honest. She always has, and always will, say it how it is. She doesn’t do it to hurt feelings, she just doesn’t believe that lying is very productive. But, that doesn’t mean she won’t occasionally accidentally omit the truth to help herself out. Those who do get to friendship level with Coraline know that there is goodness in her however. She is incredibly smart and creative, with the ability to make even the most boring of situations fun. There’s never a dull moment with Coraline around.

→ Her Qualities

Creative, outgoing, witty, adventurous

Sarcastic, rebellious, skeptical, critical

→ Her Relationships

Wyborn Lovat (Friend & roommate): Coraline definitely didn’t like Wyborn when she first moved in. She even nicknamed him Why-where-you-born, thanks to his name being so close to the phrase in sounds. He was annoying and wouldn’t leave her alone. Over time though, Coraline got the chance to see his softer side - and so she reciprocated. They do get along now. They’re definitely not quite at a best friend level, but they’re better than where they were when she first moved in.

Melanie Jones (Mother): All Coraline wants is a friendly mother - One who doesn’t always make her feel like a waste of space. There are some good moments of course but they are far and inbetween. Coraline clings to these memories. Generally, Coraline does what she can to avoid her mother. She knows that most of the time, regardless of what she says or does, she’ll just be met with anger and hatred.

Charlie Jones (Father): Charlie has always been slightly softer than Mel. Coraline appreciates that, but it’s still said to see how his spirit has wained over the years. She used to love watching her father play on the piano when she was younger, and would sometimes sit on the bench with her. Nowadays, he doesn’t have the energy to do so and just muddles along with the job he shares with his wife.

→ Possible Connections

Berlioz Bonfamille (Acquaintance): Berlioz is a face that Coraline see’s around campus quite often. He’s quite the cheeky guy, so they get along quite well. Having grown up with a musical favour, she’s always had a soft spot for music students. Music brings her great comfort so will sometimes sit in on Berlioz’s practices when she has free time.

Diego Gracilis (Acquaintance): There is nothing that Coraline loves more than adventure. Whenever she comes across police around time, she loves pestering them to hear about who they’ve arrested lately. Someone she ends up doing this to often is poor police sergeant Diego Gracilis. Coraline isn’t satisfied until she has a new story to go home with!

Bryoni Tinker (Acquaintance): Of course whenever Coraline takes any of her vintage items to be fixed, she ends up grilling the fixer on how it’s done. She knows that the blonde would probably prefer to not be constantly disturbed while working but Coraline can’t help but ask questions. The process of fixing stuff is always so intriguing and Coraline is extremely inquisitive!

→ Faceclaim Change:

Allowed | Not allowed | POC must | Discuss with admin

Suggestions: TBA

Coraline is based on Coraline Jones from Coraline.

[ellana-ravenwood]

“Go away, you’re confusing my baby” - Bruce Wayne x Reader (x Clark Kent)

First, here are the fic where Thomas appears or is mentioned (just so you know who we are talking about : The Great Mall adventure, Master of Diaper, Shaky steps and bad teaching and Polichinelle, you can find all those pics on my master list blog : ella-ravenwood-archives, I can unfortunately not link them anymore because of Tumblr who now makes posts with links not appear whenever you search the tags in the search bar. Second, this fic was inspired by an ask I received that said : “Because of their blue eyes and black hair Bruce and Clark could be mistaken for brothers maybe even twins if no one knew. Has Thomas ever been not sure which one was his dad and cries in frustration.”. I loved the idea so much I ended up writing this so..hope you’ll like it, and as usual, feedbacks are MORE than welcome : 

You can find my masterlist here : @ella-ravenwood-archives

__________________________________________________

There was a time, years and years ago, when you first started to date Bruce, where you occasionally used to be a tiny bit confused about something.

Nowadays of course, it seemed ridiculous to you, but in the past...It was a genuine mistake. 

After all, they look so much like each others !  And the worst thing is ? They don’t seem to realize it at all...

And yet your now husband Bruce Wayne, and his best friend Clark Kent, shared crazy physical similarities. You weren’t the only one who got confused.

Lois admitted to you that she did too, the first time she met Bruce (she thought it was Clark without his glasses)...And oh the number of times there were pictures of Clark in the paper under the title “Billionaire Bruce Wayne dresses like a commoner and visits Metropolis” (how rude, by the way) was countless ! 

Of course, if you’d pay just a little bit attention, you’d realize very quickly that they are different men. Bruce’s hair were better kept, less disheveled. He didn’t wear glasses, and he was...half an inch smaller. Other than that, dark hair, blue eyes, well build, they really looked like twins at times.

But if you don’t know them and they’re next to each others, it’s genuinely difficult to know who’s who. Or at least, if you thought they were brothers, no one would think you were being stupid. 

Yup, back in the days those similarities plunged you in a few awkward situations. Oh man. So awkward. 

At the top of your head, you can think of that time, at the Kent farm (you and Bruce would often be invited over there...It was a nice change of pace from Gotham and though you had to drag your then boyfriend often, it always ended up being utterly relaxing and nice), you went to who you thought was Bruce, but in fact was Clark, and wrapped your arms around his torso lovingly...just for him to turn around, as red as a tomato, and being all like “I think you got the wrong person (Y/N)”. 

Of course, you withdrew very quickly, and both of you swore to never talk about this to Bruce, or he would never let it go...He was already so jealous of Clark and the fact that you and him used to be a thing.

Nowadays, you knew how to differentiate them even if their back was in front of you...They looked the same like that, except for a tiny difference...Clark was half an inch taller. Oh and his hair were less tended to in the back. 

Another awkward moment that came to your head was that time, when Bruce introduced you to Clark and Lois (or rather, to Lois as you already knew Clark from before), and you and Lois got incredibly drunk and kinda went to kiss the wrong man...

You both went to the bathroom and came back to your very sober boyfriends and...You went to Clark, and Lois went to Bruce, and kissed them passionately. 

Bruce pushed Lois away in a matter of seconds, while Clark, too stunned to react, took a little bit longer...In fact, your lover had to take you away from his wide eyed stupid face for you to stop kissing him. 

And oh, you were so near from a diplomatic incident when both you and Lois said Bruce kissed better, even though Bruce didn’t even reciprocate his kiss to Lois (though, just like you and Clark, Bruce and Lois used to have a small fling, long ago, so maybe she was talking about those occurrences...). 

To this day, Clark is still a little vexed about the all ordeal. No matter how much Lois tells hims she was drunk and didn’t know any better...

Yes. 

The fact that your husband and his best friend look like brothers confused you a few times. 

Whenever you didn’t have a good look at them for example, not noticing the difference in clothes etc etc...If the place was a bit dark, if you weren’t in your normal state (aka drunk...or sad, or overly happy), if they had their back to you, if they looked  away and you couldn’t see their faces etc etc...At the beginning of your relationship with Bruce, when you couldn’t quite yet do a difference immediately just by looking a fraction of a second at them, and if they weren’t directly facing you etc etc...you used to mix the two quite a lot. 

So when your son, Thomas, started to get a bit confused about who exactly his dada was...You really couldn’t blame him. 

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

It all started when he was about six months old, and was starting to recognize people for how they looked, and not just with their voice (when he was a tiny infant and couldn’t properly see yet, he used to smile by just hearing yours or Bruce’s voice, it was so cute). 

For some reason, the baby always smiled to Clark, even though his smiles would usually be reserved for his family members. 

Like, Damian thought instantly that it was suspicious, and bothered Superman so much to know what he was doing to his little brother, what was his trick to make him smile !?

Of course, Clark just said that Thomas probably just liked his face, recognized him as a friendly figure, that is all...Damian wasn’t buying it at all, and whenever the superhero was around his precious baby brother, he wouldn’t leave him out of his sight. Just in case. 

And you understood because even you thought it was a little odd. 

So far, whenever Thomas saw someone he didn’t know, he just kind of looked at them curiously, as if he was studying them, and his lips never twitched up a tiny bit. Not even when Jon tried to make silly faces at him, or when Lois sung him a lullaby. Not when Diana rocked him in her arms, or when Oliver tried to tickle him (Green Arrow took it very personally that the baby didn’t even flinch from his merciless tickling...but then he remembered he was the Batman’s son and everything was good again). 

Nope. 

He was only giving smiles to his dad, his mom, the one he would called “grandpa” (Alfred of course), and his brothers and sister. 

They didn’t even need to do anything, as soon as he recognized them, Thomas would just smile widely. 

Dick was peering his face above his crib ? He would smile and more often than not burst into cute laughter. And if his oldest brother would pick him up and do acrobatics with him (loving how his father would freak out), he wouldn’t be able to stop laughing ! 

Tim would come into his bedroom, late at night or very early in the morning, after patrol, when he couldn’t sleep and clearly his baby brother couldn’t either as he cried, and even though he was hungry or had a dirty diaper, Thomas would smile at his sibling while Tim would take care of him. 

Jason would put some music on (often classic rock...Thomas was VERY fond of Led Zeppelin and Queen apparently) and would slowly rock with him in his arms, and the baby would just keep smiling and cooing at his older brother happily. 

Damian would come to talk to him about anything (he read somewhere that treating a child “like an adult” or something, would help him develop better), and Thomas, though of course he wouldn’t understand much of what was going on, would just smile whenever his brother looked at him while talking, and would hold onto his pinky (his all hand wrapping around it because he was really tiny) thoughtfully (making Damian think his brother was a genius and could understand him ! Though most likely, there was something on his face that fascinated the baby). 

Thomas would just hear his father’s voice, and would instantly be happier, laughing and smiling...one of his favorite place was in dada’s arms, because he always felt safe and warm, and dada’s voice was so soothing, and his smiles were the best. 

And mama ? Oh, you just had to look in his general direction for him to excitedly move his arms and feet around and smile at you in a very charming way (surely his father’s son), begging for you to pick him up and cuddle. 

One of his favorite thing to do was to go around the mansion with Alfred, while the butler would clean the place, sometimes turning to his young master, who was calmly laying in a portable crib, telling him that he hoped later he would “clean after himself more than the rest of the family”, and wishing very hard that the smile that the baby was giving him meant that yes, he will.

And oh Cass ? His only sister was crazy about him, and it was reciprocal. If Thomas was crying for seemingly no reasons, out of frustration or anything like that, only Cassandra could cheer him up in a matter of seconds, by making silly faces at him. His laughter would always be so loud...

So it genuinely came as a surprise to all of you that Thomas would smile like that to Clark, even though he wasn’t that often around and such.  

That day, when your baby son started to smile widely at one of your best friend, your suspicions about why started to arise. Of course, you didn’t have enough proof yet, except maybe the fact that before he could see properly Thomas never smiled to Clark, but...You were pretty sure of your gut’s feeling. 

You didn’t tell Bruce though, because there was no need to “hurt” his feelings, or to make him jealous (in that way at least)...But you knew there would be a day where he’ll realize too that, the reason why his son smiles so much at his “Uncle Clark”, is because he thinks it’s his dad (which is also why whenever Clark starts to speak, the boy look a bit confused and scared, not recognizing his dada’s voice). 

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

The day Bruce understood what was going on was when Thomas was about nine/ten months old. 

Clark came to pick Jon up after the boy slept over the Manor, having a “pyjama party” with Damian and a few other friends.

And the man just couldn’t resist to go see his little “nephew”. That baby was just so damn cute, and so happy all the time, it was hard to think it was really Bruce’s kid...Well, come to think of it, he took after your smile so ya know. 

Thomas was happily crawling around on the floor, a pacifier in his mouth, sometimes stopping to look at something that intrigued him (like that part of the ground that was soft and not the same color of the rest of the ground...later on, he learned that it was called a “carpet”, and man he loved carpets ! So comfy and funny !), when suddenly, he felt someone picking him up. 

The baby thought about protesting for a few seconds, as he was having so much fun exploring the living room ! But then his eyes met his father’s and Thomas instantly forgot about his fun being cut short to smile widely at his dada ! So wide in fact, that his beloved pacifier fell on the floor. 

But he didn’t care, because dada was there ! No need for a soothing pacifier when you can get the real deal of your father’s safe and warm arms, and great voice ! 

-I think he really likes you Clark, you’re the only one aside from Bruce and I, his siblings and Alfred, that he smiles like that to. 

Thomas giggles as he looks towards where his mom’s voice come from, and coo at her happily. She smiles back at him, and as usual, the baby boy just feel a swarm of calmness and happiness. 

That was cut short by an awful discovery. Something that shook his entire world ! What was that sorcery ?! 

From the living room’s door, his father came in. 

He knew it was dada because of the kiss he laid on his mommy’s forehead. 

But how could he be in his arms, if he was over there ! There was only one explanation possible...Thomas turned to face the man that was holding him, and confusion swarmed him. It was the same guy, right ? It was...dada ?

But dada was over there ! 

There’s a few seconds of silence where Thomas is looking between Clark and his dad, beyond confused, getting more and more frustrated because he couldn’t understand what was going on...And then. 

Then he realizes he’s not in daddy’s arms. 

Daddy is the one kissing mommy. 

And so his mouth slowly, oh so slowly, turns into a frown...And he starts crying like crazy. Scared. 

Bruce rushes towards his son and takes him from his friend’s arms, glaring at him as if he was the cause of his precious baby’s distress (and in a way, he was). 

Thomas instantly stops crying as he hears his dada’s voice. The real voice, the soothing and warm one. He grabs Bruce’s cheeks and...yes, that’s definitely dada. He smiles widely again, even laughing, out of relief.

You just witnessed all that and an idea you had walking in your head for a while now comes out of your mouth before you can think : 

-I think he got confused and thought Clark was you, my heart. I mean, this would explain a lot. 

Superman, who felt so bad because he doesn’t even know what he did to make the baby cry, says : 

-Oh you think ? Haha, that’s so cute. 

That would indeed explain a lot. Why the kid was always comfortable around him, but seemed to flinch a bit whenever he spoke, and such things. 

Bruce, holding his son tightly against his heart, stared daggers at Clark and said, trying to brush those allegations off as if nothing, but talking too fast so that you and Clark know he’s jealous : 

-Nonsense ! He knows who his father is ! 

You give your husband a mischievous smile he doesn’t like and say : 

-Let’s do a test. Tommy, is this dada ?

Thomas turns to the direction you show and...He sees Clark. 

Just like before, there’s a few floating seconds where he just stares at both men and...

In an instant, the little frown is back on his face, and he’s about to cry again, thinking he got somehow tricked once more and still isn’t in his dada’s arms, but Bruce’s voice resonates in the room. 

-Hey hey hey, everything is alright little one, Dada is here. 

Thomas turns to his father’s face, it still looks eerily similar to the other one over there but...maybe if he stops looking he’ll disappear ? Besides, this one has dada’s voice. 

It is dada. He’s sure of it, as Bruce speaks soothings words into his ear and softly stroke his back, kissing his forehead softly. 

Only dada did that. 

Thomas knows now he’s in the “right” dad’s arms and calms down, to the point that he falls asleep, his head resting on his father’s shoulder. 

Bruce gives a look to Clark that clearly means “MY son”, but doesn’t dare to speak in fear of waking up his boy. 

Both you and Superman are utterly amused at his reaction, as it’s clear he freaked out that his own child was not recognizing him...It was quite cute really. You exchange a look with Clark that shows all the friendship shared between the two of you, and shake your head slowly. 

Ah what a silly man you fell in love with. 

**********

By the time Thomas knows how to walk, you are sure that whenever Clark is around, he’s very confused as to who his father actually is. Every time, Bruce just starts to speak hurriedly and the boy realizes he’s the real dada, but still...it’s odd for him. 

It always makes you chuckle, same for your sons. But if there’s one that is not amused at all, it’s Bruce. 

He hates it, in fact. Thanks God Clark doesn’t come every day to the mansion. 

Today however, Bruce doesn’t think about that at all, as he’s spending some quality times with you and his youngest son. Lately, he has been very busy with some cases and barely saw you two...so he took a day off to enjoy your company. And oh it was well deserved. 

You were all chilling in one of the living room, when you decided to play hide and seek. You were helping Thomas find his father back. 

-Where’s dada Tommy ? Where'd he go ? 

Thomas, now almost two years old, looks at you with sparkles of intelligence in his eyes. Proudly he exclaims : 

-Dada ? ‘E sky ! Sky ! 

You can feel the smile crouching on your face as you realize what is about to happen, and even more when you hear, from behind the couch, your husband saying : “In...in the sky ?”. 

Bruce, crouching in a very un-Batman way behind the piece of furniture, also knows what’s going to happen, and he doesn’t like it one bit. You ask : 

-What is dada doing in the sky ? 

Thomas, sure of himself, answers : 

-Is ‘Uper’man ! 

You instantly start laughing way too loudly, as Bruce jumps out from behind the couch in one swift motion, and says, outraged : 

-Dada is NOT Superman !! 

This startles Thomas a bit because, where the Hell did Dada came from ?! 

But then he quickly smiles, as always when he sees his dad, and reaches his arms to him to get picked up. Bruce does so and then says : 

-Dada can’t go in the sky. 

Thomas is confused. He thinks for a few seconds and then thoughtfully asks : 

-Dada ‘owers b’oken ?

Bruce vehemently talks back : 

-No ! Dada doesn’t have powers ! 

Thomas is more confused than ever, while you’re still laughing and Bruce is vexed. 

Since when did Dada not have powers ? The boy is pretty sure he saw him on TV, flying ! And he also saw him with a different costume in Gotham, jumping from building to building, flying too with wings this time ! 

But the little one quickly forgets his troubles as he realizes his father is pouting, and seems unhappy. Thomas hates when his dada isn’t feeling well, and so he reaches for his cheeks, stroking it and smiling widely (it usually works to cheer dada up !). 

Bruce can’t resist and smiles back, of course. But it quickly turns back to a frown as you say to your son : 

-I understand your confusion baby, mama too had troubles differentiating them at first ! But let me tell you something, they don’t kiss the same. 

Bruce narrows his eyes at you, knowing exactly what you’re trying to do and yet still falling right into your trap, and says :

-What was that ?!

You smile innocently at him and say, falsely surprised : 

-What ? I didn’t say anything. 

Bruce gives you a look full of fiery passion that sends heat low in your body as he says : 

-Ooooh my love, when Thomas will go to bed, I’ll show you how better of a kisser I am. And I won’t kiss just your mouth. 

You blush slightly, even if you’re used to him telling you things like that. You’re almost waiting for your boy to say “eww”, but he’s too young yet to know what it means, and none of your other children are currently around. 

You laugh to hide your want, and kisses him fondly...

-Bah baaah, ewww ! 

A little voice exclaims, in between your bodies. 

Thomas. He’s not old enough to know about everything, to understands the words, but his siblings’ reaction to his parents kissing taught him that it wasn’t something nice and so he protests. 

You laugh some more and Bruce looks down to his son fondly. Damn he loved you and him so much. 

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

Thomas is four years old and it’s his birthday party. 

The entire league is invited of course, and they all bring great presents (you take away the bow and arrow Oliver gave him though...at four years old, Thomas was already showing great abilities with those things and you didn’t want him to hurt himself or his brothers and sister). 

Your youngest son, as all of your other children really, is well beloved by your friends. Because he smiles so much, because he knows what he wants and doesn’t let people walk on his feet even though he’s still young (Barry still remembers when he teased him and took his action figure away, and how tiny Thomas tackled him, or tried to, and then proceeded to climb on him to get it back...). 

He was a good mix of you and Bruce. Physically, he really looked like his father at his age, except for the eyes, that were yours. Mentally ? He was a bit of both of you. A perfect mix. The best of both sides. Though he unfortunately inherited your stubbornness...It meant that he was double stubborn. Oh boy. 

But for now, he was just happily prancing around, playing with his siblings and his siblings’ friends (he was home schooled for now as his first day in kindergarten was awful...papparazis wouldn’t leave him alone, and one of the teacher even planned a “candid” photoshoot, letting them in the classroom...Thomas was quite a shy boy in environment he didn’t know, just like you, and he panicked and cried...When you saw the articles in the journal the next day, talking about how much of a brat he was with pictures of him terrified and crying because they were too many people around him, both you and Bruce decided to wait for him to be older to go back to school...therefor, his only friends were his siblings and his siblings’ friends, which was enough for him really, he loved them !). 

At some point during the day though, the boy ran to Clark. 

You saw him in the corner of your eyes. Bruce was in the kitchen, helping Alfred setting candles up and such, and you knew what was going to happen...

Once again, and for the hundredth time, your son was mixing up his father and “uncle”. 

A little ritual of his and your husband, was for Thomas to run and jump on his dad’s back. Bruce would then proceed to run around the house, being the perfect “horse”, and your son would laugh his ass off. So much that sometimes, he’d choke on his laugh (which usually meant the end of the game) 

And you saw, as your son was gathering some speed to be able to jump on his “father”. Only, it wasn’t his daddy. And when he jumped on him, Clark just jump in the air a bit and was surprised. 

Until he realized it was Thomas and just picked him up properly, not understanding why the boy was pouting. 

-Daddy, you’re suppose to be a horse. 

Lois was next to Clark and turned to you, nodding, telling you that yes...Yes you were right, once again, your son got confused. She was holding her laugh. 

Bruce chose that moment to come back, and when he saw his son in his best friend’s arms, he understood too. He trotted towards them and called for his boy : 

-Thomas, come, it’s almost time for your cake. 

Thomas jumped a little bit, startled. Why was his father’s voice coming from behind ?! But he wasn’t a small baby anymore, and he understood instantly what was happening. 

This wasn’t daddy, he realized that now, as he spotted the classes and the messy hair. It was uncle Clark ! And so the boy made a face that made you burst into laughter (like a mix of “oops” and “gotta go”, sprinkled with a bit of “this is embarrassing”), and wiggled his way out of his uncle’s arms (his dad taught him how to escape someone holding him against his will, and Clark was super surprised when one second the kid was in his arms, the other he was running towards his father...he didn’t even feel him slip away !). 

Thomas jumped in his daddy’s arms and gave him an apologetic look, knowing now how it kinda hurt him that he mixed him up with Clark...but they looked so much alike ! When he got excited, he couldn’t do a difference !

-Daddy isn’t Superman. You’re better than Superman. And you kiss better. Mommy said that. 

Bruce narrows his eyes at you as you choke because of how much you laugh, but you can’t help it. It’s just so cute. And so funny. And oh that kid was such a parrot ! He continued, because he wanted to make sure his daddy knew that he loved him more than he loved uncle Clark : 

-You’re also better at making lo...

-CAKE ! IT’S TIME FOR CAKE ! 

You yell, as you guessed what he was about to say. You swore to yourself to be more careful about what you say when your little one is around. He is truly a parrot ! Like a lot of four years old really... 

Bruce gives you an amused smile, utterly satisfied with your tinted cheeks. Karma. You hit his shoulder lightly as your son’s attention is drawn to the cake that Alfred and Damian are bringing in, and your husband smiles fondly at you, giving you a quick peck. 

Everyone comes closer to celebrate your boy’s fourth birthday.

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

By the time Thomas reaches the age of eight, he finally almost never does a mistake anymore. Sometimes it happens. 

Either by genuine mistake, or just to piss his father off. 

Like that time, when he was almost twenty, and for some reasons his dad exchanged his costume with Clark...Thomas could clearly recognize his father nowadays, and yet, insisted on calling Superman “dad” all day, no matter how much both men corrected him. 

It made everyone laugh. Everyone, but Bruce. 

But it was a rare occasion nowadays.  

It took him a few years to not be confused anymore, but it finally happened. 

And oh the memories of baby him crying because he was frustrated because he just couldn’t recognize who his dada was, or of toddler him being so sure that Superman was his daddy, or even of young child him, always jumping on Clark thinking it was his dad, or calling out for him from afar only to realize it’s not Bruce...It always made you all laugh. 

Even Bruce, too be honest. 

He had to admit, he does look like Clark. 

And oh the souvenir of his baby’s face whenever he was utterly confused, the look of question in his eyes, and that cute little slowly building frown...it just made him feel warm and fuzzy. 

Damn he loved that boy. And he loved you too much for really taking to heart your teasing...besides, you never teased him to the point of actually hurting his feelings. 

In fact, it was you, who reassured him when he was freaking out about his son not even recognizing him. It was you rationalizing things and telling him that to his toddler’s eyes, you  just looked the same. But hey, whenever he started to speak, didn’t Thomas instantly recognize who his father was, and always jumped to him ? 

Oh you. What would Bruce do, without you in his life ? 

The End.  

________________________________________

This was supposed to be a mini-fic, but I got carried away, as usual. I feel like it’s boring...did you find it boring ? Or like messy ? I don’t know. I wrote this very fast in a spur of inspiration so...Eh. Anyway. 

As usual, feedbacks are more than welcomed. See you soon with another story. Blah blah blah. Blah. The End. 

Just in case some of you don’t feel like they look a lot like each others (though I agree they have differences...Like their hair is different, and Clark is like, half of an inch taller..AHEM) : as kids, they looked like they could be brothers, for real. Same facial structures and such, again, the only difference is their clothes and their hair : 

Even people in their World confuse them. Here’s Clark, who “impersonates” Bruce (plus a sweet facepalm from Clarkie) : 

And here’s just a good ol’ Clark Kent ya know...Oh wait no, it’s Bruce, wearing glasses because why not : 

[missjosie27]

Year 1 Part 6- Halloween

Hey guys, 

Been awhile since an update so I hope you like this chapter which is actually one of the longest I’ve ever written. I hope it sheds some more depth on David’s character as well as Chiara :) Enjoy!

David Grant had never been one to care much about personal popularity, but he supposed that an improved standing among the populace wasn’t the worst thing in the world.

News of his winning duel against Merula spread like wildfire around the school. And though he had lost a chunk of house points and ended with a weeks’ worth of detention, the benefits far outweighed the negatives. For one, he had earned the older Gryffindors respect as he received several ‘nice jobs’ or ‘way to go, mate’ from them over the course of the next couple of weeks. Bill Weasley was especially proud when he was told of the outcome.

“Always knew you could do it, Dave,” he said with a wink. “Keep it up and you’ll be the best duelist in the whole school before long.”

It wasn’t just Bill and the older students that sang his praises, however. As David soon found out, it paid to have someone Penny Haywood become your friend. She was in the know not just with her own house, but pretty much everyone. What was even more incredible was that her gossip was never mean spirited or used to talk badly about someone. It was akin to a nonstop news cycle, a column of a school newspaper that reported a feed of stories every day for the public to consume. People naturally gravitated towards her for almost anything and it was refreshing to see someone so kindhearted use their talents for higher purposes.

David enjoyed getting to know Penny immensely, and she seemed to reciprocate that feeling. But an added benefit was also getting to know some of the others within her inner circle, particularly the Hufflepuff. The young Gryffindor had heard others speak dismissively about the House of the Badger, but he personally thought they were the most admirable of any among Hogwarts. For one, there was Nymphadora Tonks, a talented, good natured witch who was always good for a laugh despite having a bit of a clumsy streak. By far her most intriguing aspect was her bubble gum pink hair and her status as a Metamorphagus, someone who could change their appearance at will and a rarity even in the wizarding world. Needless to say, she was constantly earning herself lectures and detentions from her professors.

There was also Diego Caplan, a promising duelist and self proclaimed best dancer at Hogwarts, though no one had actually seen him actually do so. His confidence could be mistaken for arrogance, but one never had a conversation with Diego without the subject of honor, which was extremely important. A Spaniard by birth (his family had moved to England after the British Civil War) and naturally friendly, though some would say flirtatious, he was essentially the opposite of Merula when it came to fighting- principled and fair, values he held dear.

Last but not least, was Chiara Lobosca, one of the most laid back people David had ever met in his life. A kind hearted soul, as well as soft spoken, Chiara had a way with people that surpassed even the most perceptive of their age. Often able to see through a person’s emotions, she offered sensible counsel and was good for a quip when you least expected it. Though slightly paler (Diego had the best tan among the fair skinned Anglo-Saxons) than most, she sported silvery-platinum blonde hair along with deep, brown eyes that were filled with radiance and light every time you looked at them. So it came as a puzzle one day in Herbology when she not only seemed afraid, but slightly irritable.

It was the eve of Halloween, and Hogwarts was abuzz with chatter and excitement, especially among the first years, who had yet to experience a Halloween Feast. As a result, none of the Gryffindors or Hufflepuffs were very focused on their wormwood plants.

“This year’s feast is going to be amazing,” Penny told him enthusiastically as they applied the proper amount of fertilizer to their plant. “You should see the pumpkins Hagrid grew this year.”

“From what I hear, you could fit inside of one!” Rowan added. “They’re huge!”

“What are you looking forward to the most, David?” Penny asked.

The young Gryffindor couldn’t help but smile as he watered his plant. It had been a long time since his family had done anything for the holiday and he was very much looking forward to seeing what Hogwarts had to offer.

“Well, nothing beats an evening with your friends, right?” he said answered. “At the same time, I can’t say I’m not looking forward to eating all the sweets I can get my hands on. Mum’s pretty strict at home about what we eat.”

“Nothing like a sugar induced coma to bring out the holiday spirit,” Tonks laughed. “Also seeing as I’m half blood, I thought I might introduce a little ‘muggle’ tradition into this year’s festivities.”

Rowan and David looked at each other in confusion. Being largely of pure blood, they didn’t have a large of a grasp on anything muggle related.

“What do you mean?”

“Muggles have a tradition on Halloween of dressing up in costume and going from house to house where people give you free candy,” Ben Copper explained, passing along the water bucket. “I used to do that all the time as a kid with my family. Of course, I wasn’t the best person to take trick or treating, I always got too scared.”

“Right you are, Ben,” Tonks snickered. “Only I’m focusing more on the ‘trick’ aspect of things if you know what I mean.”

She immediately transformed into Snape and began doing a crude yet hilarious imitation.

“Mr. Grant what are you doing? Ten points from Gryffindor. Mr. Khanna, you incompetent nincompoop, I need ten jars of picked rats brains now on the double. Is that dust on your robes Miss Haywood. How can you properly brew a potion with dust on your robes? This is unacceptable.”

Laughter rang out among the group before Professor Sprout put an end to it.

“Miss Tonks, as amusing as your impersonations are, I will be forced to give you detention on the Halloween Feast should you continue them in my class, is that clear?”

Tonks immediately shifted back into her regular form, a sheepish grin plastered on her face.

“Sorry, Professor. Won’t happen again.”

“Yes, and I’m sure I’ll believe it the next fifteen times you say it. Anyway, focus class. Your wormwood leaves need to be cut and preserved before end of the period. No dilly dallying, please.”

Still chuckling from the impersonation, David couldn’t help but tease his friend.

“Nice one, Nymphadora.”

Tonks’s hair briefly flashed orange before settling back to bubble gum pink.

“Do not ever say that horrid name again or I will end you, David Grant.”

“You realize I just say it to get a reaction out of you, right? And that no matter how horrid it’s still your first name?” he laughed, ducking Tonks’s swipe at his head.

“What about you, Chiara?” Penny turned towards the silver haired girl. “What are you looking forward to most?”

But there was no response, as Chiara continued to stare at her plant as though it were something from outer space.

“Hello, Chiara?”

Still no response, with only the sound of trimming leaves filling the silence of Greenhouse one.

“Chiara?”

“WHAT?”

The irritation behind the answer only served to puzzle the rest of the group even more as the Hufflepuff took on a look of shame at her outburst.

“I-I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap at you guys.

The period ended with the sound of the courtyard bell before she could expound further, and she immediately ran off to the confusion of everyone.

“What’s with her?” David asked aloud.

“No idea,” Penny said, concern in her voice. “I’ve never seen her snap like that before.”

“Probably just daydreaming about the feast,” Tonks shrugged. “That’s what everyone’s thinking about anyway.”

“I’ll hand in her wormwood leaves,” Rowan offered scooping up the leaves in his hands. “She’ll miss her marks otherwise.”

David had a hunch that whatever was bothering Chiara went beyond a simple feast.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Herbology that day was followed by lunch and that meant two things: giant sandwiches and leftover newspapers that others had left behind, that usually being the Daily Prophet.

For most teen and preteen students, the main political news of the day held little interest. However, in the past week a series of headlines had grabbed the attention of kid and adult alike: that of Fenrir Greyback.

Known throughout the country as the most savage and feared werewolf in Great Britain, Greyback had been heavily rumored to be aligned with Voldemort during the war and responsible for a number of attacks on both adults and children alike. However, he was never caught and had continued to elude capture since the downfall of the Dark Lord, thereby continuing to threaten the populace with his presence.

But that wasn’t the scariest part. In the past couple months, his attacks had grown closer and closer to Hogwarts, leaving many to wonder if the school was next on his list.

“How on earth have they not caught him by now?” Tonks asked, as the hodgepodge of Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs began chowing down. “You’d think someone who attracts that much negative attention would be simple for the Aurors to track down.”

“It’s not that simple, Tonks,” Bill Weasley interjected, sitting down next to David, grabbing the newspaper and reading it. “Rogue werewolves are notoriously difficult to capture. My dad says they often go into hiding and form their own groups to avoid persecution. Perfect recruiting opportunity for someone like Greyback. He’s got so many hiding places that by the time he attacks it’s often too late.”

“There are rumors he’s going to attack Hogwarts, is that true?” Ben asked worriedly.

“I don’t think so,” Bill reassured, realizing he had put some of the group on edge. “He’d never attack Hogwarts with Dumbledore around.”

“They say he targets children,” David said quietly. “More so than anyone else. Mum and Dad wouldn’t let Jacob and I out of the house during one of his sprees in 1979. What better place than the school that holds almost all of the country’s young wizards?”

It was then that he noticed two things: that Penny had a strangely dark look on her face and that Chiara looked highly uncomfortable.

“Penny, are you okay?”

“I hate werewolves,” she said with a bitterness David had never heard her use before.

“They’re not all like Greyback,” Chiara spoke up now, injecting herself into the conversation. “Many manage their condition just fine without hurting anyone.”

This raised some eyebrows.

“And how would you know?” Rowan asked.

Chiara gazed down again at her plate, which she hadn’t touched, suddenly appearing very pale.

“Never mind, forget I said anything.”

Before anyone could press the topic further, Hagrid arrived and interrupted, which in David’s opinion was most welcome.

“Afternoon, everyone! I hope yer all excited fer the feast tomorrow!”

“We certainly are, Hagrid,” David smiled. “Your pumpkins are brilliant, by the way.”

But the false cheer couldn’t hide the slight pall that cast over the group.

“Thank ya, Dave. But I can’t but notice yer lot seem a bit down. What’s the trouble?”

“Fenrir Greyback,” David answered. “People are worried he might attack Hogwarts.”

Realization lit up in Hagrid’s beetle eyes as he immediately tried to reassure the young students.

“Ahhh, Greyback. Don’t you go worrin ‘bout him, alrigh’? He’s a savage tha’ one, but he wouldn’t dare attack Hogwarts with Dumbledore around.”

“That’s what I tried to say,” Bill shrugged half apologetically. “I probably shouldn’t have brought it up.”

“I understand you’re concerned, but nothin’s going ter happen. You should be focusin’ on the feast. It’ll take yer minds off things.”

He placed a hand on David’s shoulder, nearly causing him to collapse from the weight.

“Believe it er not, werewolves aren’t all tha’ bad. I’ve known a few in my day tha’ were good hones’ folk.”

“They’re all just a bunch of disgusting, mindless, killers!” Penny burst out, slamming her fork into a tray of shepherd’s pie.

That brought another uncomfortable silence before surprisingly Albus Dumbledore came up to the podium with a surprise announcement.

“Wait, since when does Dumbledore address during lunch?” David asked aloud.

“He doesn’t,” Bill affirmed. “At least I’ve never seen him do that. Must be important.”

Though not every student was present, the Great Hall was full enough that the message would be spread soon afterwards by those not in attendance.

“May I have your attention, please?” his deep, booming voice echoed throughout room, instantly silencing any idle chatter. “I apologize for interrupting your lunch and for not being able to gather the entire student body for this announcement. Nevertheless, it was quite last minute, and I must inform you of what has just been decided.

“As some of you may be aware, Fenrir Greyback has recently been active in this area and has been rumored to be planning an attack on Hogwarts. I can assure you that will not happen. However, the Ministry has been insistent that they station a member of the Werewolf Capture Unit from the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures at least until the full moon.”

It was subtle, but Dumbledore’s lips tightened slightly, indicating whomever they sent was not particularly adequate or welcome.

“May I please introduce, Mr. Cecil Lee,” The Headmaster said, side stepping to allow a tall man with a handlebar mustache and an awkward demeanor step to the podium.

One glance was all anyone needed to know why Dumbledore did not seem pleased with the decision. Cecil Lee was goofy in appearance- purple robes, white gloves, with matching trousers and a top hat with a chin strap. Adding insult to injury was his bumptious way of speaking that indicated he was not the brightest candle in the room.

“Good day to you students of Hogwarts. I am Cecil Lee of the Werewolf Capture Unit. I understand many of you may be feeling afraid or ‘struck with the fear’ to use the euphonium. But I can assure you, I am here to protect you from and destroy the bloodthirsty beasts that threaten this fine institution. If you have any information regarding werewolves or anything similar, please inform me immediately.”

There was a smattering of uninspired applause as Lee puffed himself up proudly, unaware of just how little the students respected him.

“Well, we’re doomed,” David joked. “Was nice knowing all of you.”

“He’s not related to Barnaby Lee, is he?” Tonks asked. “That big Slytherin bloke who can barely remember to talk and breathe at the same time?”

“His uncle,” Bill affirmed. “And if he’s anything like Barnaby, I may have to join David and draw up a will.”

“Come on, it can’t be that bad, right?” Rowan tried to offer with some sense of optimism. “I’ve read about Hogwarts extensively. It’s protected by a whole series of powerful spells and ancient magic. How would a werewolf get in here anyway?”

No one said anything as it was not a prospect anyone wanted to think about. Werewolves were the scourge of wizarding society. To be bitten and become one was a fate worse than death to many. Add in the most savage werewolf to exist in centuries, no one wad feeling very safe at the moment.

It was then that Chiara pushed her plate forward, declaring, “I’m not hungry” and hurrying away from the table.

No one seemed to notice that much, as the anxiety among the group was too high to think of much else besides the possibility of Greyback storming through the doors and turning every single one of them. But David kept his gaze fixed on Chiara even as she walked out of sight. She was definitely acting funny. And though it may have been a trick of the light, did she seem paler than usual?

All in all, it was shaping up to be one frightful Halloween.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

But the true drama surrounding the holiday was not revealed until the next day and even then, quite by accident. It began with a mix up in Potions. Classes had been moved forward by a few hours that day in order to give the students some preparation before the feast and therefore, they had Potions in the morning instead of the afternoon. What started out as a simple day of brewing a simple Wiggenweld Potion turned into a minor disaster when Barnaby drank some of it before it had finished settling.

“Professor Snape, I think I’m going to-”

He finished his sentence by hurling all over the floor to the disgust of everyone present. Needless to say, the Potions Master was not pleased.

“Mr. Lee, this is the third time this year you have botched a brew by illicitly swallowing a substance toxic to the human body. Should I extend the list of ingredients you aren’t to touch? Or perhaps merely all cauldrons and sharp objects will do.”

Barnaby didn’t answer, the pain in his stomach too acute to reply. Snape waved his wand, vanishing the vomit and pointed towards the Slytherin half of the room.

“Miss Murk, escort him to the hospital wing. The rest of you, finish your potions and leave a sample on my desk. I have no more patience for this foolishness.”

David and Rowan did as ordered, quickly bottling their Wiggenweld Potion in an effort to leave as soon as possible. You did not want to be around Snape for long when he was in a foul mood.

Before he could leave, however, he was called back.

“Grant. Come here.”

Cursing his bad luck, David reluctantly approached the Potion Master’s desk.

I probably brewed it wrong and is going to dock more points, he thought resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

“Yes, sir?” he said, gazing into the cold black eyes of his Professor. “Was there something wrong with the potion?”

“Your Wiggenweld was adequate, Grant, that is not the issue here. Now cease talking and listen carefully.”

Pulling out a brown goblet of what looked like recently brewed potion, Snape placed it on the desk carefully and edged it towards the young Gryffindor.

“I am required to ensure Mr. Lee’s unfortunate mishap has not melted his intestines. While I go to the Hospital Wing, you are to bring this to Miss Lobosca. I believe you are familiar with her.”

“Yes, but-”

“Do not ask questions,” he snapped. “The less your feeble mind knows, the better Grant. You are merely to give this to her and go about your day. Am I quite clear?”

Half tempted to say something cheeky, David nevertheless resisted and took the goblet.

“Yes, sir.”

“Good. I consider this a task easy enough even for you not to botch. I expect to hear Miss Lobosca has received this potion without spilling a single drop. Now, be gone.”

Without another word, David carefully grabbed the goblet and headed towards the Hufflepuff common room. He didn’t know precisely where it was, but he was aware that it was somewhere near the kitchens in the basement. That’s where he would go first.

Maybe I’ll also find out what’s bothering her

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

David had been traversing the basement for a good fifteen minutes. He wasn’t precisely sure where the entrance was, information like that was pretty tight lipped but he didn’t need to know. The Hufflepuffs would be returning from Transfiguration in just a few minutes in order to get ready for their last class of the day before the start of the feast. He just hoped Chiara was among them. He didn’t want to be carrying around a goblet of potion all day long.

Thankfully, his patience was rewarded when he saw a crowd of a half dozen first years approach from the left and Chiara was among them. But before he could even so much as take a step he was confronted by a rather cross looking fifth year prefect.

“What are you doing down here, Gryffindor?” the prefect asked with a degree of hostility. David couldn’t help but notice how dark and penetrating her eyes were, as if they were gazing into your very soul which was highly disconcerting.

“Aren’t Hufflepuffs supposed to be more polite?” he joked in an attempt at humor. It sailed right over her head, unfortunately.

“I’ll ask again, Gryffindor. What are you doing here?”

“Well I was going to try and put bulbadox powder inside of your bed, but I guess you caught me so that plan’s out the window.”

She didn’t like that at all.

“I have half a mind to put you in detention for the rest of the year.”

“Well, shit. There go my plans to become a professional dancer.”

David supposed he shouldn’t push it too far, but in his mind there was a difference between an authority figure like Dumbledore or McGonagall and a prefect with a stick up their arse. In the case of the latter, he saw no reason to treat them any more seriously than any other student, especially a person like this.

Before the prefect could actually give him year long detention, however, Chiara intervened in the nick of time.

“Jane, it’s okay. He’s my friend.”

Thankfully, it was enough to fend off any more questions.

“Ask him what he wants and make sure he leaves as soon as possible,” she said sternly, the soulless eyes gazing into him once more as if to say, ‘or else’. And she stormed off down the hall.

“Nice to meet you too,” David muttered as she left while Chiara laughed.

“You’re lucky, Dave. I haven’t seen many people go toe to toe with Jane like that and live to tell the tale.”

“I can’t believe that monster is your prefect,” he said shaking his head.

“She’s the scariest thing in this school sometimes,” Chiara admitted. “Every one of the younger students are afraid of her. It’s the eyes, really.”

“I know what I’ll be having nightmares of tonight.”

After sharing another laugh, it was time to get down to business.

“But really though, Dave, why are you all the way down here near the kitchens?”

He picked up the goblet of potion that he had set on the ground and showed it to her.

“Snape told me to bring you this. I have no idea what it is, he wouldn’t tell me. I assume he wouldn’t intentionally try to poison you.”

It was a joke of course, but something within Chiara’s blue eyes seemed to shatter.

“W-wait, he wasn’t supposed to give me that until later tonight. W-why did he give it to you?”

That definitely piqued his interest several notches. So, Snape was making a potion for Chiara that she didn’t want anyone else to know about? Why?

“That Barnaby bloke accidentally swallowed unfinished Wiggenweld potion and he had to take him to the hospital wing. He basically ordered me to take this to you.”

Chiara looked fearful and also incredibly hesitant. It seemed as though part of her wanted to take the potion but another part was telling her to knock it out of his hand.

“What’s going, Chiara?” he asked seriously. “The past couple days you’ve been pretty on edge. That’s not like you.”

Tears began to well up in her eyes and David wasn’t sure if he had unintendedly offended her and was prepared to apologize. But before he could, she spoke as though something was about to burst out of her.

“I have to tell you something,” she said in barely more than a whisper. “But you have to promise me you’ll keep it a secret.”

“Okay-”

“Promise me!” she urged, a flash of great fear crossing her normally calm, porcelain features. “No one else can know.”

“Your secret is safe with me,” David assured her and he sat the goblet down once more and brought her into a hug. “Now what’s on your mind.”

Sighing softly, Chiara looked directly into his eyes.

“I’m not what you think I am, Dave. I’m….a werewolf.”

David blinked a few times before doing a double take.

“Wait….what?”

“Please don’t make any jokes,” she pleaded with him. “Nothing about this is funny. I wouldn’t pull your leg on something like that.”

“No, no I swear I’m not making light of this,” he said putting his hands up in the air. “I just…don’t know what to do really. It’s the last thing I was expecting you to say.”

Chiara put her back to the wall and slowly began to slide down.

“It’s the last thing anyone expects me to say. Only a handful of people know and you’re the first person I’ve ever told at Hogwarts. I can’t tell Penny and the others though. You saw how much she hated werewolves. If she or anyone else found out, she’d tell everyone and I’d be expelled for sure. You know how popular she is.”

David rested himself by the wall next to her. This was all a bit overwhelming but despite the revelation no part of him saw a bloodthirsty killer in front of him, just Chiara looking incredibly upset and in need of a friend. Werewolf or not, he wasn’t about to abandon her in the cold.

“Why don’t we start from the beginning,” he said with what he hoped was a comforting tone. “Does Dumbledore know about this?”

“He’s the one that made it possible for me to even come here,” Chiara affirmed. “He said he’s had werewolf students in the past and could take necessary precautions so I could have a necessary education. But my story goes farther back than that.”

“Tell me everything. I want to know.”

Chiara gave him a smile.

“You really are an amazing friend, David. It’s actually more complicated than you know.”

She cleared her throat and began to explain.

“My family isn’t English by birth as you can probably tell by my last name. Mum and Dad were born in Italy to wealthy families but they fled during the second World War because the muggle government was trying to round up those with magic and turn them into weapons. My grandmother spits whenever the name ‘Mussolini’ is mentioned in the house,” she added with a chuckle.

“Anyway, they settled here as refugees and managed to make a life for themselves. They became British citizens under the Ministry, got married and ended up having me. One of those happily ever after stories.”

“But…”

David didn’t need too much context to know there was a ‘but’. Happily ever after stories didn’t tend to last long. He knew from experience.

“The Civil War in this country began under You Know Who and people were being tortured and blackmailed left and right by Death Eaters. My family is extremely wealthy and they came knocking on the door one day for money to help finance their cause. They thought us being Italian might make us more susceptible to their tricks and lies. Well needless to say, Mum and Dad weren’t having any of it and slammed the door in their faces. But I don’t think they truly grasped the danger of having defied You Know Who. They had seen and lived through Grindlewald and thought he was nothing more than a fraudulent copycat.”

“But he wasn’t,” David spoke factually. Anyone who had lived through that time knew just how terrible the Dark Lord had been at the height of his power.

“No, he was much more,” Chiara said sadly. “When my parents refused to help him, he sent Greyback after me knowing full well my parents were naïve enough to believe he wouldn’t retaliate.”

“How old were you?”

“Seven. I was old enough to remember too. Some get bitten when they’re toddlers. They don’t remember what it’s like to be fully human. I do. He broke into the house one night when everyone least expected it. The rest is history.”

Listening to the story tugged on David’s heartstrings and he suddenly grabbed Chiara’s hand in his.

“I don’t know what to say except that I’m sorry,” he said, giving it a light squeeze. “I can’t imagine what it must be like to go through something like that.”

“I’m actually lucky,” she admitted to his surprise. “Most werewolves live in poverty and can’t afford any kind of treatment. My family has money and therefore we’ve found ways to lessen the effects of my condition.”

She pointed towards the goblet of potion he had been carrying.

“That, is what is known as the wolfsbane potion. It was invented only three years ago and it isn’t widely known. Partially because the ingredients are expensive and the potion is quite difficult to make, but essentially it allows me to keep my mind when I transform so I don’t hurt anyone. Most werewolves are highly dangerous around humans, but the wolfsbane potion alleviates the worst of the symptoms.”

“I see,” David said picking up the goblet and handing it to her. “And I take it your family pays for the ingredients while Snape brews it for you every month.”

“Exactly. I have to take it once a week before the full moon for it to work properly. Tonight is the last night.”

She took a massive swig from the goblet and instantly made a face.

“Blecch! It also tastes terrible just so you know. Don’t ever become a werewolf, Dave.”

“Right, because that’s the worst part, right? Not the body hair or the paws, but the horrible tasting potion that keeps you from losing your mind. Though I suppose I could live with the fleas.”

Chiara began laughing again, the sparkle returning to her eyes.

“You’re always good with a joke, Dave. Thank you. But this goes beyond my personal problems as a werewolf. Fenrir Greyback is coming tonight. I know it.”

“How do you know? Just because the papers and the Ministry-”

“For once they’re right, but not for the reasons you think,” Chiara interrupted. “Greyback is coming for me. He’s been after me since the day I was bitten. Not only that but it gives him an opportunity to bite and infect more people. Bill Weasley was right at lunch today, he tries to infect as many children as possible so he can alienate them from the mainstream wizarding world and turn them against it. That’s why he’s been attacking so close to here lately.”

The whole conversation just took on a brand new meaning with that information and David’s heart skipped a beat.

“You mean, you know for sure he’s coming here tonight. Not just because of you but so he can attack the entire student body?”

“He will if given the opportunity. I can’t let that happen.”

“Well then we need to tell Dumbledore or one of the Professors,” David declared before Chiara pulled on his arm shaking her head.

“They already know, and they can’t do anything more than they already have,” she told him.

“There’s always the magnificent brilliance of Cecil Lee.”

“Cut it out, Dave. You don’t even want to know how savage Fenrir Greyback is in real life. As far as I’m concerned, I’m responsible for putting the whole school in danger. It’s my job to make it right.”

“You’re only a first year, how are you supposed to fend him off?”

“Werewolves are a lot stronger than humans,” she explained. “The evening before every full moon, Madam Pomfrey takes me down to the edge of the Forbidden Forest so I can transform away from the student body. When Greyback comes, I’ll be ready to drive him off.”

“You sound more like a Gryffindor than a Hufflepuff right now,” David tried to point out to her. “Seriously, you can’t think you can do this by yourself. Even when you’re in wolf form. At least get some help.”

“You’re the only person that knows my secret,” Chiara said. “I can’t ask any of the older students because they’d just try to get me thrown out. I have to do this by myself.”

“Chiara, you’re not thinking properly,” David said to her, adopting his most serious tone he saved for situations like these. “If you won’t tell anyone else, at least let me help you.”

She appraised him before saying.

“David, I would never forgive myself if you were bitten or worse…”

“And I would never forgive myself I let you try and fend off a bunch of werewolves by yourself.”

A small smile adorned her soft features.

“Alright. If you insist.”

“On one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“You allow me to bring backup.”

That immediately brought the fear back into Chiara’s face.

“No! Dave, you can’t…”

“I’m not telling anyone except Tonks and Rowan. Penny and everyone else won’t find out, I promise. But if we’re taking on Fenrir Greyback, it’ll take a solid team to bring him down. And I know I can trust those guys. I promise, we won’t let you down.”

Chiara considered this for a couple of seconds before letting out a relenting sigh.

“Okay, David. I trust you on this,” she picked up the goblet again and polished off the rest of the potion before continuing. “Here’s what we’re going to do…”

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

When David told his two friends the news, they reacted better than he originally anticipated.

“So that’s why she was acting so weird all week,” Tonks said, rubbing her chin.

“It definitely makes sense,” agreed Rowan. “Though I admit I had about twenty seven other theories before believing she was a werewolf.”

David had managed to find them both at a late lunch hour after their later classes were finished and had gathered them into a huddle in one of the more private corridors so they could chat. He was pleased neither one had any inclination to rat her out, with Tonks exclaiming she thought it was neat and Rowan commenting on it in his usual bookworm manner. The real trick was convincing them to go along with Chiara’s plan.

“You can’t tell anyone though,” David continued to remind them. “Only Dumbledore and the Professors were supposed to know. If word gets out around the student body, she might get kicked out.”

“Consider our lips sealed, Dave,” Tonks said, making a zipper motion across her mouth.

“So what do we do?” Rowan asked. “I don’t know the exact odds of three first years defeating a fully-grown werewolf, but they probably aren’t good.”

“You’re right,” David said. “But it won’t just be us. Chiara told me Madam Pomfrey takes her down to the Forbidden Forest each month to transform. When she does, she’ll be a werewolf, but her mind will be intact. We’ll meet her there a half hour before sunset. If we can hold Greyback off long enough, he might give up the fight.”

“No offense, David,” Tonks said to him skeptically. “But I don’t think Greyback is the type to just give up so easily.”

“Probably not,” he admitted. “But maybe we can buy time. At the very least, he won’t get any closer to Hogwarts.”

He leaned them in closer, making one last appeal.

“Look, this isn’t about going into some half-mad situation just to get our jollies. I don’t care about that. I care about Chiara and making sure she’s safe. I know you two do as well.”

Tonks and Rowan looked each other for brief moment.

“We aren’t just half mad for doing this, we’re completely bonkers,” Tonks said. “Even so, I’ll go. For Chiara.”

“Me too,” Rowan agreed. “I’m not going to leave my best friend, or any of you out in the cold.”

David nodded, knowing he could entrust the two of them to show up when it counted. It wasn’t going to be easy, but if what Chiara said was true, they couldn’t stand idlely by and do nothing.

“You sure we shouldn’t get more people, Dave?” his best friend asked. “Why not ask Penny?”

“Rowan, for someone so book smart you really are thick sometimes,” Tonks told him, eyebrow raised. “You saw the way she reacted towards werewolves. She would go ballistic if she found out Chiara was one.”

The sound of glass breaking echoed behind them. David had tried to warn his metamorphagus friend but alas, it was too late. Penny had heard everything from Tonks’ last sentence.

“What were you saying about being thick?” Rowan shot back at her.

“I-I…tell me I didn’t just hear that,” Penny stammered, the contents of the potion she was carrying long forgotten on the floor.

“Penny, just let us explain…” David tried to reason with her.

“Explain?! What else is there to explain?! Here I am trying to find you before the feast only to find out you’re planning some conspiracy with a bloody werewolf?!”

“You better take off,” he muttered to Rowan and Tonks. “Meet me at six by the courtyard.”

They obliged, leaving David to clean up the damage, which was mainly preventing Penny from doing anything rash. When the blonde girl tried to brush past him, he stopped her.

“Penny, stop.”

“Let go of me, Dave!”

“Not until you promise to keep Chiara’s secret.”

Deep pain flushed into her bright blue eyes as she wrenched herself from David’s grip.

“You would allow a werewolf to walk around at Hogwarts, ready to kill someone at a moment’s notice?!”

David knew he didn’t much a leg to stand on at the moment, but he had never known Penny to be this irrational about anything.

“That’s not right and you know it,” he said to her as she continued to try and go around him. “Chiara isn’t a killer. She’s nothing like Greyback or any of the other werewolves that try to hurt people.”

“I’m not taking any chances! You weren’t there the day it happened!”

Now he was utterly confused.

“When what happened?”

“When I was eight, I stayed out past sunset playing with a friend when a werewolf attacked us. It missed me but it got her instead. I ran to get my mom, but by the time she got there it was too late…and she was dead.”

It was then Penny stopped struggling and broke down crying into David’s arms.

“I’ve never forgotten that day,” she sobbed into his shoulder. “And I’ll never forget that a werewolf took her away from me.”

For the second time that day, David found himself playing the role of counselor to a friend in need. Hardly an area he was familiar with, but adopted nonetheless.

“Penny,” he said, holding her tight in his arms. “There’s nothing I could say or do to alleviate that pain you feel. I’m sorry. Truly I am. But Chiara wasn’t the one who killed your friend. In fact, Greyback was the one who made her this way. This is a chance to help her and make things right. Please, the best thing you can do to honor your friend’s memory, is by helping us take down the savage bastard who’s threatening Hogwarts as we speak.”

Penny sniffed, drying out her eyes, unsure of what to say. David, perhaps foolishly, decided to leave the decision in her hands.

“I’m not going to stop you, anymore, okay?” he said to her, letting go of her body. “You do what you feel is best. But I think you know deep down what the right thing to do is. At the very least, don’t tell the rest of the students about Chiara’s condition.”

Unable to remain in the corridor any longer, the blonde Hufflepuff made her exit.

“I’m sorry, Dave,” she whispered, bolting down the hallway and towards the kitchens where the Hufflepuff common room lay.

David sighed, supposing that if Penny was going to rat them out, he had no control over it now. The best thing to do was to prepare as best he could before six and hope for the best.

Feeling a fair amount of guilt, he made his way back to his own common room.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The hours came and went and before long, six o’clock had arrived. At this point in the year, the days were quite a bit shorter, so they were rather short on time before the sun went down and the inevitable occurred.

Thankfully and to his slight surprise, David and Rowan received no visits from any professor to stop them from what they were about to attempt, which meant at the very least, Penny hadn’t told anyone yet. That theory was confirmed when Tonks arrived at the courtyard only minutes after them.

“Glad you made it, Tonks,” David told her. “Have you seen Penny?”

She shook her pink haired head.

“Nope. In fact, no one’s seen her for a couple of hours. She must be hiding somewhere.”

“Well let’s just get to the edge of the forest quick as we can. Madam Pomfrey should have finished escorting her by now. Everyone’s too distracted by the feast to notice us.”

“Let’s go then.”

Silently as they could and without wizarding robes to slow them down, the trio quietly descended the steps down onto the grass of the training grounds. They continued onward, down past Hagrid’s Hut, past the center for Care of Magical Creatures class, right down to the border of the Forbidden Forest. By the time they got there, the light had faded considerably from the sky, the canopy of towering trees becoming a shadow looming over them.

“Where is she?” Tonks asked, scanning around. “It’s getting harder to see.”

“Right here,” came a reply.

Out stepped Chiara from behind one of the trees. Contrary to everything else around here, she seemed to glow as though her body was anticipating the coming of the full moon.

“You kept your word,” she said to David, giving him a hug.

“Well you know me, words are pretty much all I got.”

“Are you feeling okay?” Tonks asked her. “David told us, well everything really. I promise, we won’t tell anyone.”

Except of course for Penny, David thought irritably, but now was certainly not the time to bring that up.

“To be honest I’m quite scared,” Chiara admitted. “But I do appreciate you all coming down here to help and for keeping my secret.”

“Do we even have a plan?” Rowan interjected. “Or are we just waiting for Greyback to just…show up?”

“Hit him with everything you got,” the Hufflepuff told everyone. “Especially after he transforms. I’ll be there to help but I can only do so much. This will have to be a combined effort.”

“And you know he’ll be coming through the Forbidden Forest?” David asked. They never really went over that part of the scenario that thoroughly.

“It’s the only place near Hogwarts grounds he can hide undetected. I’m quite sure he’ll be coming through those trees.”

That brought a tense silence between the four. A calm before the storm that was coming.

“I may be in Gryffindor,” Rowan said, swallowing. “But I’ve never felt less brave in my life.”

“Bravery isn’t about not being scared, Rowan,” Tonks told him. “It’s about doing what needs to be done in spite of being scared.”

“Maybe you should have been sorted into Gryffindor,” David teased her.

“My mum left a fanatical pure blood house to marry a muggle born during the height of the war,” she explained her face hardening. “If that isn’t bravery, I don’t know what is.”

“You’re all brave,” Chiara said quietly. “That being said, you’re going to want to stay away from me during my transformation. I’ll still have my mind, but they’re not exactly…pleasant to witness. Nor is it pleasant to experience.”

“I’m sure,” David nodded. “We’ll keep a safe distance.”

“I can’t emphasize it enough,” Chiara said to them, urgency in her voice. “Even with the wolfsbane potion I could still potentially infect you by accident. I would never forgive myself if that happened.”

Nodding the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff trio took out their wands and took stances. By estimation, they only had fifteen minutes until the rising of the moon.

A hushed, deep quiet seemed to spread from the essence of the forest itself, as though containing some hidden, unspeakable evil yet to be unleashed. The dread was so rampant throughout David’s body, he found had barely any saliva in his mouth.

“Maybe it was a false alarm,” Rowan said hopefully. “Maybe we can go back to the feast.”

“We can’t go anywhere until the moon rises,” David said, not lowering his wand. “If no one shows up by then, we’ll go back and tell Dumbledore.”

A few more minutes passed and still nothing. Personally, the young Gryffindor was more than hoping nothing came of this little excursion himself. He preferred the safety of the castle to being in this extremely vulnerable position. But he would not run, not until he knew Chiara was safe.

Just as he thought Rowan may be right, footsteps could be heard from the forest. Heavy ones, lumbering heavily through the autumn underbrush. Though the darkness was nearly complete now, what emerged from the forest was none other than the most hated werewolf and man alike in Britain. Grayish, brown hair slicked back across his head, matted, untamed whiskers roamed across his face. The fingernails were filthy and caked with a combination of dirt and blood, sharpened into deadly points. He wore a large overcoat, trousers and black boots. But by far the most terrifying aspect of this man, was the savage look upon his face; the face of an unremorseful killer.

Fenrir Greyback.

“My, my,” came the growl of his deep tenor. “Don’t we all look delicious tonight.”

David, though quite frightened at this point, held his wand steady, as did Rowan and Tonks. Chiara stood on a hill five feet behind them, looking defiant as possible.

“Take one step closer and I blast you to pieces,” David warned him, though he did not have the capability and Greyback knew it.

“A little morsel like you?” he laughed horribly. “Hardly.”

He turned his attention towards his true target.

“Miss Lobosca, how nice to see you again. Still denying your inner wolf I see.”

“I don’t deny it,” she said defiantly. “I just don’t let it turn me into a cannibalistic monster like you.”

(Rowan whimpered. “Did she just say cannibal?”)

“Same old Chiara,” he said shaking his mane of a head. “Constantly runnin away from what you truly are. If you had joined my pack all those years ago when I bit ya, you woulda known that by now.”

“Save the speech,” Chiara cut across him. “I’m not joining you. Not now, not ever.”

“Oh but perhaps your three friends here, will,” Greyback leered, licking his lips. “I could use my pound of flesh as always, but why kill when I could simply add to my pack?”

“Not happening, ugly,” David said, shifting his stance to block Chiara from view.

“You children are so naïve,” Greyback purred in a disturbing sort of way. “You take comfort in your homes, the walls that surround you, totally unaware of the monsters that await just outside the door. Chiara learned that well enough and so will you. As I discovered long ago, the essence of power isn’t the man, it’s the beast that resides in all of us. All it takes is one bite to bring it out.”

Licking his teeth, which were much sharper than the average human’s, he gave a toothy smile.

“Hogwarts is ripe for the picking,” he continued. “Mark my words, this is just the beginnin’ of the reckoning that’s to come.”

“Yes that’s all well and good,” David shot back, having little patience for Greyback’s sinister speeches. “But the fact remains that there are four of us and only one of you.”

But that only brought another horrid laugh from the werewolf.

“Dave, maybe you should stop antagonizing him,” Tonks suggested, no irony lost in her voice.

“You didn’t think it was just me tonight, did ya?” he taunted. “No doubt Lobosca told you I was coming. But I also brought a couple friends. After all, what kind of leader would I be if I didn’t let my pack sample the feast as well?”

Out of the shadows, two more men came into view, and these were far scragglier and unhealthier looking than Greyback. Thin, with raggedy clothes and unkempt hair, they held the same ravenous look their leader did, the mark of those who had gave up their humanity a long time ago and would take comfort in whatever solace they could find.

“Now that we’re all here, I’d say it’s time to get acquainted with the full moon, shall we?”

Indeed, the moment of reckoning had arrived. As the thin, wispy clouds parted, the light of the full moon shone down upon both parties. Only then, did David realize just how much trouble they were in.

“Oh, shit.”

Greyback and his followers began to grunt as they sank to their knees, joints and muscles popping, twisting, and extending, each one growing steadily larger as their anatomy altered to suit their soon to be wolfish forms.

But David, while keeping an eye on the enemy in front couldn’t resist sneaking a glance to the girl he was protecting in the back. And what he saw indeed horrified him.

Greyback and company were merely breathing and grunting but Chiara was screaming as the transformation began to affect her too.

“D-David,” she said through clenched teeth that were quickly becoming fangs. “D-don’t forget who I-I am.”

That was the last human sentence she uttered before the transformation began to spread more rapidly. As with Greyback, her joints popped and creaked uncomfortably as her limbs lengthened and her feet and hands curled into paws. Her clothes ripped as a powerful, yet slightly hunched spine emerged from her backside. Her silvery hair retreated, while thick brown fur started to cover her body. Finally, her face began to morph and push forward as it completed its trajectory into a snout.

Staring back at them all was no longer Chiara Lobosca, but a full-fledged werewolf with luminous yellow eyes. It was one of the most terrifying sights he had ever seen.

“Okay, I think it’s safe to say I’ll be having nightmares from now on,” Rowan announced shakily.

“Yeah, if you live to actually have nightmares!” Tonks shouted. “Dave! Pay attention.”

The young Gryffindor was so preoccupied as to whether or not the mind of Chiara was still inside the beast, he had temporarily forgotten Greyback and his men, who were now fully realized werewolves themselves.

“Duck!”

David had to roll over as one of the beasts leapt towards them, jaws primed for biting any organ or limb it found.

Drawing himself into a stance, he soon realized that taking the traditional route would not work against the unpredictable savagery of a werewolf. No, this would require a different kind of fighting.

“We have to be quicker than them!” he said to Tonks and Rowan who were casting whatever spells they knew to keep their adversaries away. “Anticipate the attack and move accordingly.”

“And how do we do that?!” Rowan cried, sending a trip jinx towards his werewolf.

“Don’t think. Just do,” David said to him. “Tonks, use your powers if you have to.”

They obliged and went to work. Though still chaotic, their strategy began to pay off. Despite only knowing a handful of spells, some of the more powerful ones were enough to slow down and drive back the werewolves, especially in a tandem. They would often switch targets to ensure no one was caught off guard, standing in a semi circle to watch the other’s backs.

“Keep at it!” David shouted over the growls and whimpers and sending a leg locker curse towards one of them. “If we can hold them off-”

But werewolves appeared to be smarter than at first glance, as the largest one (Greyback) launched himself from one angle towards Tonks while another ignored Rowan and went towards her from the other side. The Hufflepuff aimed a curse at one and caught in the shoulder but didn’t have time to face the other one. In other words, she was toast.

That is until a jet of purple light streamed out of nowhere, hitting the werewolf in the shoulder, sending a cascade of blood pouring from the wound as it hit the ground with a yelp.

“Who in the name of Agrippa was that?” Rowan asked aloud.

David, still facing his own werewolf, couldn’t be sure, but the moon was bright enough to illuminate a figure with two platted braids.

“No…Penny?”

“Sorry I’m late,” she said running over. “Come on, everyone cast the cutting charm.”

“Where on earth did you learn that?!” Tonks asked, barely able to catch her breath after the near miss on her life.

“It’s dead useful when you’re sewing,” Penny answered, a battle ready smile on her face. “Also brilliant at taking down werewolves apparently.”

“Incantation?” Rowan inquired.

“Diffindo,” came the reply. “Let’s get this next one.”

They concentrated all their energies on the second werewolf, sending carefully aimed cutting charms at the creature’s fur, legs, and arms. Though not everything was a precise hit, the blood loss was great enough to weaken it significantly. Finally, it fell to the ground in a whimper, licking its wounds, snarling but taken out of action.

However, in their combined efforts to take it down. They had been blinded to the fact that the biggest of them all had circled around to the left and was prepared to launch itself straight at them.

With an almighty roar, it reared back and took a massive swipe at the four first years, causing David to fall over and land awkwardly on his knee, his wand rolling over somewhere in the grass.

“ARGH!”

Though the beast had missed, he was primed and ready for another attack and David had no means to protect himself. The rest of his friends were still reeling and had no time to react or defend their fallen comrade. He simply put up his hands and waited for the inevitable bloody pain to come.

Except it never did.

Opening his eyes, he saw something miraculous. The wolf that was Chiara was battling Greyback one on one, viciously biting, scratching and clawing the bigger male with everything it had. That’s when David realized that the wolfsbane potion had worked and that Chiara, despite being in her wolf form was defending him from harm.

“I don’t believe it,” Penny said in awe. “Is that-”

“It is,” David answered for her as she handed him back his wand. “Chiara’s protecting us.”

So awed the four first years were, they followed the fight with mesmerized gazes. She was easy to spot due to her lighter coloration and her smaller size. Only then did they see why Greyback was so feared, he was huge and twice as big as the average man in his wolf form. The fact that Chiara was keeping up gave them elation.

“We’ve done our jobs,” Rowan told them. “This is where we need to get a Professor.”

“But we can’t just leave her there with Greyback!” Tonks pointed out. “What if she gets hurt?”

That fear was realized as the male werewolf grabbed the smaller one and threw her head hard into a tree at the edge of the forest, causing her to fall unconscious.

“Can we get a professor, now?” Rowan asked again, panic in his voice as the creature noticed them and began another charge. Even with four of them, they were woefully unprepared for another attack with David’s injured knee and their wits out of focus. For a third time, he thought they might actually be done for.

‘Incarcerous’ yelled out a strong, masculine voice.

Ropes conjured out of nowhere wrapping themselves around Greyback causing him to fall flat on his face while he continued to roar and snarl incoherently.

Looking around wildly, David’s eyes finally settled on a tall, white bearded figure wearing purple robes.

“Dumbledore,” he breathed.

They were saved. Three, beaten down, exhausted werewolves were no match for the most powerful wizard in existence, even for one as aggressive as Fenrir Greyback. When one of the other wounded wolves attempted another charge, Dumbledore’s eyes flashed, flicking his wand like a whip and sending the beast flying backwards and onto the hard ground. This time, he would not be getting up.

‘Stupefy’ came the squeaky command of Professor Flitwick, knocking out the third. Ropes were secured around all three within seconds. The battle was finally over.

“Good work, Professor,” came the bumbling voice of Cecil Lee. “But I believed you missed one.”

He pointed his wand at the prone form of Chiara before Penny stood up and blocked his path.

“Don’t touch her! She saved us!”

Cecil looked completely bewildered, even in the dark.

“What? Saved you?”

“I’m afraid I must concur with Miss Haywood,” came Dumbledore’s light, but firm voice. “That particular werewolf is under my care here at Hogwarts. I will not allow you to capture her Mr. Lee.”

“But-”

“Answers will come,” he assured the utterly perplexed man. “But for now, I think we need to ensure none of our students have been seriously injured. Madam Pomfrey will want to give them a lookover. Minerva, please alert the Ministry to the capture of Fenrir Greyback and two of his followers. Severus, will you escort them to the holding cells until Aurors arrive?”

He and the remaining professors moved quickly. Thankfully, none of them were too banged up other than David’s knee, which felt more like a minor sprain than broken.

Rowan helped him up.

“Can you walk?”

“I think so,” David said, putting enough weight on his knee so that he could at least stand. “Nothing Madam Pomfrey can’t fix.”

Rowan supported him just in case he needed it. There was pain there, but it was not unbearable. All in all, they were extraordinarily fortunate to be alive. Tonks echoed that sentiment as they were escorted back up to the castle.

“Is it just me, or are we bloody lucky as hell?”

“Language Miss Tonks,” Professor Sprout admonished. “Although I daresay you’re right. What you all did was the height of foolishness.”

She paused, giving the group of four a look of admiration.

“It was also one of the bravest, most noble acts I’ve seen in my years at Hogwarts.”

“Indeed, you are right Pomona,” Dumbledore acknowledged. “I would like to get the full story myself.”

David initially thought the Headmaster might be angry with him, especially so soon after his duel with Merula, but even within the darkness there was a definite twinkling in his eyes as he spoke.

Well at the very least, I won’t be expelled

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Madam Pomfrey, always cautious and protective of students in her care, thankfully didn’t need much to fix David’s knee or the minor cut on Tonks’s shoulder. As such, she would not require them to spend the night. Since their injuries were minor, Dumbledore was allowed to ask questions at will and by the time he finished hearing the story, the normally calm, stoic Headmaster looked sufficiently impressed.

“The four of you have done something incredibly important tonight. You not only miraculously fended of Fenrir Greyback and his pack for over half an hour, but more importantly, defended a friend in need, a girl who is quite vulnerable due to her condition.”

His face did turn serious, however.

“That being said, I would ask that if something of this nature comes to your attention once more, please defer the matter to myself or one of the Professors. If any one you were to have been killed or infected with lycanthropy, the consequences would have been quite dire.”

“We understand, Professor,” David nodded. “I guess we felt like there was no other choice. Chiara felt she had no choice as well.”

“Understandable,” the old man mused. “But as young Gryffindors are apt to learn, bravery does not entail looking for trouble.”

It was meant to be an admonishment, but the twinkling was back in his blue eyes.

“And for you Hufflepuffs: loyalty and honor do not have to be your burden to bear alone. Telling a Professor would have been acting in Chiara’s best interests even if she did not believe it at the time.”

Tonks and Penny indicated they understood as well.

“That being said, you have both been exemplary examples for your houses and for the school. I will ensure the Minister knows of your contributions tonight. And fifty points to each of you for outstanding heroism.”

The foursome couldn’t resist giving each other excited looks, but there was still one more question burning in David’s mind.

“Sir, where is Chiara? Will she be alright?”

“Miss Lobosca is in an undisclosed but secure location where she is being tended to,” Dumbledore assured them. “As you know by now, the wolfsbane potion has kept her harmless. By the sun’s rise she will be human once more.”

“Thank you, Professor.”

“You are welcome. The feast is still ongoing and underway. When Madam Pomfrey gives you permission, you may rejoin it.”

The old man gave one more smile before exiting the Hospital Wing and leaving them to talk amongst themselves.

“Barely a scratch on us and a hundred points for each of our houses? I’d call this a successful night,” Tonks said, leaning back in her chair.

“A successful night does not include nearly losing your lives to Fenrir Greyback and a pack of werewolves, Miss Tonks,” Madam Pomfrey admonished, coming over to give them one last checkup. “Any further recklessness will result in having to stay overnight as punishment.”

“Sooo…you’re saying we can go?” she asked with a toothy grin.

Madam Pomfrey sighed heavily.

“Yes, all of you may go. And I do pray that your visits to my ward are infrequent.”

“You’ll probably be seeing me within a week, I’m dead clumsy.”

“Miss Tonks…”

“Right, going.”

Chuckling to himself David rose from his bed and followed the rest of his friends out of the door to join the rest of the school at the feast. But there was one last loose end he needed to tie up.

“Penny, wait.”

She needed to know the full weight of what she had done tonight, or even perhaps what she had not done.

“What is it, Dave?”

“We’re all alive because of you. You came to help us despite what happened all those years ago. I can’t thank you enough.”

Penny suddenly hung her head in shame.

“It wasn’t a hard decision to make once I managed to look past my own feelings. I’m just sorry I didn’t come to your aid sooner.”

“No one could blame you for feeling the way you did,” he comforted her.

“I’m still terrified of werewolves you know,” she admitted. “That hasn’t changed. But you’re right about Chiara. I’ve lived with her all this time without knowing what she was until now. It doesn’t change who she is as a person. I should have realized that.”

“It’s over now,” David smiled at her. “She’s safe as is her secret.” He paused before adding. “You’re not going to tell right?”

“Really, Dave?”

“Hehe, sorry.”

“That’s one piece of gossip I know I have no desire to share,” she laughed. “Come on, let’s go to the feast together.”

“Right behind you.”

But there was one more secret to be revealed. For the second time that month, David could hear the echoes of a conversation outside the hall. And the voices were awfully familiar.

“Can you hear that?”

Penny nodded, indicating that she could. Both of them strained against the crack in the door to hear more accurately.

“…cannot understand why you let the boy get away with these things,” came the annoyed tone of Severus Snape. “Exploding cauldrons, dueling on school grounds, taking on the most dangerous werewolf in Britain. What’s next? Is he going to seek out a mountain troll in his first year as well?”

“Severus,” came the soft reply of Professor Dumbledore. “Much of what you rail against was circumstance. I do not believe David Grant looks for trouble. On the contrary, trouble tends to find him. You have not prevented the Snyde girl from continually antagonizing him.”

David could not see what was going on, but he was positive Snape was bristling at the minor rebuke.

“It is more than an issue with Miss Snyde. What if he discovers the cursed vaults? What then? Will we have to endure another Grant sibling manhunt to find them and thereby endangering the school itself?”

“As far as I know, he still does not know of their true existence or nature. He is a very talented wizard, Severus especially for an eleven year old. Indeed, we are fortunate we have prevented the student body from finding out little more than rumor.”

“He would not be the first talented first year to go astray,” Snape reminded him slowly. “You know that Albus. Should the vaults be discovered, it could be a catastrophe.”

“There is no use worrying in what has not yet happened or perhaps never will,” Dumbledore responded a little more firmly. “In any case, continue to ward away any student from going near the vaults. Indeed, I have begun to conduct an investigation of my own on that front.”

“Very well.”

“Come now, Severus. The feast awaits. And I hear the entertainment is particularly amusing this year.”

The conversation had ended, but the once more, the gears of David Grant’s mind began to turn as Penny looked at him with a silent request for answers.

She could not have known that he was just as lost as she was.

[sassy-bi-latina]

Thought on Legacies 01x12

Okay I don't even know where to start. Let's see for me I think it was probably one of the best episodes. The only way it could have been better was if MG and Penelope were part of it. I'm sorry I won't lie I do NOT like Landon and Raf I find them boring.

I really liked Kaleb in this episode. You can see his development as a character. He's more reasonable. He's getting better with team job. Also I totally loved his style today. I would have like seeing him in action but hey I'll take what I can get.

Now a subject that makes me mad. The love triangle between Emma, Dorian and Alaric. I don't like it but if they're gonna do it then let's talk about it. I think Alaric was quite respectful. He tried his best to be a good friend. Emma was also great, she came forward with the truth, she was direct, major respect. Now, here Dorian is the one that bothers me. Look I understand getting mad bc someone kissed your partner BUT Alaric is his friend so he should talk to him before punching him. Not only that but Alaric didn't know she was on a relationship (if I'm not mistaken, I don't recall it quite well) so he didn't do anything on purpose. If he likes he likes her he can't control that but he can control his actions which he did. So I'm really pissed that Dorian went and punch him.

Now in the subject that everyone is talking about Lizzie-Josie-Hope.

Okay first is the scene between Lizzie and Hope in the car. I love that scene bc it allowed them to clear the air a bit. For what I understand Lizzie dislikes Hope for "stealing" her father away from them and those rumours just intensify it. But I'm glad they talked it out. I feel like this will get them a step closer to healing. I doubt they'll immediately be friendly but I do guess they'll be less hostile.

The there's Josie, in that same scene when Lizzie pointed out Josie was the one who told her about the rumors I love the small detail when the camera is focusing Danielle. You can clearly see how hurt that make her. Hope never expected that from Josie.

Now about the scene in the room. I'm glad they all talk it out. I love how this is showing a darker side to Josie, things aren't just black and white with the twins. Lizzie isn't just the "bad" one and Josie isn't the "good" one but instead they're both in a grey area. I do hope they show Josie saying sorry for what she did bc as much as I love her it wasn't okay what she did was wrong and she has to owned it and ask for forgiveness to both the people she hurt.

Now bc I'm a gay mess, THE CONFESSION, okay let's be real I was well awared that Josie totally had a crush on Hope. I saw their chemistry in episode 3 I believe, when they had to clean together. So I love the fact that Josie was upfront with it. And you know what I really believe there are still feelings there. I also believe they're reciprocated. Bc first when Hope asks Josie if she really likes her she has a little smile on her face and when Josie reafirms it it just grows wider. Which led me to believe at some point Hope also liked her maybe still do. But not only that but Hope only cared about that exact point. She didn't seem to care about her burning her dorm or her being the saying lies about her, she just asked about the crush.

Another thing people are discussing is Lizzie being bi/pan bc of what Josie said of Lizzie always winning at having who she wanted. I don't think she even meant romantically. I really don't think Lizzie is queer. So when Josie said that I took it as just people pay more attention to Lizzie than her. Like Lizzie could have befriended Hope and Hope would have started to forget about her.

Okay ramble over bc it's too late to even be thinking

[loudhouse-genderbent-headcanons]

what'sloni like in your headcannon?

Thanks for askin! 💚 Hm, Loni was a hard character to write for. But I’m glad with how this came out. So, here ya go~! Enjoy~

Edit: Updated!

Loni Loud

Loni is a major dimwit, despite being the second oldest of the Loud siblings. His simple-mindedness and naiveté is expressed throughout the series when he shows he doesn’t understand simple facts or logic and usually gets him into dumb trouble. He doesn’t know how to keep a secret for his life, either. His siblings are constantly annoyed by his extreme stupidity and forgetfulness, but they love to make fun of it all the time.

Despite his major dimwittedness, Loni has a heart of gold. He is very kind, friendly, and gets along well with all of his siblings. He is very compassionate, always showing concern for his siblings if they have a problem and will gladly help them, and considerate, paying attention to what people like and throwing perfect surprise parties. What Loni lacks in smarts, he makes up with his heart.

His simplemindedness also causes him to act like a child and he has proven he can be irresponsible, as he has absently forgotten favors for his siblings.

He is skilled in fashion designing. He designs different kinds of outfits, a majority of his closet containing clothes he made. And he occasionally makes cute outfits for Linka when she convinces him to. While he is skilled in the fashion making, he sees it more as a hobby.

But he is a very fashionable boi. He has a dressy casual look, aiming to look fancy. Somewhat like an actor’s casual due to his biggest passion. Speaking of which.

Loni’s biggest passion is acting. He’s in theater and improv in school. He is a very impressive actor, especially for his young age. He is able to bring out strong emotion and heart into his act and can almost perfectly portray any character he’s given. Everyone in the club and his coach are very impressed by his talent. Occasionally, he breaks into a character at home. He dreams of becoming a famous actor in the future.

His passion for acting gives him a love for movies. He’ll go see whatever new movie comes out that interests him, which is almost every movie. He goes to the movie theater at least 3 to 4 times a week. He was happy to get his new job at Reininger’s so he had his own money for movie tickets.

Loni may be a complete dimwit in all areas. But when it comes to critiquing movies, he becomes a genius. He’s like the Stephen Hawking of movie critics. He’s very knowledgeable, almost gifted, in what makes a good quality movie or a bad movie and gives intelligent, well opinionated reviews- almost professional critic levels. If someone finds him talking about or critiquing a movie, they wouldn’t think he’s a dummy in all other subjects.

He runs an online video channel called “The Loud Critic”. On the channel, he reviews movies and films, and sometimes TV shows as well. He reviews and criticizes movies in both a serious and comedic way and he writes one or two skits parodying the movie he’s reviewing, with costumes he made himself. Think of him as the “Nostalgia Critic” of the genderbent Loud House. Except with all kinds of movies and fewer skits. His video channel is pretty popular, with 300,000 followers, and his theater classmates are influenced by his reviews. Sometimes, he lets his siblings star in his videos, either in a skit he writes or, in much rarer cases, a Loud collaboration for a movie. If he doesn’t make it as an actor, he’ll make his channel his career. (his title character is based off Nostalgia Critic as well :P)

He also gets emotional in many ways watching a film. If it’s so good, it punches him in the heart with feels. And the things that pisses him off more than anything in a bad movie is bad acting and exposition with no humanity.

He is shown to be creative and artistically inclined. Besides acting and fashion designing, he also knows how to wood carve, lock-pick, and make teddy bears. He is also skilled in hairstyling, even having a second part-time job at a barbershop. His family doesn’t have to pay for a haircut thanks to him.

He’s actually the one that styled Luke’s faux cut. :3

His other hobbies include taking selfies, reading plays, making smoothies, watching TV with his siblings (especially Dream Boat), playing badminton, hanging out with his friends.

Loni is quite popular with the girls in school. With his conventional good looks, dressy fashion style, acting skills, and sensitivity with emotions, girls are always looking at him with affection and love struck heart eyes. They often leave notes or presents in his locker or on his desks, compliment and flirt with him, and even ask him out. Half the time, he can’t tell when they’re flirting with him, but he knows how to treat them with courtesy. Because of his kindness and compassion, he takes the girls out for one date night. And he treats them like the gentleman he is. However, he usually doesn’t reciprocate their feelings and tells them the truth. A majority of the girls will thank him for each date and a nice time, despite him not returning their crush. Because of the numerous dates, he is often mistaken for a playboy, much to his chagrin.

He is not a good driver, surprise. He’s failed his driver’s test twelve times and everyone has given up on teaching him. As a result, he doesn’t have a driver’s license yet. He tries really hard to learn, though. But something always happens to make him fail.

He suffers from arachnophobia. He’ll kill any spider he spots.

Sometimes, Loni is too nice for his own good. His siblings have even tried to toughen him up, but he prefers to be kind, sometimes concerning his siblings that he’ll become a pushover.

Out of all the siblings, Loni is the only one entirely emotionally open. He doesn’t mind showing his true emotions or telling how he feels. He is also aware of when they make fun of his stupidity and hates it. He constantly tries to prove to them that he is smart and able to take care of himself. While he prefers his compassion, he isn’t afraid to stand up for himself. “There’s more than just air in my head!”

And he wants to show his siblings it’s okay to express vulnerability and sadness and fear. It may take awhile, though XP

Overall: VERY dimwitted, simple-minded, forgetful, heart of gold, compassionate, talented actor, genius movie critic, creative, artistically inclined, popular, bad driver, arachnophobia, too nice for his own good, emotionally open, wants to prove himself

[jokressley]

JOSIAH KRESSLEY ( MICHAEL JOHNSTON / HE/HIM ) - is an SIXTEEN year old JUNIOR student at Northlake High. They sit with the WANNABES at lunch and are commonly known around school as the CRESTFALLEN, because they’re COMPASSIONATE and INCISIVE, but also QUIXOTIC and VOLATILE.

josiah vc: stop saying i look like chicken little! he’s dumb and he’s a coward, and i’m not a coward!

welcome to my twisted chili’s 

okay so fair warning . . . i’m making this up as i go. i tried writing a full out bio first but i kept getting sidetracked so enjoy this rambling mess of backstory while i get a feel for josiah

about page here (bio to come someday) 

i’ll just copy and paste the facts from the app ig

1) josiah’s sexuality is one of northlake’s worst-kept secrets. while he’s never officially come out, nearly everyone knows that he’s gay. he’s comfortable enough with who he is, but he doesn’t feel the desire to be “the gay kid” or anything like that. the bullying and teasing has subsided ever since ella disappeared, but you’re still not going to catch him pulling any stunts at prom like you see in the movies.

2) his favorite color is pink, which is a fact that in hindsight might not have ever helped his case with #1.  someone told him once that boys could like pink when he was younger, and he’s stuck with it ever since.

3) he has a tattoo of the deathly hallows on his wrist because he’s in love with harry potter. he almost got ella’s name over his heart at the end of summer, but backed out at the last second because it felt too final. other attributes: he has a scar on the side of his face from falling out of a tree when he was eight.

ok back to ur regularly scheduled rambling

josiah is ella’s brother, just under a year younger than her. often mistaken for twins, though they really couldn’t be more different 

she had a much bigger and bolder personality, whereas he was far more comfortable living in a sort of middle ground 

popular but not explicitly cool, friendly but not totally outgoing

they were still close as could be, though

he spent most of school in her shadow, content enough to be there for the time being. but when he got to high school, he decided to forge his own path.

with a series of dropped clubs and half-baked attempts at sports, he’s finally found his calling: between student government and the school paper, he enjoys being involved  ( in the school, in his peers’ lives — take your pick )

it combines two of his favorite things: being helpful and being nosy af

of course, when ella asked him to help out with the shows, he couldn’t say no — so he’s also involved with the drama club, primarily as a techie

so uh . . .  he’s been Not Good™ ever since ella disappeared 

like his skeleton says, he hasn’t taken it well and is SUPER not thrilled to be dealing with their overbearing parents by himself 

he doesn’t believe that she’s dead, or that she ran away, or any of the other 83483 rumors that have cropped up in the past year and will get pretty defensive if he hears anyone talking about it 

as far as he’s concerned, she’s missing and she’s alive . . . somewhere

hates that people seem to forget about any of the previous victims every time a new one happens 

they’re all important, obviously, but like . . . ella, mostly 

he tries his hardest to stay positive, if not outright cheerful, but there are days and there are times when it just gets really hard 

but he’s tired of everyone walking on eggshells around him 

he’s become more impulsive and volatile ever since ella disappeared

he can get sarcastic, sometimes downright rude, when he’s in a mood so watch out for that

um this is . . . como se dice . . . a mess !! i’m gonna try and get a biography up in the next couple days but we’ll see. let’s throw some wanted connections down until i get a proper page made!!

as stated above, he’s hella gay.  if not a boyfriend, at least someone he’s interested in  and reciprocates. we can develop things further, i ain’t about to force that shit

lmao i’d love to see an ex-girlfriend or smth that he used to date and was like “uh . . . sike” for whatever reason we love petty teen angst 

best friend(s), regular friends, acquaintances 

enemies, for whatever reason

[likeathunderbolt]

jasmine; what mythical creature do you wish actually existed? the fée, I'd go live with them in the forest and dedicate my life to practicing supernatural hijinks and fucking shit up for the humans.

lavender; soundcloud or vinyls? I suppose soundcloud gives artists an easier method of sharing with the world.

primrose; what book does everyone right now need to read? The Cooking Gene by Michael W Twitty.

lunar mist; do you like wearing other people’s shirts/jackets? They're always too small for me because I am a frost giant.

bird of paradise; what was the best thing that happened to you this month? I went to see one of my all time favourite artists with one of my oldest friends. 

gardenia; what’s a promise you’ve recently made to yourself? To really mean it this time.

lion’s fairytale; would you rather be the sky, the ocean or the forests? The Ocean.

whirling butterflies; would you kiss the last person you kissed again? Sure, why not?

marmalade skies; do you plan your outfits? Not really, I just make sure my clothes are washed and ironed.

apricot drift; how do you feel right now? Gross from eating too much junk food.

everlasting daisy; what’s the last dream you remember having? My friends at a barbecue and for some reason everyone had superpowers but it was completely normal and no big deal so we just had this full on X-Men cook out.

queen’s cup; what are you craving right now? Water and a clear head.

lavender dream; turn ons/offs? On: Confidence, inner peace, knowing what you want. Off: Control, agendas, “white” lies. 

water lilly; when was the last time you cried? why? I was given a gift and a note both of which were very very heartfelt, referencing years’ worth of actions I had no idea had left such an impact.

lily of the valley; did the one person who hurt you most in your life apologize? The person who hurt me most is me, being self sabotaging fool, I practice my apology every day by trying to be better.

winterberry; do you bite or lick your ice cream? Lick, biting ice cream sounds very odd to me.

honey perfume; favourite movie ever? I love the Ghibli films, ハウルの動く城, 千と千尋の神隠し, 魔女の宅急便, 風の谷のナウシカ, etc.

desert rose; do you like yourself? I'm working on it.

snapdragon; have you ever met or seen in person a celebrity? I'm not sure if this counts but I had lunch with Carla Bruni once, and twice I shared a fruitcake with Kofi Annan.

night owl; how many countries have you visited? I have actually genuinely lost count and don't want to miss anyone out.

heliotrope; have you ever been in a castle? I'm British, we can't move for castles.

creams and sky; what’s the craziest/bravest thing you’ve done? Moved to Toulouse on my own? Decided to actually look at myself and how much I was contributing to my own unhappiness? Trying to take responsibility for my self and be a better human?

lantana; what’s on your mind right now? I left my peppermint tea at work but water was a close second anyway.

pumpkin patch; what’s your zodiac sign? Earth sign, Taurus.

tulip; name 5 facts about yourself. 1. I love water; I'm a water baby, island child. Water is my favourite beverage, swimming is my favourite exercise, I love lakes, rivers, streams seas, oceans and waterfalls. Rainy days make me feel calm. Water is in my soul. 2. I love cooking; when I was a wee child my nan had a lodger from Hong Kong who was a chef, and he used to let me "help" him in the kitchen. So I grew up learning how to cook authentic HK/Cantonese cuisine. He actually runs a quite successful restaurant now too. 3. My first job was a Junior Librarian in a Grade 1 listed building; it had a variety of secret passageways and hidden rooms that I still think about a lot. Taking a hidden staircase up to a secret turret to repair books in the dusty sunlight is soul therapy. 4. I'm quite ambiverted; almost painfully shy with people I don't know very well, especially if I'm not feeling very confident that day. I have known this shyness to be mistaken for rudeness on occasion which has spurred me on to be more open a friendly even when I feel vulnerable, which has gone a long way to helping deal with the shyness. 5. As of the day after my birthday this year, I am now an uncle.

daphne; do you believe in karma? Yes, karma or the karmic rose by any other name. queen of the meadow; ever been in love? With humanity, life, the future.

wisteria; whom do you admire and why? Kind people. Anyone who has kept a warm heart through the hard times.

angel’s face; what was your favourite bedtime story as a child? The Jolly Witch.

remember me; did you make someone laugh today? My cats made me laugh, not too sure if I returned the favour just yet.

iris; do you believe in ghosts? Yes, or something of the sort we don't fully understand.

lilac; if you could go back in time which time period would you visit? Pre-Roman Britain.

caramel kisses; would you want to live forever? why/why not? No, I want to eventually move on.

primula; what makes you sad? Missed opportunities, being unable to help, misunderstandings, injustice.

rain lily; was today typical? why/why not? Yes and no, I spent a lazy Sunday with my family playing games so it was fun, but a typical day usually involved more work, working out, etc.

queen anne’s lace; who do you trust the most? My loved ones.

lady’s slipper; what did you have for breakfast today? Boiled rice with shredded veg & chilli sauce.

forget me not; do you have any regrets looking back in your life? I would like to have learnt certain lessons sooner and I am sorry for upsetting people.

lunaria; what’s your favourite fictional universe? I love so many, I think Tolkien's Middle Earth just  wins it for me though, I have so many great memories both reading alone and playing or discussing with friends as a child, a teen and even now.

violet; favourite telly show? Of all time: I have a soft spot for the OC in all its ridiculous glory.  Of the last year or so: Ugly Delicious. Honorary mentions: Supernatural, Springwatch, Summerwatch, Autumnwatch and Winterwatch.

sunflower; share a favourite quote. Again, so many: "You're as good as you reciprocate." from Light's Everybody Breaks A Glass. "To be rather than to seem." is also one that means a lot to me, I think the good people of North Carolina may agree with me on that one too.

snowdrop; what does your ideal day look like? Waking up in a bright, comfy room, good hearty breakfast, swimming, spending time with loved ones, working on passion projects, cooking for everyone, relaxing under the stars.

tiger lily; do you have any hobbies? Swimming, cooking, reading, yoga, painting, writing, and outdoor activities. I love skating either board or blades and ju jitsu too, but I can't really do impact stuff anymore.

peony; share a small random book passage that means something to you. So many from Terry Crews Manhood and Anna Akana's So Much I Want to Tell You. I don't have the energy to go get them and type them out though because it would take me half an hour to even pick which passage to use. I'm already thinking of more books that mean a great deal to me.

tea rose; what’s something you always wanted to do but were too scared? I really wanted to move to Japan for a while to be with my friends, who are from Osaka, I went as far as to get necessary qualifications, studied Japanese and secured a job before I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease that meant I needed ongoing treatment at home, I was terrified of moving to Japan because it is literally the other side of Eurasia but once the opportunity was taken away after all that work, I was devastated. I always imagined that doing these things that scare me would make me a better person and now I'm scared I'll never have a chance to right that missed opportunity.

honeysuckle; do you usually date people your age or older/younger? I operate on the 5 year rule usually; no older or younger than fiver years from my age, but I suppose I'd waive that for the right person?

sweet pea; who means the world to you? why? My loved ones, because friends really are the family you choose and there is no greater blessing than having friends who are your family and family who are truly your friends.

love in the mist; best books you’ve ever read? Again, too many, off the top of my head: Mineko Iwasaki's Geisha of Gion, Jung Chang's Wild Swans, Anhua Gao's On the Edge of the Sky, Jo Rowlings Harry Potter series, Tolkien's Entire works, particularly Beren and Lúthien. I also really love Michelle Paver's Chronicles of Ancient Darkness and Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. I also read Nigella's cookbooks like novels. I literally just sit and read them. I could write whole books on books I love and why.

foxglove; who is your favourite cartoon character? The entire cast of Pokémon is my childhood.

magnolia; coffee or tea? Tea please.

crown imperial; would you rather be extremely rich or extremely loved? Love is richness.

snowflake; are you a dog or a cat person? Why is the word or in this sentence? Unless your allergic or afraid I don't trust people who don't like animals.

bell flower; what is your biggest addiction? Junk food. Easily.

cosmos; do you ever think about the galaxy? It fascinates me endlessly, I love watching Professor Brian Cox.

moonflower; what’s your favourite colour? Brown, blue and orange.

freesia; do you have a good relationship with your parents and siblings? why/why not? I think we communicate well and they are some of my best friends.

sundrop; are you a morning or a night person? Learning to be a morning person, definitely still more of a night person. I was born with starlight in my eyes and that was my first love.

poppy; have you ever dealt with a mental illness? Yes, from both a point of view of concern for loved ones and from the point of view of not even realising how bad my own mental health was. If you want to talk about mental health either yours or that of a loved one, no matter who you are please feel free to reach out. I'm here.

clover; how would your friends describe you? You'd have to ask them, but I really hope they'd say kind.

dandelion; do you consider yourself and extrovert or an introvert? I'm an introvert that has learnt to be ambiverted.

lilly; what’s something you love watching/reading but you are too embarrassed to admit you do? That's hard, I don't really feel ashamed of things like that anymore. Two people I feel are criticised a lot, sometimes rightly so, but who I still love because I'm aware humans, including myself, are fallible (and those throwing the stones are invariably living in glass houses) are Taylor Swift and Jo Rowling.

anemone; describe yourself in 3 words. Striving for better.

lotus; best memory as a child? Any time I was having fun with my loved ones.

angelonia; what is your eye and hair colour? Blue and a really dark auburn.

dahlia; do you like crystals? They're pretty I suppose? And they feel nice and cool.

buttercup; if you could change one thing in the world, what would it be? More love and compassion.

baby’s breath; what’s your Hogwarts house? Slytherin according to Pottermore. My friends had me pegged as a Ravenclaw in the pre Pottermore days.

calendula; biggest pet peeve? When people give it that "Gotcha!" thing as  though they're irrefutably in the right, but they're still completely wrong and then they proceed to act like you just can't let an argument go, when all you are doing is refusing to be walked all over.

blanker flower; would you rather go to a cocktail party with your best friends or stay home and read a book/watch a movie with your pet? Both of these sound like great nights, I'd say the latter most of the time and the former for a change every now and then. Friday night I didn’t get home until 2am I wound down by sitting in bed with my cats watching The X-Files and eating chicken nuggets.

blazing star; share a secret. If I did, it wouldn't be a secret.

carnation; would you rather live longer or happier? Happier. Happiness is such and important thing to share.

petunia; who’s story is your biggest inspiration in life? why? So many people; I really admire my loved one because I know their struggles and still see first hand their kindness and compassion every single day.

bluebell; do you wear glasses? I do not.

nymphea; forest or river? I love both but I'll go for river.

orchid; do you like exercise? Exercise releases endorphins, for which I am very grateful.

pansy; do you like poetry? Poetry is great. I love it.

morning glory; any special talent that you have? You mean other than eating two entire tubes of pringles to myself in a single day? I can make icing flowers from scratch and bake a cake to put them on, thank to my nan.

[zak-dar]

I do not know why you need it, but this is what really happened between these guys.

In the DnD, Victor and Elishandela have a very complicated relationship. Vic suddenly felt a strong love (one might say obsession) for the "rabbit". However, when Victor found out that his feelings were not mutual, he attacked Elishandela. This started a long mess, in which Vic tried to be closer to the "rabbit", but only made it worse. The most disgusting thing for Victor was that Elishandela already had lovers: Avtandil (the guy with the crown of branches-horns) and August (the one who "kill, kill, kill"). If Victor had neutral feelings by August, then he hated Avtandil with all his soul. "Why is this useless, worthless and absolutely disgusting fortune teller, and not me?" thought Vic. He even made a relatively successful attempt to kill Avtandil, because of which he completely lost the chance to get closer to Elishandela. But did he really need this rabbit man? In fact, he loved not so much Elishandela as the memories of his old love - Antra (a man with a butterfly head), although he did not realize it. Once Antra and Victor had an affair, and Elishandela and Antra are two parts of the same god. So it's not surprising that Victor was blown away by the "rabbit". But who is the man with the scythe? well, Bhask is another facet of this complex polygon. When Victor was broken from the lack of reciprocity of feelings, Bhask comforted him. Well, actually, Vic decided to get a little love from someone who showed sympathy for him (and thank the gods that he was not mistaken in Bhask's feelings), and Bhaskarun, although he was not happy to be a substitute, but at least he was closer to Victor. As a result, when Antra was killed and all this love trouble disappeared, Vic stayed with Bhask. Still, Victor was much calmer and more pleasant with him than these eternal emotional roller coasters with Elishandela and Antra.

In Genshin AU, everything is completely different. Victor and Juling (the same Elishandela) met at a banquet and feelings quickly flared up between them. It was something strange and bizarre and lasted surprisingly long enough for both of them. And yet their relationship ended. Being constantly on these emotional roller coasters, balancing on the edge is very exhausting, and therefore their passion has worn off, leaving them only friendly solidarity. they realized that it was much better to be friends than lovers. Juling went to his homeland, and Victor stayed in Fontaine. On duty for the Order of the Abyss, Victor meets the lecturer of the abyss - Bhaskarun. At first, their interest in each other was purely professional, but gradually acquired a personal background. During this time, Juling meets a girl from Snezhnaya (Daria), as well as a guy from Mondstat (Eb). During his travels, Ju notices interest from Eb's side and shows interest in him himself, flirting with him. Due to some circumstances, Julin and his team come to Victor. Vic decides that jealousy will be able to push Bhask to take decisive action, so he often flirts with Juling and often dreamily recalls old stories from their romantic relationship. But this does not work and Bhask only moves further away, believing that Victor wants to return the relationship with Ju.

A little meme(?) of relationships of my and my friend’s OCs. So… What kind of relationships do they actually have? Tell me about your thoughts. 😘

[randomfandomimagine]

Sunshine in the Moonlight Chapter 2: A Bump in the Road

Fandom: Final Fantasy XV

Pairing: Prompto x Alexandria (OC)

Previous Chapter - Chapter Index - Next Chapter

Wattpad - AO3

All I wanted to do was to mimic what Prompto did before and carelessly plop down on the ground, lying down and giving a rest to my sore muscles. But I wanted to appear unconcerned and serene. I merely leaned on the wall, catching my breath and resting in silence while Ignis and Noctis talked to Cindy, the mechanic that was repairing our car. I just hoped none of the boys felt like talking to me, because I was too exhausted to speak at the moment.

After the car broke down and we had to drag it to Hammerhead –being the gentlemen they were, the four of them insisted that a lady like myself shouldn't push with them, but I just couldn't stand there doing nothing while they did all the hard work -, we were all a tad moody and worn out. Luckily, the Regalia should be fixed soon enough.

On the other hand, we weren't so lucky seeing as we needed to earn some money to be able to pay for the repair. Definitely an unexpected turn of events.

"Gladiolus" I called him, hoping he would keep the conversation at a minimum.

He turned his head to me, his amber eyes confidently locking with mine.

"Gladio" He corrected me with a smirk.

I decided to ignore his comment and keep on speaking.

"Do we have to hunt so we can earn some money?"

"Yup, gotta show who's boss" He coolly crossed his strong arms over his chest. "Why? You scared?"

I knew he was teasing me, we had trained together many times after all. And Gladio definitely enjoyed winding me up, hoping to get a reaction from me.

"Of course I'm not! I just wanted to know, that's all" I replied, offended by his lack of faith in me. Gladiolus let out a smug chuckle, his smirk widening slightly.

"Now you know: we have to" He motioned over to the grease-monkey girl. "Cindy said it's what we need to do"

"What do you think about Cindy, Alexandria?" Prompto asked me, a curious twinkle in his vibrant blue eyes.

"She is pretty" I mumbled, feeling slightly jealous.

I was never a girl like Cindy was. Boys didn't stop to stare at me and neither did they consider me in that way. And seeing the four of them gawking at her -although mainly Gladiolus and Prompto -wasn't my cup of tea.

Surely, I had many talents other than outside beauty. And I had better things to worry about than romance, such as looking after my duties and trying to cultivate myself in mind and body. But it was always nice to be complimented and noticed.

My eyes darted from one man to the other when I realized they were staring at me in surprise. Had they never heard a girl compliment another girl?

"What?" I defended myself, shrugging in a carefree fashion. "Objectively speaking, Cindy is good-looking"

"Are you and Ignis siblings?" Prompto said all of a sudden. "You're so alike!"

"No!" I laughed, slightly flattered that he saw similarity.

Although it wasn't the first time such comparison was made. After all, we spent a lot of time together and not only did we have similar attitudes but also physical appearance.

Ignis' tawny hair resembled my own, except for the fact that mine was lighter. And my dark brown eyes had a hint of green in them like his emerald ones. But other than that, we were mainly alike in our demeanors. Still, that was only because I had always tried to be like Ignis.

He was an intelligent man, a selfless and elegant individual that I had always admired. Besides, in order to fit into the Royal Council I felt like I needed to be more like him, so I had always seen him as some sort of a role model.

"It definitely wouldn't be the first time we're mistaken for relatives" Ignis' voice said as he joined us, a bit of amusement dripping from it.

"What's up, Noct?" The blond asked the raven-haired prince as he arrived with Ignis.

"She gave us some money to stay somewhere and rest" The first one let out a resigned sigh. "But we still need to hunt to earn some more"

Of course we did. 

I turned around, rolling my eyes when I thought they couldn't see me, and started to walk away.

"I need some water" I sulked, heading for the diner.

Actually, I was in a really bad mood. It wasn't like I had expected in the least.

For starters, the car had failed us at the very start of our journey. It wasn’t a wise decision to let Prompto drive it, as we had to push the Regalia all the way and then wait until Cid and Cindy fixed it.

Also, Prince Noctis was whiny and just overall irritating to me. He didn't really care that much about anything, really, just about taking a good nap while the rest of us solved everything. 

Luckily, I was still in great terms with Ignis and Gladiolus.

"I'll go with you!" Prompto offered cheerfully, jumping up from his sitting positing in the ground. 

I didn't mind his company that much. He ended up being incredibly friendly, and actually made me smile in spite of myself with his witty and funny comments. Prompto turned out to greatly improve my mood with his bubbly personality.

The air conditioner that received us as soon as we walked into the diner made me let out an involuntary sigh of relief. It really cooled me down after the physical strain and the heat that we were under for quite a while there.

I sat in one of the red stools and patiently waited for the waiter to take our order. We didn't really have the money to get any food, but hopefully they'd serve us some water for free.

Prompto sat in the adjacent stool and swung his legs around like a child, which made me grin as well. As soon as the man came and asked us what we wanted, my companion spoke up for me.

"Two waters, please" He said, holding up two fingers.

Prompto then used his arms as a pillow as he rested his head on the counter, and I leaned mine on my hand as I rested my elbow on the surface. Still resting his cheek on the counter, Prompto turned his head to look at me.

"Great start, huh?"

"Delightful" I replied sarcastically, taking advantage that Ignis couldn't hear me.

He didn't really like when I was sarcastic, I couldn't understand why when he often was himself. Probably because I was being slightly passive aggressive and it was rude and disrespectful.

It had been a long time since I allowed myself to be sarcastic, though. I had learned some proper manners, and in the environment I was always in because of the king I had to keep a serious demeanor.

The waiter brought us two glasses of water, to which we both said thanks at the unison. Prompto drank his almost in one go, and I took a long gulp that greatly refreshed my dry throat.

"Can I... ask you something?" The blond piped up after a brief silence.

"I suppose..." I shrugged, taking another sip of my water.

"You don't... get along with Noct, do you?"

For a moment I was silent, not really knowing how to react to the sudden question.

"Uh... That's quite an improper question to ask, don't you think?"

"Sorry..." He just let out a light chuckle, even if he blushed a little.

There was a small pause in which none of us spoke. Prompto surely felt uncomfortable with the silence, though, because he piped up again.

"He's a really cool guy once you get to know him, trust me" Cautiously, he nudged me in the ribs, almost hoping he wasn't going too far. "You just need to give him a chance"

I would if ‘His Highness’ would give me a break and stop giving me death glares or annoyed looks as well as complaining about me. Not that we spent too much time together anyhow, but when we did and I commented something about his attitude to him he would snap at me. It had gotten to a point where Prince Noctis would roll his eyes at me if I as much as glanced at him.

"I believe you" I half-joked, really wanting to reciprocate about his happy-go-lucky attitude.

Prompto smiled broadly and then averted his eyes, looking through the windows. When I followed his gaze and realized he was looking at Cindy in admiration, I rolled my eyes and focused back on my water.

I drank the rest of it and sighed, hoping our journey from now on would develop in a more satisfying manner. I tried to be optimistic and tell myself that this was but a bump on the road.

Suddenly, my companion jumped to his feet and waved his hand around to catch my attention.

"Alex!" He called me absently. "We're ready to go"

He sprinted out of the diner, since I realized Gladiolus was gesturing through the window for him to move. I obliged in a daze.

I knew he hadn't even realized, but he had called me Alex, which left me bewildered. It had been a very long time since someone called me that, and the fond nickname brought me a wave of warmth that forced me to smile.

I followed after him, hopeful for the rest of our trip together.

  I wasn't too bothered by my black tight trousers nor by my leather boots, but I was certainly feeling strangled because of my thick patterned jacket. So I took it off and tied it around my waist, leaving me in my light gray t-shirt, tired of the scorching sun shining upon us.

"Are they supposed to be too far away now?" Prompto whined quite a bit too, and it was starting to get on my sulky mood.

I sighed tiredly as I brought my hands to my neck, attempting to braid my long wavy hair into a comfortable and practical braid.

"I believe there are our targets" Ignis stated, pointing over to a few scorpion-looking creatures.

"Let's get down to business" Gladiolus coolly said, holding his hand out until his big sword appeared right in front of it.

"Alright!" Prompto excitedly said, taking out his gun, ready to battle.

"Let's do it" Noctis looked over to me, almost defiantly.

That boy was about to see what I could do with a sword.

Before I could send him another challenging glare, he had warped to stand in front of the enemies, denying me any chance to do so. I huffed, knowing he had done it deliberately to wind me up.

"Reckless" Ignis smiled a little, finding that deed somehow endearing.

The three remaining men raced to get to the prince and give him some backup in battle, so I resigned myself. I took a breath with determination and made my slender sword to materialize in front of me. Perks of being a Lucian, even though I couldn't really warp strike like Prince Noctis. But the king had insisted on granting me that small power to aid me in the journey.

I smirked to myself, prepared for some action, and ran to catch up with the others. Although they were almost done defeating them, a new wave of scorpions arrived. My time to shine.

I approached the closest creature and swung my sword horizontally, hitting it and making it shriek in pain. The scorpion jumped at me in anger, but I was fast enough to take a small jump back to avoid being hit and easily parried the strike. With another thrust, the creature was easily defeated. I nimbly moved around, swinging my weapon in a circle and killing another one in one mere blow.

I could hear my companion’s small banter as they fought themselves, along with their pained grunts and heavy breathing. I continued to attack, parry and evade the hits while they assisted me in battle. In that manner, we got rid of the pest in no time.

"All done" Ignis concluded proudly when the last one fell.

I wiped the sweat off my forehead with the back of my hand as I calmly used the other one to get rid of the sword for the time being.

Calmly turning around to meet face to face with the boys, I realized that two of them were staring blankly at me. Prince Noctis and his friend Prompto. Come to think of it, they were the only ones that had never witnessed me during a fight. Gladiolus was in part responsible for my skills, taking in consideration he trained with me and showed me a way to improve myself. And being so close with Ignis, he knew about my swordsmanship as well. The prince and the blond, on the other hand, had no idea what I was capable of.

"I'm impressed" Came Prince Noctis' voice.

That definitely had to be one of the first –if not the actual first –times his voice wasn't dripping with sarcasm or mockery when addressing me. And he had just complimented me, in his own way.

"Thank you" For once, I decided to spare him the bitter comment too.

"Don't get too confident, Alexandria" Ignis warned me, always devoted to his unofficial role as my mentor. "It is but the first of many battles"

"That was so cool!" Exclaimed Prompto, finally closing his mouth, that he had agape in awe.

In fact, he held his hand up in the air for me to high-five him. Such a mundane gesture made me froze.

The rational part of me said that it went against all the principles that I was trying to represent as a member of the great King's Council. Also, I had been too focused on my purpose that it felt like years since someone last offered to high-five me. Which was quite sad and absurd.

Probably figuring I was somewhat stuck-up, Noctis high-fived his friend instead seeing as I took more than two seconds to respond. I tried to encourage Prompto with a small chaste smile, hoping he didn't notice my reluctance like his royal friend had. Noctis did, however, roll his eyes at me. In fact, so hard that for a moment I feared they would get stuck on his skull. He also shook his head in an exasperated gesture.

"We still have work to do" Gladiolus reminded me, enthusiastically patting my back as he passed by. He approached the two and began walking with them, saying something to Noctis about his form.

I sighed when the attention was diverged from me and nodded to myself. Truth was, I observed Prince Noctis, pleasantly surprised. In order to avoid getting Prompto's feelings hurt, he hadn't thought twice to intervene. Perhaps I had misjudged him, he seemed to care deeply about his friends despite it all.

I guessed that Ignis and Gladiolus wouldn't stand by his side if he wasn't worth it. Ready or not to take the throne, they saw something special in him. Special enough to follow him.

I still didn't like him, though.

"Is everything alright, Alexandria?" Ignis' voice startled me as he stood next to me.

"Why would you ask?"

"You seem tense"

"I'm not tense..."

Only when his gloved hand gently wrapped around my bare one, did I realize it was closed in a fist. Involuntarily, I had taken in a stiff posture. I let out a breath that I realized I was holding and opened my hands, cautiously looking up into his green eyes.

"Maybe a little..." I admitted, tilting my head to the side in resignation.

"There is no need to be so uptight, dear" I knew Ignis was concerned when he used such terms of endearment. While they weren't impossible to hear from his lips, it was definitely rare.

Luckily, I felt comfortable enough to confess my restlessness. One of the things that I was allowed to do in presence of King Regis was speak my mind. After all, it was my honest opinion what contributed to the counseling he sought from me. Even if it sometimes clashed with his own, but we both looked for the kingdom's best interest just like Ignis and the rest.

Being Ignis my friend as well, I wanted to share my unease with him. Most likely, I was making a great deal out of something truly small.

"Such a small gesture as a simple high-five... It... puzzled me" I confessed, feeling the need to avert my gaze. "It has been so long since I had such an everyday exchange like that… I froze, I didn't know how to act. Surely you wouldn't think less of me because of that"

"You've been put under a much greater pressure than I thought you were" Ignis scanned my expression, his green eyes laced with worry still. "You've been surrounded by politicians for far too long and it has become a burden"

"What do you mean?"

"You're too young to behave like a full grown-up, I believe"

I raised my eyebrows, understanding what he was trying to say. I had been too busy keeping appearances, almost losing myself along the way. I needed to relax a little and stop overacting over a simple high-five. I had, indeed, spent almost every second of the day surrounded by the Council, important and earnest people.

"It is a bit silly, isn't it?" I chuckled in the end, self-conscious all of a sudden.

"Take Noct, for instance" Ignis adjusted his glasses absently. "One year younger than yourself, Alex, but he rejoices in the small things"

Two 'Alex's in one day! Not to appear childish, I tried to hide the fact that it felt exhilarating to be addressed as something different than the dull 'Alexandria'.

I looked at the prince, just in time to see him being playfully pushed by Prompto. Noctis laughed and pushed him back, keeping the horseplay going.

"Are you saying I need to get myself a Prompto?" I joked, letting him know that the message he tried to deliver got through and that I was willing to obey it.

"Perhaps" Ignis laughed, a soft but genuine chuckle.

"Hey, Miss Adelaide!" Gladio shouted in the distance. "Are you coming or what?"

"Sorry!" I yelled back, holding my hand up and starting to walk to catch up with them.

"You can fulfill your duty and still remain true to yourself, remember that" My friend reminded me as we started moving.

"Thanks, Iggy" I observed him closely, studying his reaction.

Like I expected, his face lit up with the nickname. It had been so long since I last called him that as well! Perhaps our journey wouldn't be good for Prince Noctis only, but for myself as well. 

Tagging list: @prince-of-wind

[libertasrpg]

We welcome Coraline Jones to the city. She’s 20 years old and is a geography student. Coraline is often mistaken for Alba Planas. She’s open.

→ Background Information

TW: alcohol abuse, emotional abuse

Coraline’s childhood was a turbulent one. The main source of drama was to do with her parents. Her parents were gardening catalogue designers. Many said that they should have never become parents. They were incredibly neglectful of Coraline. Melanie Jones in particular was awful. She had an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, which often left Coraline and her father on the receiving end of her anger. While Charlie Jones himself was a good guy, the abuse he received from his wife had quite clearly worn him down over the years. Coraline only has fleeting good memories with her parents from her childhood. Good moments were far and in between, and almost always book-ended with bad memories. 

→ Living Situation

There was no way that Coraline was going to be able to afford a place by herself so she had to sign up to share an apartment. Little did she realise that her college would assign her the most annoying person on the planet.  To say they butt heads when Coraline first moved in is putting it lightly. It wasn’t until some time after they started living together that Coraline warmed to Wyborn. Aside from roommate issues, Coraline is quite happy with her little space. She loves having the opportunity to decorate her space however she wants. A lot of it is very vibrant and colourful, simply because she didn’t have the chance to have a fun room when she was younger.

→ Relocation Explanation

Coraline looked forward to heading to college all her life because it was an opportunity to get away from her parents. There was always so much instability and controlling that she couldn’t wait for the chance to start out on her own. So, when Coraline came across the potential to move to a brand new city for college, she couldn’t have thought of a better place to start an adventure. Obviously all the applications were done in secrecy and Coraline had to arrange moving there all by herself. It was stressful, but worth it.

→ Her Personality

You can’t say that Coraline isn’t honest. She always has, and always will, say it how it is. She doesn’t do it to hurt feelings, she just doesn’t believe that lying is very productive. But, that doesn’t mean she won’t occasionally accidentally omit the truth to help herself out. Those who do get to friendship level with Coraline know that there is goodness in her however. She is incredibly smart and creative, with the ability to make even the most boring of situations fun. There’s never a dull moment with Coraline around.

→ Her Qualities

Creative, outgoing, witty, adventurous

Sarcastic, rebellious, skeptical, critical

→ Her Relationships

Wyborn Lovat (Friend & roommate): Coraline definitely didn’t like Wyborn when she first moved in. She even nicknamed him Why-where-you-born, thanks to his name being so close to the phrase in sounds. He was annoying and wouldn’t leave her alone. Over time though, Coraline got the chance to see his softer side - and so she reciprocated. They do get along now. They’re definitely not quite at a best friend level, but they’re better than where they were when she first moved in.

Melanie Jones (Mother): All Coraline wants is a friendly mother - One who doesn’t always make her feel like a waste of space. There are some good moments of course but they are far and inbetween. Coraline clings to these memories. Generally, Coraline does what she can to avoid her mother. She knows that most of the time, regardless of what she says or does, she’ll just be met with anger and hatred.

Charlie Jones (Father): Charlie has always been slightly softer than Mel. Coraline appreciates that, but it’s still said to see how his spirit has wained over the years. She used to love watching her father play on the piano when she was younger, and would sometimes sit on the bench with her. Nowadays, he doesn’t have the energy to do so and just muddles along with the job he shares with his wife.

→ Possible Connections

Berlioz Bonfamille (Acquaintance): Berlioz is a face that Coraline see’s around campus quite often. He’s quite the cheeky guy, so they get along quite well. Having grown up with a musical favour, she’s always had a soft spot for music students. Music brings her great comfort so will sometimes sit in on Berlioz’s practices when she has free time.

Diego Gracilis (Acquaintance): There is nothing that Coraline loves more than adventure. Whenever she comes across police around time, she loves pestering them to hear about who they’ve arrested lately. Someone she ends up doing this to often is poor police sergeant Diego Gracilis. Coraline isn’t satisfied until she has a new story to go home with!

Bryoni Tinker (Acquaintance): Of course whenever Coraline takes any of her vintage items to be fixed, she ends up grilling the fixer on how it’s done. She knows that the blonde would probably prefer to not be constantly disturbed while working but Coraline can’t help but ask questions. The process of fixing stuff is always so intriguing and Coraline is extremely inquisitive!

Coraline is based on Coraline Jones from Coraline.