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epiphyllous · 2 years ago

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Visitation Rights (Malleus/Reader) [1/3]

Malleus invites you over to help him celebrate Christmas, a human holiday. Neither of you think about what it all means for you to visit him, in the grand scheme of things (ft. Diasomnia). word count: ~3.8k notes: malleus x reader, gender-neutral reader "you", pre-relationship, mutual pining, you celebrate Christmas, heavily Diasomnia dorm!! (i love them)

[Part 2]

You breathe out a cloud of mist as you step out from the Dark Mirror and into an open field. You’ve been visualizing this very scenery as best as you could, chanting Briar Valley over and over, just to make sure you didn’t end up in the wrong place and get stranded.

You’re glad you decided to layer up as best as you could, heeding Malleus’ lukewarm warning that it ‘might’ be cold. And considering how much hardier a fae could be, well… You’re just glad to be able to use your winter boots and mittens for once. Though, your hands are cold for more reasons other than the temperature.

One doesn’t visit the fae prince in his homeland without being at least a little nervous. (And one that you may have budding feelings for is another matter entirely.)

Malleus seemed eager to have you over to decorate his home for the holidays, excited to celebrate a ‘human’ tradition like Christmas. (And by eager, you mean insistent; and by excited, you mean, only to you. You doubt any of your other friends would understand his volley of questions about Christmas was Malleus being ready to celebrate.) You didn’t have the heart to tell him that your family hasn’t celebrated in years either aside from a few gift exchanges and holiday foods, but you suppose it isn’t like you’ve forgotten how to decorate a tree or make a few paper snowflakes.

It’s only when you walk down the snow-lain path and lay your eyes on a grand stone castle that you remember that you really have other things to worry about besides the topping of the Christmas tree. Like being in a castle, for one.

(You find it easy to treat Malleus like any other person because school is an equalizer in status. You don't see the fae prince at Night Raven College; you just see Malleus: technologically challenged, secretly needy, adorably curious, and deeply devoted. It is why you find it so difficult to remember who he is outside of campus.)

“What are you standing there gaping like a fish for, human?” Sebek asks, walking up to you with Silver beside him.

You keep your mouth open. “I forgot the castle was huge,” you say lamely.

“I don’t think the young master wants to decorate the entire place,” Silver says, saving you from saying what you actually meant– you forgot Malleus lived in a castle. (The amount of times you feel blindsided by a fact that is readily known to everyone– Malleus is a prince– is astonishing.) “Perhaps the dining room and a hallway.”

“...Right,” you settle for saying, glancing over at him. “Oh! Sebek!” You grins at him. “You’re in uniform! Very guardsman of you. Reminds me of the nutcracker outfit.”

Sebek huffs, and you mildly think he’s like a peacock, preening. “Of course. One cannot slack on his duties as a guardsman on holiday” he says, looking over at Silver with triumph.

Silver only sighs. “The young master requested we put on… holiday clothing. He didn’t have any examples, so I decided to just dress for the weather.”

“You look good in the blue sweater,” You say easily. “If you wanted to make it a ‘holiday sweater’ you just have to make it uglier somehow.”

“...Uglier?”

“Why are we just standing here?” Sebek interjects, and you can only sheepishly smile at him. “The young master will be waiting for us to return! Let’s not waste another moment!”

And off you go into a wintry wonderland.

In a land of fae, humans are rarely seen. A few decades can be nothing more than a blip in the long lives that they lead, which is why when Silver walks through the gates of the Fairy castle, some guards still stare at him with undisguised curiosity. As both a human and as a man endowed with a unique set of eyes and hair, his presence as the fae prince’s guardman gives him no break in scrutiny even though almost twenty years have passed.

Considering the attention that Silver gets until now, it is no wonder that you draw the eyes of everyone in the near vicinity, especially as you walk through the castle as the fae prince’s esteemed guest. Are you royalty? Do you have any fae blood in you? Are you a powerful mage? (Perhaps someday.) It is the absence of all these, to make you completely normal, that makes you all the more curious to see.

You walk in between Silver and Sebek and pretend to not know they are watching.

“I’ve been wondering,” you say, as you walk past the main hall, “is the queen- erm, is Malleus’ grandma home?”

You almost bump into Silver the way he stops abruptly to turn and look at her. “You-” Silver gapes at her, and it’s the most visibly surprised you have ever seen him. “You want to meet the queen?”

“Malleus’ grandma,” you insist. “If she’s not home, it’s fine. I just thought it would be weird if she was home and I didn’t stop by and say ‘hi.’” You frown when Silver just continues to stare and wonders if you’ve gotten the family tree wrong.

…Or maybe it’s one of those things where it’s different because Malleus is royalty.

“No? Is it weirder if I did meet her?” You continue, starting to get nervous at the silence from even Sebek. “Is she busy? I just don’t want her to think I’m being rude if I don’t come to greet her at least.”

“Human, calm yourself,” Sebek says, huffing. If he looks partially impressed, he doesn’t say anything. “On most occasions, a visit to the castle would warrant an audience with the queen.”

“But she’s not here right now,” Silver says. He cracks a smile. “I should know better now than to be surprised you’re not afraid of meeting the Queen of Briar Valley.”

“I never said I wouldn’t be,” you mutter. “I’d rather meet her than have her think I’m some delinquent student with no manners meeting her grandson.”

If Silver had any thoughts to share on this matter– that you were ridiculous for worrying over something like that instead of the possibility of offending a powerful queen– he didn’t share them. Instead, he watches you step into the dining hall repurposed for this holiday. “The young master told the guards to fetch the largest pine in the area,” he explains, amused at your evident shock. “So they did.”

“This is a three-day project,” he hears you say absently. Silver looks at the deep green pine that towers over them in a ten-meter loom and feels oddly proud for finding it. Sebek hasn’t stopped glaring at him for the past week for it.

Malleus is giddy. It is a word ill-befitting of his appearance and status, but there is no other explanation for his actions.

Fae are not known to fatigue easily, but Malleus has not felt the need to sleep ever since you last told him that you were able to come to Briar Valley. Since then, he’s collected every appropriate ornament he could procure from human markets that celebrate Christmas– from stars to snow globes to these human-esque figurines they call ‘angels.’ For a holiday dinner, he asked Lilia for recipes (dubious) and mostly took long hours online trying to find some more. And if he’ll be honest, that’s the one part of his quest that has taken him the most time, as inept as he is with modern technology such as the internet or the smartphone.

He is getting better with how prolific his friends text him, but it still takes him the same amount for him to write one message back to you as it does for you to write ten. He finds that he does not mind that much though; he likes knowing that you enjoy his company to write to him as much as you do.

Oddly enough, even though he knows this, he finds himself… nervous when he’s been informed that you have arrived.

It will be his first time playing host to a guest, among others. Certainly, he’s had political guests from nearby lands; princesses, princes, and counts that he has had no choice but to memorize their names. But this is you: his friend, his underclassman, his– well, your presence definitely meant a lot more to him than any dignitary from a wealthy family.

Malleus wants you to enjoy your time here.

He walks to the dining room where he can hear your voice rise in excitement, and the anxiety bleeds out in favor of the thought that he would see you again. The sight of the real you in front of him is better than any other image he could have conjured.

“Malleus!” He hears you call out, and his smile follows after yours like the tide to the moon.

You look at the lines of boxes of decor that Malleus has brought into the dining room with a brief thought that all of these must have cost a fortune.

“Did you just find whatever you could about Christmas?” You ask, as a joke.

Malleus only nods. “Yes,” he says simply. “Do they suit the needs for our decorations?”

You find it hard to think anyone in the world who celebrates Christmas would be remiss with all the different types of decor that was in the room in neat boxes. Taking out one from the pile, you open it and do not bother suppressing a smile when Malleus, Silver, and Sebek, who cannot resist his own curiosity despite his aversion, peek over your shoulders to see what is inside.

There is garland for miles, light fixtures for the tree and elsewhere, snow globes and socks to hang over the fireplace. Ornaments to hang on the tree, banners and wreaths to hang on walls and doors, and even figurines like nutcrackers and reindeer to place on a mantel. If there was ever a decoration to be used in Christmas, they are there in one of the many boxes that have been collected.

You would have thought it would be overwhelming to deal with so many choices, but instead, you find yourself excited at the prospect of having the creative liberty to choose from a wide variety of decor. It helps that Malleus’ eyes are attentively taking in every single material you have pulled out, and that even Silver and Sebek are arguing about what decoration should be placed and in what order.

“I think we can start with the tree first…” you say. “I think it’s the main event, so I figured we could do it since we’re all decorating it together.”

“Hmph, since you are the more knowledgeable one for this holiday, I will allow you to call the shots for today,” Sebek says, and you gleefully think that’s more than enough of a concession from Sebek than you could ever ask for.

“Alright, so I think we should start at the top going down with decorations,” you list off thoughtfully, “do bigger decor, lights, then the ornaments…”

It is not as difficult to decorate the tree as you would have thought. For one, as much as Sebek and Silver bicker (mostly Sebek), they work well together because they are simply competent in what they set out to do. There was a fuss as to what garland should be placed on, but considering the size of the tree, it wouldn’t have mattered if everything was piled on.

As the two flew around the tree to place the garland on, you work on untangling the Christmas lights from their boxes, which seems to be a difficulty even with magic involved.

“Urgh…” You huff, dropping your arms in exhaustion from carrying what feels to be tons of lights. “No matter how well I packed them, even at home, they always end up all messed up like this.”

“Yes, these… wires seem susceptible to being entwined,” Malleus agrees. “And you say that they are supposed to be lit up based on… electricity?”

“Not too much,” you reply. “Or else you fry the light bulb’s circuit. See that tiny wire in the middle of it all?” You smile when Malleus bends down and peers closer at the Christmas light in your palm even though his hands are full of them. “We’ll want to connect it to an outlet with enough amps to power them without-”

Your eyes widen. “Wait, you don’t have any outlets, do you? You always use magic! I can’t believe I forgot-”

Malleus takes a gloved hand and places it on the metallic prongs on the end of the wires, and the Christmas lights turn on.

“I see what you mean by not putting too much power into it,” Malleus comments, as though you aren't looking at him with a look even brighter than the lights.

“My, my,” Lilia says, whistling as he enters the dining hall. He looks at the tree which is partially decorated with garland and lights and nods in approval. “It seems the four of you are having fun. How’s the progress?”

“It’s… going,” you say mildly. “We’re going to put the ornaments on soon, but I think we’re a little stuck on what theme we should be going for?”

Lilia blinks. “Whatever do you mean? It looks fine to me so far.”

“I know, but we’re arguing on what to put as a topper since that’ll finish the look, so-”

“Obviously,” Sebek says, “a statue of the young master should be on top.”

“And how would we get that?” Silver replies, voice even with the familiarity of arguing with Sebek. “We have other things we can choose from. We have a star,” a golden one, “an… angel,” with wings and halo, “this snowman,” with a top hat, “or this… old man with a red and white suit.”

“That’s Santa,” you pop up. “We usually tell the kids in our town that he would bring presents on a magical sleigh pulled by a few reindeer, and he would climb down the chimney to drop the presents off underneath the tree.”

“How would he fit down each chimney?” Malleus asks, hand propped on his chin thoughtfully. “What if the house has no chimney?”

“Well-”

“That is besides the point!” Sebek says fervently as you grins at him sheepishly. “If we place a symbol of the young master on top of the tree, the decor should be green!”

“Green on a green tree?” Silver sighs. “I’m not an interior designer but that won’t be as eye-popping as red or even silver and gold.”

“Sounds like quite the conundrum,” Lilia says lightly. If he is amused by how passionate the two guardsmen are over decorations for a human holiday they discovered not two weeks ago, he does not show it. “What does Malleus think?”

The four of them look toward Malleus who blinks at the attention. “How about a star on top? The decorations can be of any color, size, or shape as a result.”

Lilia claps his hands. “That’s settled.”

“Well, actually…” You say, trailing when the four Diasomnia members look at you. You bring up four different kinds of star toppers, much to half of their horror and to Lilia’s glee. “Which star do we want then?”

Malleus watches as you sit down in a huff next to him on the couch they dragged closer to the fireplace. You stretch your arms, saying something about snack-time as you both wait for Sebek, Silver, and Lilia to come back with much needed drinks and food for your break. Your shoulder and thigh end up touching his, and he finds that despite the fact they have plenty of room on the couch to be a distance from each other, he deigns not to mention it in case you decide to move away.

“Who knew Sebek and Silver would get so excited over ornaments,” you comment, laughter in your voice. It’s teasing when you address him, “They’re almost as excited as you to decorate the whole place up.”

There is always a funny feeling in his chest whenever you tease him– a mix of embarrassment and happiness to be known well enough to be spoken to so familiarly. He has yet to learn how to deliver a similar response back as readily as you do, but he is beginning to learn wherever he can. Besides, you don't seem to mind his straightforward comments.

“Yes, it is quite a surprise to me too. But I suppose it is hard not to be,” Malleus says, “when we have someone such as you to encourage and guide us.” He’s gratified when he sees you hide a pleased smile behind your hand.

“Oh, stop,” you say, laughing, and he’s learned to understand that he’s welcome to continue his praise any time. “I’m so glad you decided to invite me to celebrate with you. This is the funnest I’ve had decorating for Christmas in ages.” You go to admire the tree and he turns to watch with you, only for him to look back briefly when he feels you lean into him, eyes still looking forward.

He lets you lean, a small smile on his face.

Malleus knows that Silver and Sebek may sometimes have their qualms with his human choice of close companionship, but he feels grateful to know that they have your back in the face of Lilia’s cooking.

You insist that you should try just a tiny bite, just to see what all the fuss is about, but all three of them are adamant about keeping you in the dark about the horror that lies behind Lilia’s gastronomy skills. Lilia is mildly confused but more than welcome to give more to the rest of the Diasomnia dorm if they are so eager to take your portion. Sebek blanches but stays true to his resolve, and even Silver, who looks tempted to fall asleep on the spot (or even pretend to if he cannot induce it) furrows his brows and bears it.

Malleus should have known better than to think he would ever be able to stop you from doing what you want to do.

You take a bite out of the gingersnap cookie faster than any of them can react. The four of them stare (three in apprehension, one in anticipation). You stop chewing after the third time and open your mouth.

“Lilia… What did you put in this?”

“Oh, ginger, of course.”

“...Anything else?”

“...and garlic, all spice, honey, turmeric-”

“I thought this was gingersnap?!”

You swallow your piece and take another just to be polite, but you and Lilia end up talking about the concept of a “balanced diet” and how not each dish has to be balanced to achieve a balanced diet. They aren’t sure if Lilia will get it, but perhaps an outsider’s opinion will finally change things for the better around here– and this thought is coming from even Sebek.

Lilia seems thoughtful, not offended at all by the way you are framing the situation, talking about masking the aroma of the original dish by throwing in too many ingredients. When Lilia decides to try changing his style of cooking, they think perhaps the human legend of a Christmas miracle is real.

Change is not instant, unfortunately.

The other three, while Lilia is distracted, quietly slide their large portion of cookies to the serving plate and hope no one but them notices.

You don’t quite finish the tree that day, much to Sebek’s dismay. Your reassurance that you thought it would take more than three days goes unheeded as Sebek vows to complete the tree spectacularly tomorrow.

Dinner at the Fairy Castle is a much quieter affair than you anticipated, but then again, your image of a castle is immensely more fairytale than what it seems to be. The five of them eat dinner deliciously set out by the chef, and the food, at least, is exactly how you imagined it to be.

When Silver and Sebek turn in for the night, Lilia and Malleus show you to your room, and it's much bigger than any bedroom of yours have any right to be. The bed is a queen-size or king-size bed, though you can hardly tell the difference besides the fact it can fit more than four of you onto one. The view from the window is astonishingly grand, and the stars are clearly visible from this height even without a telescope.

Lilia bids you good night and it is just the two of you left in the room. You can feel your eyes drooping but you smile sleepily at Malleus who lingers at the door. "You wanna watch the stars before I fall asleep?" You ask and like clockwork, the two of you end up sitting by the windowsill, pointing at the constellations you can identify.

Malleus, of course, knows much more than you do, having seen the same set of stars for the past century. You don't give up though, pointing out the other planets, hoping you actually remember the placement of them. It isn't long until you have him creating different constellations with you, playing connect the dots with much more celestial parts. In some ways, this is familiar— the way you guide Malleus through a silly detour to expand the way he looks at things.

"And there," you say, aligning the stars, "is the broom Azul keeps falling off during P.E."

"Is that so?" Malleus says in amusement. "How can you differentiate between brooms in the night sky?"

And this too– Malleus indulging in your sense of humor, playing along to the very end- has become a very familiar thing. He looks over to you with a focus that goes unnoticed as your eyes flutter in drowsiness.

You can still giggle though. "It's because it's upright," you say, laughing at your own joke.

Malleus likes this side of you too, partly delirious from sleepiness, inhibitions stripped by the presence of the dark and the way a day of hard work seeps into your bones. He thinks it's about time for you to fall asleep, though he would not mind staying up all night with you. “Are you falling asleep?” He asks, letting you lean onto him.

“I guess so,” you reply, yawning. You rub your eyes. “I’ll get in bed before I snooze on you.” You smile at him, and he only just resists telling you that he would be more than happy to lend his shoulder for you to sleep on.

Perhaps another night.

“Good night, child of man,” Malleus says, watching you snuggle into a bed that more than dwarfs your figure. He hears you mumble a ‘good night’ and it is not long until you fall asleep.

You trust him to sleep in his presence; every time this happens, Malleus is still in awe. Your chest rises steadily with each breath you take, and Malleus takes his hand to brush a stray strand of hair from your face. He wishes you sweet dreams and makes the room dark.

Christmas is approaching.

#malleus x reader #malleus draconia x reader #twst x reader #malleus draconia #twst #look at them..... i love them.....#ive never been so excited for christmas LMAO #yeah im 3 months early but its a 3 part thing so #edit: AHHHH TYPOS u didnt see anything

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inevitably-johnlocked · 4 years ago

Note

hello! i hope you have a happy holidays!! just a question: do you know any good crossover fics? :0 thanks so much! 🥰

Hi Nonny!!

Thank you! My holiday season was great <3 Sorry for the delay on the reply, but your ask was a great one because I’ve wanted to do an update list to my “movies and books” list, so I’m updating it to just “crossovers” because I have more to add and that makes me happy!!

This list ended up getting split across two asks, so for this one, this list is all my bookmarked fics. A part 1.5 with my MFL’s is coming shortly with another ask, and I ask y’all hold off to add your own suggestions to that list instead, please :) Thank you!

CROSSOVERS and FUSIONS (Feb 2021) Pt. 1

See Also:

Fairy Tales and Fantasy

TV, Movies, and Books AU (Fantasy Pt. 2)

Wonderful Life AU

Sherlock / Hannibal Crossovers?

Science Fiction / Fantasy

Faes / Faeries

Disney-esque Fics

Moulin Rouge AU

Crossovers & Fusions Pt.1.5 [MFLs]

It's After That Hurts by jonnyluvssherlock (T, 2,791 w., 1 Ch. || City of Angels AU || Fantasy, Fallen Angel Sherlock, Soldier John, Pining Sherlock, Friends to Lovers, Permanently Incomplete Fic) – Sherlock's an angel stuck as a guardian to danger addict John Watson. Everything is fine until he gets too involved. Now he has to make the choice, eternity alone or one life time with a man who may or may not love him.

Caffeine and Adaptive Programming by DemonicSymphony (E, 5,540 w., 1 Ch. || Androids AU / Bond Fusion || Android Sherlock, Coffee Shop AU, Pining John Hinted Bond / Q, Toplock) – Sherlock is a coffee shop android slowly falling for a regular customer. But he's not supposed to be able to feel emotions.

Captain John Watson, Genetics, and Other Crazy Things by cyerus (M, 5,581 w., 1 Ch. || Torchwood Crossover || Humour / Crack, Jealous Sherlock, Sexual Magnet John, Captain John, UST / RST, Three Continents Watson) – The explanation for John "Three Continents" Watson? Jack Harkness is his father. Sherlock doesn't know whether he's going to die from jealousy or sexual frustration first.

The Frost Child by twistedthicket1 (M, 9,994 w., 2 Ch. || Frozen-ish AU || Magical Realism, Christmas, Angst, Fluff, Powerful John) – In a world where people are born with a Gift of varying levels, simple John Watson is the last person one might look at when thinking of any strong Magick capabilities. Hiding comfortably in the shadow of Sherlock's brilliant deducing abilities, John is content to keep it that way...

London Gods by a_different_equation (E, 11,092 w., 5 Ch. || American Gods Fusion || Magical Realism, Sex Magic, True Love, PTSD John, First Kiss/Time, Marathon Sex, Sensuality, Genie Sherlock, Human John, Internalized Homophobia, Star-Crossed Lovers, Soul Mates) – Sherlock Holmes is a jinn who does not grant wishes. However, when Dr. John H. Watson, recently returned from the war in Afghanistan, gets into his cab by "accident", it might not even need magic to grant both men their deepest wish: love.

Equilibrium by augustbird (M, 12,351 w., 1 Ch. || Flowers for Algernon Fusion || Jealous then Worried Sherlock, Sick John) – At Baskerville, John is infected by a virus that turns him into a genius. But when the infection progresses into neurodegeneration, it's a race against time to save himself.

The Nutcracker by Odamaki (T, 13,758 w., 7 Ch. || Nutcracker AU || Christmas, Dark Magic, Dolls) – Sherlock is unimpressed with Uncle Rudy's present. A doll? What does he want with a doll?

Wonderful, Etcetera. by VictoryCandescence (T, 16,955 w., 3 Ch. || Wonderful Life AU || Alternate Timelines, Brotherhood, Homophobia, Suicidal Ideations, Mentions of Drug Use, Friendship, Different TRF, Sherlock’s Past, Victor Trevor is Past Boyfriend, Depression, Hallucination, Love Confessions, Christmas, First Kiss) – Sherlock thinks everyone would be better off if he had never existed, including and especially himself. When he finds himself in a world in which his wish has been granted, he begins to think perhaps even he could be wrong – but it takes an unlikely chaperone to make him not only observe, but understand.

Uncharted Territory by J_Baillier (T, 19,603 w., 4 Ch. || Dystopian Future / Black Mirror AU || Alternate First Meeting, Angst, Drama, Homophobia, Bisexuality, Technology, Humour, Romance, Near Future, Happy Ending) – The System puts people through a series of assigned relationships in order to determine who their Perfect Match is. John believes that it works; Sherlock really, really doesn't. One of them is probably going to be wrong.

Once Upon a Beast Becoming by antietamfalls (T, 24,042 w., 6 Ch. || Beauty and the Beast AU || Magical Realism, Folklore, Celtic Mythology) – An act of pride, a druid’s curse, an enchanted leaf; Sherlock’s torment has lasted an age. Hope arrives in the form of one John Watson, a man uniquely suited to break the spell. But with a single night to win his affections, Sherlock finds his carefully laid plans disrupted by a monstrous killer whose sights are set on the only thing he has left to lose: John.

Classified(s) by blueink3 (E, 36,153 w., 4 Ch. || Wedding Date AU || Fake Relationship, Jealous, PIning, H/C, Idiots in Love, Happy Ending, Mary is not Nice, Escort Service) – Clara's American father is the ambassador to some such territory that Great Britain probably used to own, but she (and Harry’s undying love for her) is the reason John is getting on a flight at 12:30pm, flying across the second largest ocean in the world, and pretending to be in a perfectly happy, healthy relationship with an undoubtedly perfectly coiffed stranger. See, Clara is not only American (and wealthy to boot), she's also best friends with John’s ex-fiancée. Whom she's placed in the wedding party. As Maid of Honor. And John just happens to be Best Man. Bloody brilliant.

The Boy Who Drank Stars by kinklock (E, 36,157 w., 4 Ch. || Howl’s Moving Castle AU || Witches and Wizards, Slow Burn, Magic, Jealous John, Happy Ending, Bed Sharing) – “I’m looking for a castle,” John informed the scarecrow. “A moving one.”Except that, as it turned out, it was not a moving one at all.

we have never seen a greater day than this by Lediona (T, 36,420 w., 7 Ch. || A Royal Night Out AU || WWII / VE Day, Prince Sherlock, Soldier John, Alternating POV, First Kiss, Bittersweet Ending, Homophobia, Dancing) – Peace. At long last. It’s VE Day and Prince William desires to join the celebrations. It is a night of excitement, danger and the first flutters of romance.

Malediction by MapleleafCameo (M, 36,680 w., 11 Ch. || Ladyhawke AU || Magical Realism, Romance, Curses, Eventual Happy Ending) – Cursed to a half-life, John and Sherlock must fight the forces of evil to be reunited once again.

Only To Be With You by SinceWhenDoYouCallMe_John (M, 40,768 w., 4 Ch. || Black Mirror / Future AU || Character Death, Future Technology, Sickness/Cancer/Illness, Heavy Angst with Happy Ending, First Person POV John, Pining John, Heart-Wrenching Angst) – I tell myself that next time I’ll come near this same place again. Wait around for the mysterious stranger in his coat to dash past me, hot on the heels of a new criminal in black. I think this all the way back to my Exit, planning where I’ll wait and what I’ll say when I see him. Scheming on how to get his name. It’s only once I reach the Exit Point door that I realize two hours and forty-five minutes have passed, and I realize that this won’t be the last time I Visit. It won’t be the last time at all.

The Curious Adventure of the Drs. Watson by ShinySherlock (M, 40,883 w., 14 Ch. || BBC & ACD Fusion || Victorianlock, Time Travel / Magical Realism, Friends to Lovers, Love and Kissing, Romance, Body Swap) – What if ACD Watson and BBC Watson switched places... “Imposter!” Hands clenching the lapels of John’s coat, Holmes shoved him anew. “Yes!” John agreed, nodding, and then grimacing. “Sort of!”

The Soul Remembers by i_ship_an_armada (E, 43,636 w., 10 Ch. || Oblivion AU || Post-Apocalypse, Movie Fusion, Science Fiction, Action/Adventure, Angst, Dreams, Bittersweet Ending) – John Watson is the lone security repairman stationed on a desolate, nearly-ruined future Earth. His dreams are plagued by a tall, dark-haired man, and when his dreams meet reality, he will be forced to question everything he believes is the truth about his life.

Anchor Point by trickybonmot (E, 49,856 w., 80 Ch. || Truman Show AU || Psychological Drama, Suspense, Slow Burn, Dark Characters / Fic, Alternating First/Third Person, Protective John, Anxious/Worried Sherlock, Tender Moments, Love Confessions, Hand/Blow Jobs, Cuddling, Jealous John, First Kiss/Time) – The world tunes in nightly for Sherlock, the ultimate in reality TV: Sherlock Holmes, a real person with a legendary name, unknowingly lives out his life in a staged setting contrived by his brother. Things get complicated when a retired army doctor joins the show to play the part of Sherlock's closest friend. This fic borrows its concept from the 1998 film, the Truman Show. However, you don't need to have any knowledge of the movie to enjoy this story.

Coventry by standbygo (E, 52,020 w., 26 Ch. || Dollhouse AU || Case Fic, Slow Burn, Sci-Fi / Fantasy, First Kiss / Time, Attempted Rape/Non-Con, BAMF John, Falling in Love) – “Let me get this straight,” John said, wondering when his life had become a science fiction film. “Some guy orders up a personality, a person, to his specifications, and they program this into a real live person, who has consented to do this, and she goes to this person and acts as his wife, or lawyer, or Royal Marine, or Navy Seal or what have you, and she has all the skills, all the knowledge, everything? Then you say the magic words, and she follows you back to The House, and they erase it all until her next appointment?”

floating through a dark blue sky by Lediona (M, 58,966 w., 15 Ch. || Notting Hill AU || POV John, Celebrity Sherlock, First Date / Time / Kiss, Past Drug Addiction, Angst with a Happy Ending) – Of course, I’d seen his films and always thought he was, well, brilliant -- but, you know, a million miles from the world I live in. Or, when John is the owner of a travel book shop and the famous Sherlock Holmes stops in one day.

Perdition's Flames by i_ship_an_armada (E, 63,435 w., 21 Ch. || Treklock AU, Est. Rel, Genetic Engineering, Angst & Fluff, BAMF!John) – Sherlock would do anything to save him. Risk anything. Give anything. His money, his life. His soul. What he does, though, is change both of their destinies forever. Genetic re-engineering is the only option left. It turns out researchers underestimated the life expectancy and potential abilities of genetically re-engineered subjects. The British government and what would eventually become the United Federation of Planets, however, had not. Part 1 of PF Universe

This Thing All Things Devours by cypress_tree (E, 63,844 w., 15 Ch. || In Time AU || Science Fiction, Dystopian Universe, First Meetings, Action / Adventure, Romance) – In 2169, time is money—literally. Humans are genetically engineered to stop aging at 25, when the numbers on their arm start counting down from one year. When that time is up, they die. The only way to get more time is to earn it, borrow it, or steal it.John Watson lives day-to-day in the crowded slums of Zone 13. He never imagined living any differently—until he meets the practically-immortal Sherlock, and helps him on a case to track a local time-thief...

Being John Watson-ish by elwinglyre (E, 69,902 w., 17 Ch. || Bodysnatcher AU || Author John, Cranky Sherlock, Angst, Sexual Tension, First Kiss / Time, Falling in Love, BAMF John, Past Soldier John, Feelings, Inside Someone’s Brain, Shy Sherlock, Sherlock Loves John, POV Sherlock, Switchlock, Slow Burn, Internal Dialogue, Mental Turmoil) – When consulting detective Sherlock Holmes steps on one toe too many at a crime scene, he's consigned to a desk job in an archaic office on the seventh-and-a-half floor of the New Scotland Yard. It’s in this bleak office that Sherlock discovers a portal into the mind of renowned author John Watson. Grander than his mind palace, this new wonderland affords Sherlock new vistas of experimentation. To learn more about the mystery behind the portal, Sherlock seeks out and befriends Watson. But then it all goes wrong when others find the secret portal door—including the man whose brain he visits.

The Baker Street Nativity by SwissMiss (E, 99,662 w., 23 Ch. || Nativity! AU || Teacher Sherlock / TA John, Pining, Sherlock POV, UST, Angst, Christmas, Music/Song Fic, Anal / BJ��s, First Kiss / Time) – Fusion between Sherlock (BBC) and Nativity! (2009 movie starring Martin Freeman). Sherlock is a primary school teacher and John is assigned to be his classroom assistant. Together, they are charged with putting on the school's Nativity play. What could possibly go wrong? Part 1 of The Baker Street Nativity Verse

The Cost of a Wish by slashscribe (E, 102,493 w., 12 Ch. || xxxHolic Fusion || Spirits / Ghosts and Magic, Love Confessions, Slow Burn, Soul Mates / Fated Lovers, Adventure, Immortal Sherlock, Powerful John, POV John, Frottage, Wish Granting, Angst with Happy Ending, Nightmares) – John has been plagued by a secret his entire life that has made him feel hopeless until he meets a mysterious, seemingly omniscient man named Sherlock Holmes who owns a wish-granting shop. Their meeting sets off a series of inevitable events that will change the course of both of their lives forever.

The Swan Triad Series by Pennin_Ink (T, 121,660 w. across 3 works || Swan Lake AU || Magical / Fairy Tale AU, Romance, Falling in Love, Pining, Psychological Torture, Transformation) – Sherlock and John grow up spending every summer together. Their mothers' attempts to play matchmaker only fuel their mutual resentment and scorn. But then, one summer.

Colors by Quesarasara (E, 140,537 w., 17 Ch. || Pleasantville-Inspired AU || Soulmates, Colour Bonds, Alternating POV, Angst, Fluff, Pining, Case Fic, Medical Procedures) – Everyone on earth is born with eyes that see in black, white, and an endless series of greys. When you meet your soulmate, you finally see the world in color. We're all searching for the person who brings color to our lives. John and Sherlock are no exception. Part 1 of The Colors 'Verse

Mise en Place by azriona (M, 161,004 w., 28 Ch. || Restaurant (Kitchen Nightmares) AU || Sherlock is Gordon Ramsay / Celebrity Sherlock, Restauranteur John, Harry Plays Prominent Role, Alternating POV, Mutual Pining, Cranky Sherlock, Bed Sharing, Slow Burn) – John Watson had no intentions of taking over the family business, but when he returns from Afghanistan, battered and bruised, and discovers that his sister Harry has run their restaurant into the ground, he doesn't have much choice. There's only one thing that can save the Empire from closing for good – the celebrity star of the BBC series Restaurant Reconstructed, Chef Sherlock Holmes. Part 1 of Mise en Place

Proving A Point by elldotsee & J_Baillier (E, 186,270 w., 28 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Me Before You Fusion || Medical Realism, Insecure John, Depression, Romance, Angst, POV John, Sherlock Whump, Serious Illness, Doctor John, Injury Recovery, Assisted Suicide, Sherlock’s Violin, Awkward Sexual Situations, Alcoholism, Drugs, Idiots in Love, Slow Burn, Body Image, Friends to Lovers, Hurt / Comfort, Pain, Big Brother Mycroft, Intimacy, Anxiety, PTSD, Family Issues, Psychological Trauma, John Whump, Case Fics, Loneliness, Pain) – Invalided home from Afghanistan, running out of funds and convinced that his surgical career is over, John Watson accepts a mysterious job offer to provide care and companionship for a disabled person. Little does he know how much hangs in the balance of his performance as he settles into his new life at Musgrave Court. Part 1 of the Care And Companionship series

#steph replies #johnlock fic recs #my fic recs #crossover fics #sherlock au #fusion fics #Anonymous #long post #e-rated fics

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littlemisssquiggles · 4 years ago

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...So...about Lie Ren...

I never thought I would say this but…I want Lie Ren to be the one to save Oscar from Salem.

At this point, given a bit of evidence from the last episode, I’d like to think that Ren may be the one person capable of doing this. The thing is, he’ll have to do it on his own and will be forced to leave Jaune and Yang behind to go off on his own.

And not going to lie to you folks, I want Ren to abandon Yang and Jaune and go save Oscar by himself.

The show has already highlighted for me how much Jaune and Nora care about Oscar’s wellbeing. Nora was so relieved to see him return from the slums, that she was the first and only person to actually hug him when he arrived at the bar.

Mother-trucker, Jaune went to sleep still thinking about poor Oscar and worrying about his well-being, hitting my squiggly heart right in dat Shovel knight BROTP feels.

The only member of JNR who hasn’t proven how much he cares for Oscar is Ren. I’m not saying that Ren doesn’t care about Oscar. I’m just saying, there hasn’t been any major opportunity for him to display it like his other two comrades. Until…now.

Let me tell you why I think it’s perfectly possible for Ren to save Oscar. In the last episode, during the chase scene with George, I saw two pieces of evidence that highlighted Ren’s capability. Not only does his Tranquility semblance make him undetectable to the Grimm but as demonstrated in the last episode with George, his weapon upgrade enables him to latch onto any kind of flying Grimm and hitch a ride.

We also saw that in the last episode, Ren felt the most bothered about being forced to rescue Yang and Jaune at the expense of losing Oscar. We even see his line of vision focus on Oscar during the chase. From this moment, I got the impression that Ren was more than determined to save Oscar.

They had ONE chance to save Oscar and it was all foiled because Ren had to save Yang and Jaune. So this gives me an idea.

We’ve seen huntsmen hitch a ride on a Grimm before---particularly a Nevermore in the past. We saw both Ruby Rose do this during the V4 Ruby Character Short and Maria Calavera during V6CH7.

That being said, imagine if…Ren decides to abandon Yang and Jaune at the outpost in the middle of the night and go off on a solo mission; making his sworn goal to bring Oscar back. We then fast forward to early morning after where Ren is standing on a lonely cliff now overlooking the giant Monstra hovering above the storm clouds.

After traveling mostly on foot for most of the night, Ren’s next objective was to scope out a method of getting up to the flying whale, when he spots a flock of Grimm flying up into the storm. Perhaps they were Nevermore or more Kevins since they appear more common in Solitas.

This is when Ren gets the brainiac idea to use his weapon to hitch a ride on one of those Grimm, steering it in the direction he wants it to take him which is straight up to Monstra. And since his semblance makes him invisible to the Grimm, Ren is allowed to fly his captive Grimm exactly where he needed to go without the detection of other Grimm.

Once he’s landed safely inside of Monstra, Ren shoots the Grimm stead to kill it and quickly goes into stealth mode. Now in the belly of the beast, Ren uses his skills. Perhaps this may even force Ren to utilize the aspect of his semblance that’s been teased from the last season.

I’d imagine that the inside of Monstra will be like a labyrinth to anyone entering. So what if…because of his semblance, Ren is able to “lock on” to Oscar’s aura with enough concentration and focus. And it’s through this newfound ability that Ren is able to hone in and find Oscar easily.

And from here, this is where the main escape begins. But overall, Ren is able to save Oscar on his own and the two are able to return back safely to the others.

I know this is just me mainly speculating here. I’ve had many folks come to me with the assumption of Oscar either being saved by Neo or of his own fruition.

And while both are good concepts, I think what this squiggly Pinehead wants to mainly see now hopefully is Ren being the one to save Oscar somehow.

After the negative way the show kind of painted him in the last episode, I want to see Ren do something absolutely amazing.

Speaking of, it may rant a bit right here---I was actually bothered that the accredited writer for this last episode--- Eddy Rivas had Ren snap at Jaune by using the info of him “cheating his way into Beacon Academy”. Not only was this uncalled for but...correct me if I’m wrong but if I recall, wasn’t Jaune’s “secret” something only two people knew back at Beacon?

Jaune told this info to Pyrhha Nikos and then it was overheard by Cardin Winchester who had been eavesdropping on their conversation on the room and later Cardin used this info to blackmail Jaune into being his slave during the Jaundice three-parter.

As far as I’m aware, there was never any further confirmation that Jaune also entrusted this info to Ren and Nora. If this was retconned in any other form of RWBY canon media (like the novels or the DC comics) please let me know because otherwise...this is an error??

Ren was not the teammate of his team who Jaune told his secret to in confidence. That was Pyrhha. Sure I can make the innocent assumption that Jaune probably told this to Ren and Nora afterwards offscreen however...this secret was such a personal thing to him that I figured only Pyrhha and Cardin knew since they were the only two confirmed to know in the canon. Ren was never confirmed to know according to the canon but I guess Double D needed Ren to know this detail otherwise this moment wouldn’t have worked. But I dunno. It felt off to me (like many things about this episode but I digress.

Please, if Lie Ren is to do one redeemable badass thing for this season outside of “brooding” and “pushing everyone away” like Yang implied (the big hypocrite), then please let him be the one man army who single-handedly braved the storm and fought against all odds to rescue his youngest teammate and friend from the depths of Monstra and return them both safely home.

If there is ONE person I want to see save Oscar now, it’s Ren. Let him do this noble thing and let him do it on his own.

I’m sorry. Call me nuttier than a nutcracker but at this point, Ren should honestly ditch Yang and Jaune and go off on his own to get Oscar. Nothing against Jaune and Yang is genuinely driving me up a wall right now with her characterization for this season but…I think what Ren will probably need to do right now is take a similar route as his female half---Nora.

In V8CH3, Nora said that she doesn’t know who she is without Ren. And it wouldn’t surprise me if Ren might feel the same way too. He’s never done anything on his own, outside of saving Nora back in Kunoyuri.

And since that fateful night, he’s always had Nora by his side. And ultimately the two of them gained more friends to love and care about. But I think what Ren needs right now is to move like Nora. Do something that only he can do.

And I think at the moment, the only person who may have a sliver of a chance to help Oscar is Ren. Yang and Jaune will only keep him back, sadly to say. While I understand that it will be a suicide mission for Ren to go get Oscar back on his own without backup. But nevertheless, is it wrong of me to say I don’t care.

I want to see this happen for Ren. I think proving himself and doing something noble on his own---something that he KNOWS he can do and manage successfully on his own without anyone holding him back or standing in his way to distract him from the main objective…I think that’s what Ren needs.

So many things have gone wrong for the teams. They need a win at the point and if Ren can provide that in the form of saving Oscar, it could work. But this is just me.

~LittleMissSquiggles (2020)

#rwby #lie ren #oscar pine #rwby theories #rwby volume 8 theories #rwby volume 8 spoilers

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immortalcoelacanth · 4 years ago

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Between the Walls, Chapter 2: Salutations and Explanations (Dream SMP fic)

... Although, I should probably tag this as more of a Sleepy Bois Inc thing given the content... Anyways, onto chapter 2!

Word count: 5356

Summary: At it was at this moment that Tommy knew, he fucked up.

“Let me tell you one thing, you pig bitch-”

There was a tiny child in his walls.

“And I bet your mum ain’t all that-”

A tiny child who was yelling at him, insulting him.

“So, you better listen up! Motherfucker-”

Techno was almost impressed.

He wondered if the kid was aware of how absolutely not intimidating he sounded at the moment. His voice cracked and broke occasionally as he cursed, he was visibly trembling in what Techno assumed to be fear, and he looked like he was moments away from crying with those wide eyes and that terrified look on his face.

The kid reminded him of a cornered animal, terrified and lashing out to try and protect itself. He was doing the same thing, trying to scare the hybrid off with harsh words and false bravado.

Techno quietly thought about how young he must be. It was a good thing Phil was nowhere nearby since nothing would have saved both him and the kid from the ensuing lecture and interrogation period. Questions about where the kid was from, who he was, what he was doing here…

Questions he should probably be asking before the kid broke down crying. He had a feeling it would happen eventually when all that adrenaline wore off and the reality of the situation fully sunk in, so the currently shrinking window of opportunity was the best chance he had for finding out what he needed to know.

“And do you know what the fuck a breath mint is?”

… But first he had to shut this kid up.

“You got anything to say? Huh? Or are you just gonna-HEY!”

The tirade was cut off when, without warning, Techno reached out and pinched the back of his shirt, using that to lift him up in the air and out of the shelter that had been provided by the wall.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?!” The kid squawked as he struggled and squirmed in an attempt to escape Techno’s grip. The hybrid rolled his eyes as he continued looking the tiny being over, occasionally turning him so he could inspect the rest of him. The only thing of note he found was the belt the kid wore that had various tools hooked onto it.

Nothing that really posed a threat to him, but it was still good to take note of it.

“Trying to find the off button.”

“The-OFF BUTTON?! EXCUSE YOU, YOU BITCH-”

“Damn, doesn’t seem to be one.” He noted in that same, monotone voice. Of course, this ended up enraging the kid further, his shouts and curses growing louder.

His wild, frantic eyes growing wider.

Well, now was as good as time as any to start asking some questions before he ended up pushing the kid too far. He swore he could hear that tiny heart pounding away in the kid’s chest, and the hybrid realized it was entirely possible for the tiny being to pass out on him, or worse, have a heart attack from the stress.

Double time on that interrogation, then.

Techno changed his grip, wrapping his fingers around the kid and getting bit in the process-

This child was absolutely feral. He’d probably need a rabies shot by the end of the day.

Eventually, and with some careful maneuvering to make sure didn’t drop the struggling figure, Techno was able to place him down on the top of the small shelf located near the entrance of his house. It was right in front of a window, too, and he saw the way the kid’s eyes flickered between him and the possible escape route.

Nope.

Not a chance.

The hand placed between the kid and his freedom earned him a scowl and being flipped off once again, though he was quickly getting used to this brash and foolish behavior. In a way, it reminded Techno how he had acted when he was much younger. How cocky and overconfident he had been before the world brutally showed him where his place was.

Now, his confidence was backed by years worth of training. By the lives he had ended and the blood he had spilt.

It made him smile at the memories, oddly enough. Naturally, the kid immediately took his smiling to be about something far more sinister, and he started shouting once more.

“What the fuck do you got planned, huh? Got some creepy shit planned? You… you gonna need a bone saw or some crap like that for me-”

“Oh please, all I’d need is a decent nutcracker.” Techno scoffed, completely oblivious to the look of horror that passed over the kid’s face before it was quickly replaced by that false bravado.

“Can’t believe you’d threaten me like that-”

“Not what I was talking about!” The hybrid quickly interrupted, visibly shuddering and in turn making the kid let out a loud laugh.

Just how in the hell was something that small so loud anyways? Weren’t there rules about that sort of thing, mass being proportionate to how loud something could be. There was a reason why he had hated hanging out with kids when he was younger.

… Except for Wilbur, he had always been the exception.

Not wanting to take an agonizing trip down memory lane back to when his family had been whole and alive, Techno decided it was time to start asking the questions he wanted answers to, beginning with the most important one of course.

“And why are you in my house, anyways?”

“Your house?” The kid scoffed and crossed his arms. “It’s mine! I called dibs!”

“Heh?” Techno found himself at a genuine loss here as he tried to comprehend the logic behind that statement. “You can’t claim-I built this place.”

“Doesn’t mean you called dibs, bruv, and you did a shit job of buildin’ it, too. It could use more decorations that aren’t you! And music!”

The hybrid let out a frustrated groan while dragging a hand over his face. Why had one of the most annoying, obnoxious, and loud people he had ever met decide that his base was the perfect place to invade. Why had this kid picked him instead of somewhere else, like L’Manberg.

… Actually, that was another good question to ask-

“So, when are you gonna clean up this pigsty?” The kid asked, completely derailing Techno’s train of thought.

“I fear for your brain cells if all you can come up with are pig jokes and saying fuck over and over again.”

“... Fuck you-”

“And my concerns are proven to be valid.”

“My brain works perfectly fine! It’s just yours isn’t big enough to get it!” He snapped back.

“Suuuuure, pipsqueak, whatever you say.” Techno sarcastically drawled. It seemed as though either the aloof expression on his face or the nickname he had granted the boy only enraged him further, as he watched the kid start stomping the ground as he continued shouting.

He was witnessing a literal tantrum.

“I’m not a pipsqueak! You’re the one who's freakishly tall!”

“Like I couldn’t tell with you calling me big man every five seconds, and I’ll just keep calling you that since you seem to like it so much.”

“Then just call me Tommy! It’s not that hard!” The now named Tommy exclaimed, and it was only when a smile appeared on Techno’s face that he realized he might have messed up.

“Uh… I mean-”

“So, that’s your name.” Techno interrupted, grin growing as he leaned forward and rested his chin on a closed fist. He was enjoying messing with this kid. It was almost as fun as terrorizing Quackity. “Got any other important info you wanna share? Credit card number?”

“No! No, no way!” Tommy let out a nervous giggle and took a step back. “C’mon, man, let’s see some manners! I told you my name, so you should tell me yours-”

“Technoblade.”

“... What?”

“Or Techno for short.” The hybrid continued, not caring about the stunned and confused look on the kid’s face. He was used to people looking at him weird, especially when they heard his name. “No pig-pun name here.”

“... You were so close to having a cool name.” Tommy bluntly said. “You’ve got half a cool name. Now Blade, that’s intimidating! Big man Blade-”

“Never call me that.”

“Alright TechnoBitch-”

“Your insults are getting worse by the second, I fear you’re undergoing cellular brain death.”

“Are you making up fancy words to sound all smart now? Cellular?” Tommy scowled. “What’s next? You gonna start talking about other made up stuff, like leprechauns, or dolphins?”

“... Dolphins are real-”

“That’s just what the dolphin believers want you to think! The… the dolphevers!”

Techno threw his head and started laughing, the noise surprisingly loud. It made Tommy jump as he winced at the volume. Discomfort ran through him, and he started to slowly realize how dangerous the situation he was in might be.

He had always been warned to stay away from humans, and while this guy didn’t look all that human, he was sure the same warning applied. He could be trapped, hurt, tormented…

Why, why had he decided to stick around instead of just running off, or trying to barter for his freedom? He had always lived his life on the edge, flirting with danger instead of women. The thrills and excitement of interacting with a human could have driven him to do this.

Or perhaps it was that quiet voice within him that begged him to interact with Techno, to reach out and be social and finally interact with someone after all the days he spent alone.

A voice that kept insisting that things would be alright, that he would be okay.

A voice that could result in his demise if he listened to it.

He would never see Tubbo again...

His mind made up, Tommy slowly backed away from the hybrid, one hand raised while the other behind his back towards the belt that Techno had noticed earlier. “Well, this has been fun and all but I’ve got to head out and you’ve got some cleaning to do, roomie.”

Techno’s eyes narrowed as his bout of laughter finished, aware that he had something planned that would probably cause some problems, but before he could act on his suspicions, Tommy made his move.

And chucked a fist full of sand in the pigman’s face.

Immediately, Techno let out a shout and recoiled, lifting his hands up to his eyes in an attempt to scrub the gritty substance out of them. Tommy took his chance and pulled out his grappling hook, attached it to the side of the shelf, and quickly slid down the rope. In his haste, as well as the movements caused by the hybrid’s thrashing, the grappling hook came loose, and he dropped the rest of the way to the floor.

Tommy landed, cringing as agony raced up his legs, and did his best to ignore it as he shot off towards the space under the shelf, knowing he would be hidden from sight and have a better chance at escaping.

He had to escape since he doubted his captor would be that nice to him again.

Meanwhile, Techno was currently battling every urge he felt to lash out and kill the kid. His mind and soul screamed for blood, for death and revenge for the humiliation and pain he had been put through. It took all of his willpower to stop himself from grabbing his trident and slamming it into the floor in an attempt to find, and kill, Tommy.

The main source of his restraint came from a voice that sounded a bit too much like Phil’s calmly whispering that there were other ways to do things, that he did not have to resort to violence.

This was then converted to make him pay, but not with death. Death is a release, not a punishment.

His eyes burned.

He let out a pained hiss and blindly reached towards the nearby brewing station, managing to get the bottle of water he had placed in it for potion brewing. He uncorked the top, looked up to the ceiling, cracked his eyes open, and quickly flushed them out to get rid of the sand.

All in all, only a couple seconds had passed since the sand had been thrown and Tommy had escaped. He could not have gotten far, but the more time the hybrid wasted sitting here, the further the kid would get.

Techno tossed the bottle to the side and quickly crouched down, still aching eyes scanning the wall as he tried to figure out where Tommy had gone. He spotted a flash of blond ducking behind part of the wooden shelf, and he quickly moved the wooden panel that covered the bottom part of the shelf. It was like a box of sorts and that could be used as storage space, but he had never put anything there and just left it closed.

So, naturally he had not at all been expecting to lift the panel up and find a tiny hole in the wooden floor, the perfect size for Tommy to fit through. His mind ground to a halt as he processed what he was seeing.

THERE WAS A HOLE UNDER THE SHELF?!

WHEN HAD THIS HAPPENED?!

Okay, okay, now was not the time to get caught up on. The kid was under the floorboards, possibly heading towards the basement. He rushed over to the ladder, slid down it, and jumped onto the stone flooring. He looked up at the ceiling, not seeing any obvious sign as to where the kid must have gone and decided that using another one of his senses might pay off.

Techno shut his eyes, ears twitching, and listened carefully. Listened for that one, signature noise that would tell him where Tommy was.

The sound of someone running over wood.

There!

On instinct, he swung the axe towards the sound, the blade chopping into the ceiling and exposing the hidden passage that had been carved into, and the boy who had been sprinting through it.

Now, this was where things took a bit of an interesting turn.

You see, despite the fact that Tommy had spent his life in a borrower settlement, he was quite experienced in building structures and had frequently challenged Tubbo to speed bridging contests. The adults always hated whenever he did that, claiming that the flimsy structures would alert humans to their hidden home, but Tommy had always ignored them and kept building.

… Until they resorted to hitting him. Then he stopped, but the skills he had developed over the years stayed with him, so the second he started falling he also started building. He had managed to place a couple blocks down as he fell and grabbed onto the little outcropping he had made. He was vaguely aware of Techno moving below him but was far more focused on trying to pull himself back up into the remains of his tunnel.

Can’t fall, gotta stay up! Have to run!

Unfortunately, his hand slipped off the planks, splinters sinking into his skin as he started to fall. Falling, and-

Landing on the top of Techno’s head. Surrounded by the crown the hybrid always wore and with no escape in sight, he decided to cling to the strangely soft, pink hair below him. It smelled… weirdly nice. There was a hint of a herbal scent he could not place, but it didn’t smell super flowery or anything like that.

“You’re pretty fruity, aren’t you big man?” Tommy impulsively asked, and he felt Techno freeze below him as the hybrid realized what the sudden, impossibly light weight belonged to. Seeing an opportunity to get another jab in, he immediately went for it with little regard to how precarious the situation was. “Lookin’ all… all flamboyant with your fancy dye!”

“I doubt you know what that word means, and it’s not dye.” Techno dryly retorted, tilting his head upwards so he could try and glare at the kid.

Seeing that nothing bad had happened, the hybrid had not tried to crush him, nor had he been grabbed and flung towards the nearest wall, Tommy decided to take a risk and started speaking once more.

“.... Hehe, guess things are fine then, big man-” He nervously laughed before he was cut off by Techno picking him up once again. The kid immediately started thrashing, squirming, and cursing as he tried to break free.

The hybrid rolled his eyes at the unnecessary dramatics and made his way over to the collections of chests on the other side of the room. A quick search resulted in him easily finding the item he was looking for.

A bottle.

He caught a glimpse of Tommy glancing between him and the bottle, his face shifting between pure rage and fear, but before he could object to what Techno was planning on doing, the cork in the bottle was removed and Tommy found himself being trapped inside.

“LEMME OUT YOU PRICK!” He shouted as he slammed his fists into the glass wall, wincing as his hands started aching.

Techno just chuckled and put the cork back in, preventing the kid from escaping and making it much harder to hear his shouting. A blessing in disguise, really. “Think of this as karma for the sand from earlier.”

Seeing no way to get out, Tommy flipped the hybrid off and slowly slid down the side of the bottle until he was resting on the ground. His arms crossed, knees were tucked to his chest, and he looked down so his face was hidden from sight. At least his silent moping made it easier for Techno to think.

What to do next…

He had the kid who had been borrowing through his house like some oversized termite, and he knew the kid’s name. There was still so much information he was missing that he wanted to know. What the kid was, if there were any more of him nearby-

An infestation was the last thing he needed.

… Perhaps the librarian back in the village would know something about this tiny kid. He knew that the somewhat eccentric villager had a large collection of books about all sorts of topics, so there was a chance he might have some kind of information he could dig up.

It was worth a shot.

He mentally debated on whether it would be worth it to bring Tommy with him, and ultimately decided he would in case he needed to show him off to the librarian, or one of the other villagers who might know about him. Without bothering to warn the kid, he quickly scooped the bottle up and fastened it to his belt.

He faintly heard the sounds of someone shouting and cursing, and decided to ignore it as he left the house. Techno hummed to himself as he made his way over to the nearby village, not bothering to waste any ender pearls since he still lacked a consistent source of them. No villagers were able to trade them, so his only option was relentlessly hunting down Endermen until a pearl was dropped.

Annoying, but necessary for now.

Speaking of annoying, he spared a glance down at the bottle on his hip that contained the furious Tommy, taking note of how the kid was smacking the glass walls and trying to find a way out. The red hue that had taken over his face also made it clear that he was still screaming.

He let out an exasperated sigh and picked the bottle up off his belt, lifting it up so it would be easier to talk to the kid. Now that he was up close, the hybrid could easily see the look of frustration on the kid’s face, as well as how red his eyes were.

It looked like Tommy had been crying.

“Calm down. I’m not gonna kill you.” Techno grumbled. “And stop screaming before you lose your voice.”

“You’re a bitch!” Tommy spat, not at all paying attention to what he was saying. “Fuckin’ dragging me out to who knows where, planning on doing who knows what-”

“I’m not going to sell you.” The hybrid interrupted, lifting a brow as he watched pure shock cross Tommy’s face. “... You really thought I was gonna sell you-”

“Well yeah!” Tommy sputtered as he flailed his arms. “The fuck else would you be doing?!”

“Interrogating people.”

“The fuck-”

Those were the only words Tommy was able to get out as the bottle was clipped back onto Techno’s belt. He shifted his arms a bit so his cape hid more of his body, and in turn the bottle, from sight. When that was finished, he strode into the village.

Children ran to and fro, some pausing to wave at him or whisper among themselves. He ignored them, as he always did, and continued on towards his destination. He also steered clear of any of the villagers he normally traded with, not wanting to get caught up in some unwanted conversation. He kept walking, picking up the pace whenever he heard someone get a bit too close to him until he reached the library.

It was far from your traditional library, much more of a home with a massive collection of books available for people to read. Techno didn’t bother to knock on the door, opting to instead open it and walk inside. A somewhat large, sparsely decorated room with simple shelves greeted him.

A moment later, the sound of rustling in one of the small side rooms filled the air and the familiar face of the local librarian popped out of it. He resembled your typical villager, though the spark of curiosity made his eyes glint and shine. He was obviously curious as to why Techno had shown up, but before he could ask the hybrid spoke.

“So, what do you know about tiny people?”

“I’m afraid you’ll need to be a bit more specific than that.” The librarian cheerfully replied, not at all phased by the seemingly random question. “Are there any particular features you can describe? Do you have an example?”

Immediately, Techno’s hand moved to his side, ready to grab the bottle and use Tommy as his example. However, just as he was about to snag the bottle-

He froze.

Dread coiled in his heart, an uncomfortable sensation that he had not felt for many years. He grit his teeth as he struggled to sort out exactly what he was feeling, what his instincts were trying to tell him.

Tommy’s wide eyes, tears still lingering in the corners-

Was… was this guilt?

There was no way he was feeling guilt! It couldn’t be. He had felt no guilt when threatening the kid earlier, didn’t really care all that much about him. So, why did the thought of showing him to someone feel…

Wrong.

He was unable to come up with an answer, feeling frustrated with himself. It was a stupid emotion, a weakness, but at the same time his instincts, those same feelings, had gotten him out of dangerous situations in the past. He’d be an idiot if he didn’t keep listening.

So, he dropped his hand and opted to explain instead. “Short, couple inches tall. Uses tools like grappling hooks to get around. Lives-”

“In houses?” The librarian finished, that sparkle in his eyes growing brighter. Looking a bit thrown off, Techno nodded.

“Yeah. How’d you know?”

“You have perfectly described a borrower!”

“... A borrower?”

“Yes! Humanoid beings who are only a few inches tall! Generally, they tend to live in already inhabited homes, or with other borrowers in hidden settlements! They’re signs of good fortune.” The librarian explained as he scanned the shelves, looking for a specific book. “It is said that there is a powerful connection between borrowers and humans, their companionship offers a kind of peace and feeling of completion that we cannot hope to feel on our own-”

“I’m assuming that doesn’t apply to hybrids as well.” Techno interrupted, brow raised in a combination of curiosity and disbelief.

Borrowers… so that’s what Tommy was. And the kid had chosen to live with him? Why? And what had he been doing in a frozen wasteland before that? Was there one of those settlements nearby, or was there some other factor that had driven the borrower into staying with him.

So many questions, and so few answers.

To his surprise, the librarian quickly shook his head. “Your assumption is incorrect, Blood God. On the contrary, borrowers and hybrids have been known to share settlements in the past, working together and helping one another out-aha!”

A book was pulled out of the shelves, cover worn and title nearly illegible. After the book was given a quick once over, it was presented to Techno. He immediately took it, held it up in the dim lighting, and read the title aloud.

“A Historical Investigation into Borrower Society…?”

“Indeed! That should be a good starting point for your research on borrowers, and I can search for other texts if you wish to read them.”

“... That would be helpful, thanks.” Techno nodded while adding the book to his bag. He then pulled a couple emeralds out of it and looked at the librarian. “How much do I owe you?”

“Nothing at all! It warms my heart to see someone else taking an interest in borrowers,” The librarian exclaimed while clapping his hands. “And for my library to be blessed with the presence of one.”

Ah, Tommy.

He must have either spotted the bottle the borrower was in, or one of the other villagers must have and then passed the information along to him. Either way, the hybrid felt…

Annoyed.

His eyes narrowed and he unconsciously shifted so the side of his body the Tommy was on was further away from the librarian. He also flared his cape out, so the borrower was completely hidden from sight.

He was unaware of how Tommy had pressed himself against the side of the bottle upon realizing he had been seen. Unaware of how the borrower had tried to take shelter in his presence despite the rough start to their meeting.

Unaware of the wide, confused eyes that stared up at him, trying to comprehend that his captor was protecting him.

The librarian, seeing the change in Techno’s mood, quickly backed up and lifted up his hands. “Fret not, Blood God, I would do no harm to your charge.”

… Charge?

Before he could question what the librarian meant, the robbed man quickly ducked into some side room and started rummaging around in it.

“The next time you visit, I shall have something to give you! I promise!”

Had… had he just been given the signal to leave? Techno stood around awkwardly for a couple more moments as he waited to see whether the librarian would make another appearance. When he did not, the hybrid decided it was time to go.

Social interactions had always been a critical weakness of his. For how intimidating and threatening he could be, that mask would dissolve in an instant if he started floundering while talking to someone.

Wilbur had always teased him about it…

The walk back to his house was, thankfully, silent and allowed him the perfect opportunity to think about what he had learned in the village. Tommy was a borrower, a tiny being that lived in houses and stole for a living. He had no real magic or other noteworthy skills, aside from the advantages brought to him by size. He could be sneaky.

However, he still had to think about what to do with the borrower. Let him stay, or kick him out.

Soon enough, the hybrid found himself making his way up the stairs to the front of his house, letting out a relieved sigh once the door shut behind him. His shoulders loosened, the tension he had been carrying since he first entered the village fading in an instant.

He hated talking to people, so much.

Techno glanced at the nearby table and then looked down at the bottle on his hip. He promptly lifted it up, met Tommy’s eyes, and spoke.

“If I let you out and you don’t behave, I’m gonna fill the bottle with water and stick you back in it. Got it?”

Tommy shuddered and quickly nodded.

Stupid, he was so stupid for getting himself into this situation, and now he had no idea what Techno was going to do with him! Of course, he could always try to escape again, but he doubted he would get far, and if he got caught…

Nope. He was just going to sit, wait, and try to be as quiet as possible.

Upon seeing that Tommy was listening and actually keeping his mouth shut, Techno uncorked the bottle and tilted it towards the table so the borrower could easily slide out. Once he was settled on the table, the hybrid walked over to the other side of the room and started thinking.

Thinking about what his options were and what he should do.

Was it worth it to keep Tommy around? To have to deal with an annoying presence constantly in the place he had created as his retirement home. Would the aggravation be worth it? What would he get out of it, anyways?

They’re signs of good fortune.

Borrowers and hybrids have been known to share settlements in the past, working together and helping one another.

…That librarian had a point.

It would be useful to him to keep Tommy around, or kill him, even if the kid didn’t give him any good luck. He definitely couldn’t let the borrower leave, lest someone from L’Manberg snag him and get him to spill everything he knew about Techno, and if he kept the borrower around there was always the potential to use him in the future.

To have a tiny spy on his side could be quite the valuable tactical advantage, especially for when L’Manberg came after him.

He doubted Quackity would stay down for long.

So, with a plan properly in mind, he directed his attention back towards the borrower who was, thankfully, still sitting on the table. It looked like the kid had been zoning out until he heard the sounds of Techno’s approaching footsteps. He got back to his feet and glared at the man staring down at him.

Was… was he trying to be intimidating?

Techno let out an amused snort, ignoring the resulting remark about him really being a pig, and started explaining his deal.

“Alright, tiny-”

“TOMMY!”

“ Tiny.” Techno insisted, and to his surprise Tommy actually shut up.

It was probably due to the fact that he wasn’t really in any kind of position to argue or make demands. His life was on the line and he knew. All he could was hope the human would show him some mercy and not chuck him out into the freezing cold.

Whatever it was, it worked in Techno’s favour.

“So, here’s the plan. I’ll let you stay here, give you food and shelter, but you have to give me something in exchange.”

The deal was simple, with the benefits to Tommy being obvious. Something that he hoped would distract the kid and prevent him from questioning what Techno got out of their agreement.

Or what he would get, that is.

“What the fuck do you mean, big man?! Give you something in exchange?! I don’t have anything to exchange!”

“Well, since you said you don’t have anything to exchange,” The hybrid began, taking another step forward so he was closer to the table, already witnessing the real purpose behind his plan coming to fruition.

Tommy paled and took a step back as Techno loomed above him, shadow engulfing his tiny frame as that scheming smile crossed his face. Okay, it was clearly an awful decision to agree to his idea. Abort, abort-

“You’ll just have to work for it, then.”

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Techno's character arc for this fic is literally him going from exploiting one orphan to two XD

#my story #fanfiction #dream smp #dream smp fic #borrower au #dsmp tommy #dsmp techno #borrower!tommy #sleepy bois inc #sleepy bois inc fic

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akumanoken · 3 years ago

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Act 2 Scene 2

The city was lit up so colorfully, colored lights that looked of sugar glass, cobblestone paths that made a delightful sound as their carriage meandered through the twisting roads. Souji’s eyes were lit up as he looked through everything. “It’s so beautiful!!”

The prince was content to watch the other’s excited face. “This…is a land of endless happiness, where sweets gather to celebrate the season every year. This will be the first time I will be there to attend as I am now.”

Souji turned to him then. “Is this your home?? Are you the prince of his land??”

He shook his head. “Not quite. I am called prince here as the Queen, the Sugarplum Fairy, has taken me in. I have fought for the kingdom, protected the candies, for such a long time, I have moved past the title of knight.” He looked out the window. “My home… is far away… and it was such a long time ago, I’m almost afraid it will be gone when I return.” A smile came over his face then, not needing to turn to know the other’s growing concern. “Do not worry, Souji…” he soothed softly, moving hair from the other’s face, cupping a pink cheek. “With your help, I may be brave enough to see. Or perhaps… even make a home of my own… a new one, perhaps closer to you.”

Souji’s eyes widened, flushing, but he didn’t move his face from the other’s hand. “I… would like to help you…however I can.” He wasn’t sure how he could, but he wanted to…

Such an open expression, wide eyes and concerned but determined features. The prince stared down at Souji, leaning down. “Souji….”

The carriage came to a halt, jarring them both before any distance could close between them. They had arrived at the palace, and a door had been opened to let them out. A footman held his hand out for Souji, but the prince, lips pressed thin, stepped out ahead of the other, holding his hand out with a smile. Souji was unsure what just happened, but took the hand offered to him and got out the carriage, smiling up at the prince before losing himself in the immaculate marzipan palace. “Oh, it’s beautiful…”

“I am glad you approve,” a woman smiled. Wearing a silvery dress, a crown of stars on her head, the woman was accompanied down the steps with a man in a military uniform. “Ah… our brave nutcracker, I see you are no longer of wood and springs. And this is the soul who has saved you?”

The prince smiled, allowing himself to be embraced by the beautiful fairy. “Yes, My Queen… we were ushered straight away, the snow fairies made sure to spirit us to you.” He grasped Souji’s hand again, presenting him to the queen. “This is Souji. He is the one who saved me.”

“Ah!! Such a beautiful boy!!” The fairy queen reached up to his face, cupping Souji’s cheeks. “Yes, you are quite a vision, my dear… come. You and the prince are guests of honor!! We must celebrate this turn of events!!”

#v: nutcracker #drabble

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theangriestpea · 5 years ago

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The Southside Grinch

Summary: You hate Christmas with a fiery passion. Or so you thought.

Pairing: Sweet Pea x Reader

Rating: G

Word Count: 1.3k+

Warnings: None!

A/N: MERRY CHRISTMAS @redhairdontcare732 // @shitty-marvel-fan732!! I hope you enjoy this and I’m sorry it wasn’t any longer. I feel like there’s not a WHOLE lot of Sweet Pea in this and I feel kind of shitty about that but...he is best Christmas boy.

Y/N huffed angrily as she saw the Christmas lights and fluffy green garland hanging on every trailer in Sunnyside, every trailer but hers. The sides were the same ashen grey, the white door bare of any wreath or sign of holiday cheer. No, it was barren of any kind of festivity almost as if she had forgotten to decorate.

She hadn’t forgotten.

Being born on Christmas Eve meant that everyone forgot your birthday. No one remembered to buy you a birthday present and instead gave you a two-in-one Christmas present that she felt was so incredibly unfair that her heart shrank three sizes smaller coming the day after Thanksgiving when all the stores and radio stations began to play Christmas music. The sound of it made her sick with fury.

She pulled into her driveway and parked her car, noting that her boyfriend’s bike was not present. She figured he was working late trying to make some extra money for the big event. Not that she wanted anything special or extravagant.

Deep down she prayed that he didn’t forget her birthday too, just like everyone else. He had at least agreed with her to not decorate the trailer for the holiday as to not let it overshadow what was supposed to be a special day for her. Sweet Pea had a rough history with the holiday season as well with absentee and abusive parental figures usually ruining it for him when he was very young. Now there was no one. Just like she had no one. They were a match made in heaven.

And while she was a Grinch on the outside, glaring at anyone who wished her a Merry Christmas or Happy Holiday, scowling at the bell ringers who begged for money for a crooked foundation, it could be said that perhaps somewhere deep down inside of her she didn’t quite hate Christmas at all.

Despite her birthday being overlooked, so many people seemed so happy this time of year. She quite enjoyed giving gifts herself to her close friends and boyfriend. So while Christmas Eve was usually the worst day of the year, Christmas day perhaps wasn’t too bad if she really thought about it…

It was presently December 23rd. The sun had set and the moon rose high into the sky looking like a round ball of snow suck up in the night sky. A sigh left her lips as she trudged through the fresh fallen ice and into the cold trailer. Immediately she turned the heat on in hopes that it would warm up fast, but knowing that it wouldn’t. She’d only be warm when Sweet Pea arrived home and crawled into bed with her.

And then. When the sun rose the next day, it would be the worst day of the year. Anxiety and dread filled her to the brim as she pledged to not leave her bed except to use the bathroom or to grab a bottle of wine or three. She walked into the kitchen, pledging start early this year. She saw a large box of sparkling white wine with a giant blue bow wrapped around it.

She looked quizzically at the present, unsure what to make of it. She plucked the folded note off the front of the box and read it. Hey baby, I know this time of year is rough for you. I will be home late tonight, enjoy yourself. Get some rest for tomorrow. -SP

She bit her lip to keep a smile from creepy across her face. She hoped he didn’t take her away from the warmth of her bed tomorrow, but had a sneaking suspicion that he’d make a big deal out of the day. If anyone were to ask, she’d say that it was not at all what she wanted. That she wanted to mope and hide and drink herself to sleep. But, in all honesty, Y/N wanted what almost every person wanted for their birthday: a special day that centered on her with love and happiness.

And the next day, Sweet Pea did just that. He let her sleep, waking her up with the smell of food cooking. He made her favorite breakfast food and brought it to her in bed when she called out for him. He kissed the top of her head lovingly and ate with her in their cozy full sized bed that wasn’t quite big enough for the two of them.

Next he took her ice skating and to the zoo and even the small art museum on the edge of the Northside. Pop’s for lunch, of course, with a complementary slice of pie from Pop himself piled high with cream and a yellow birthday candy lit on top.

Lastly, at night, after taking her to her favorite restaurant for dinner, he gave her the present he had spent months saving up for. A sterling silver necklace with a beautiful diamond encrusted snake curled into the shape of a heart. Tears pricked her eyes as she turned the charm over in her hand, seeing their anniversary date engraved into the back in impossibly small numbers.

“Sweet Pea…” She breathed out slowly, the salty drops of liquid finally spilling from her eyes. It was the most beautiful and thoughtful present she had ever received. But best of all, not one during the entire day had he spoken a word about Christmas.

That night, after a very lovely round of birthday sex that left you too tired to fight sleep, Sweet Pea slipped out from underneath the pile of blankets. He tugged on his boxers before going to the crawlspace and getting out box after box of Christmas decorations that he had hidden from her all month long. He put up a tree, lights, ornaments, tinsel, garland, wreaths, little Santa figurines and festive nutcrackers. It took him all night, but when he was done the trailer looked as if it had been decorated all month long instead of just for a few hours.

His finishing touch was to light some candles that were Evergreen scented to mimic the smell of a real Christmas tree. The smell of Christmas filled the tiny trailer as Sweet Pea collapsed onto the couch with a proud smile on his face. There were a few neatly wrapped presents under the tree, not much but he knew it would be enough to make her happy.

“Sweet Pea?” A hazy voice called out to him and his eyes fluttered open, not knowing when he had fallen asleep. He looked up at his girlfriend’s face, her eyes huge with wonder at the sight of all the Christmas decorations, “did you do all this?”

Insider her heart was swelling with joy at the glittering lights and bright decorations. The tree was Southside themed with biker Santa ornaments, festive snakes, and various other ornaments that served as references to little inside jokes they had, and there was even a tiny baseball bat that looked exactly like his. Completely with painted on blood splatter.

He quickly stood up, ignoring his limbs heavy with sleep as he clambered over to her. “Yes, after you fell asleep I came out here to surprise you…” He looked at his beat up old watch, it was four in the morning. “Why are you awake?”

She smiled bashfully, “I wanted to shake the presents to see if I could figure out what you got me. Then I smelled the candles...”

Excitement filled his chest. He had this sneaking suspicion that Y/N loved Christmas somewhere inside of her, despite the bah humbug persona she puts on every year. He took her into his arms and pulled her close, a mischievous smile on his face.

Her eyes flickered upward, her head tilting at the image above her. “Why is there spinach hanging from the doorframe?”

“I couldn’t find any mistletoe.” Sweet Pea added, biting his lip with anticipation. She looked at it for a second longer before a fit of giggles erupted from her beautiful lips.

She pulled his face down and kissed him over and over until their lips were puffy and swollen. “Merry Christmas, Pea.”

“Merry Christmas, baby.”

#riverdaleevents #reindeer games: blitzen #sweet pea #sweet pea x reader #riverdale #sweet pea imagine #sweet pea imagines #sweet pea fanfic #sweet pea fanfiction #riverdale imagine #riverdale fanfic #riverdale imagines #riverdale fanfiction #I almost wrote smut but decided to write fluff instead #and I'm terrible at fluff so I'm sorry #Dx #I LOVE YOU RED

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valkyrieelysia18 · 4 years ago

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RWBY Rewrite: Penny Polendina

Salutations Tumblr users! Today, we tackle beloved fan favorite robot girl Penny Polendina.

Now as I stated before, I dropped RWBY after Volume 6 and didn’t really watch Volume 7. I have however heard about certain developments and one plot point made me grateful I got out earlier or I would have rage quit this Volume anyway.

They brought back Penny, with all her memories completely intact.

This destroys one of the best pieces of writing in the show. Penny’s death was meant to symbolize the death of innocence in the show and it led in to the Fall of Beacon as well as Pyrrha’s death. Up until now, the show had been treating it as if a real girl had died. Vexed Viewer on YouTube has done a video on the topic that explains this better than I could. Even if they were going to bring Penny back in some way, she shouldn’t have been exactly the same as if nothing happened. Such as her memory of Vale (and everyone she met) being completely gone or her personality being significantly changed she isn’t even the same person anymore.

So, in this post I am going to be going over her history, role in the plot, and ‘successor’ for the Atlas Arc.

Creation and History

Okay, slight can of worms, but if Doctor Polendina is black, why is his daughter one of the most obviously white characters of the cast?

Alright, there actually is a legitimate reason for that in this rewrite. Penny’s physical features are actually based on Pietro’s late wife Clara Polendina (reference to the Nutcracker ballet) who worked with her husband. The two were very much happy and in love, but Clara died in a Grimm attack before they could have children. Thus, Penny is basically the daughter Pietro never got to have with her. Clara won’t come up that much in the Rewrite, but she was close to both of her husband’s prized students Arthur Watts and Willow Schnee. Arthur would note the resemblance and bring it up during his final confrontation with the doctor (This is what you ruined my life for as well as countless others?! Clara would be ashamed.) Willow would also bring it up and notice the similarities in both Penny and her successor.

However, the Atlas military and Ironwood’s desires to build something like Penny is less heartwarming. There was the original desire of making stronger robots for mass production to protect humans that evolved into infiltration and espionage purposes. But James Ironwood would see Polendina’s plans and see an immense opportunity. A young woman who would never age or die. An individual that they would never have to worry about running away or disobeying orders. Such a person becoming a Maiden would mean that they would never have to worry about the transfer process ever again. That would explain why Penny said that it would be her job to save the world one day, but they don’t think she’s ready for it yet. She is Ironwood’s hope for the future of the Maidens. And just in case she isn’t perfected in time for the next transfer, Winter is being trained and kept in reserve. Ironwood would provide all of the materials Pietro could need, including a crystalized substance that no one knows much about other than it being a classified by the military. It’s source will be noted in a spoiler’s section in this post, but it’s the very thing finally got things to work.

But while Pietro is aware something is up and suspicious of Ironwood’s intentions, he loves his little robot daughter regardless. There will be some flashbacks involving her first days awake (showing her curiosity and determination) as well as her bidding her father good bye when she leaves for the Vytal Festival.

Vale

The only thing I’d really change about Penny in the Vale Arc is giving her more time to interact with the cast, especially Ruby. What we got was okay, but I think it would be much more impactful if Ruby got to spend more time with Penny before her death. I’d definitely like it if Penny would bring up her father during their conversations, saying she was sure that two of them would get along given how much Ruby likes weapons.

It might be also nice for Pyrrha to feel a little off by her sensing all the metal when they first meet, but not realize why or how important that is. Just bit of foreshadowing.

Pelia

So, as you might have guessed by now, Penny will stay dead in this Rewrite. With the kind of story and tone I’m working with, it’s important that there is legitimate consequences to events and actions of the characters. As such, characters who died will stay dead. They may be referenced, appear in flashbacks, haunt our characters’ dreams, perhaps having a spirit linger with unfinished business to help the main characters on their path, but there is no chance of resurrection.

Not that Pietro wasn’t thinking along the same lines as others had considering Penny is a robot. They did manage to retrieve her body and core, but when he managed to build a new body, reboot, and restart, it wasn’t Penny greeting him. Rather, it was a completely personality. And they did not recognize anything or anyone. Pietro was devastated.

Thus I introduce Pelia Polendina, or Pelly. This is reference to the Coppelia ballet that actually includes a toy inventor trying bring a doll to life that he calls a daughter, much like Pinocchio. Only instead of magic bringing a puppet to life, the inventor tries to bring Coppelia to life by stealing a human soul and putting it in the doll. Quite the dark contrast and is actually going to be a bit of foreshadowing. I will say her appearance is actually pretty similar to Penny’s redesign with longer hair, though I would picture her more similar to dishwasher 1910′s design in https://www.deviantart.com/dishwasher1910/art/penny3-0-SD-758463321 . Check them out on DeviantArt, their work is amazing.

Pelia is considerably different than Penny. Whereas Penny was bright, enthusiastic, and rather trusting; Pelly is subdued, talks very mechanically, and is significantly less naïve. While Penny longed to be a part of something greater and be with humans despite her lack of social skills, Pelly avoids most people and is afraid of what Atlas(and by extension Ironwood) wants with a robot like her. This is partly due to her finding about Penny and how the world reacted with the Fall of Beacon.

In regards to Penny, she feels rather guilty about being alive in her place though she doesn’t quite realize that’s what she is feeling. This would lead to her trying to find out everything she could on Penny to understand her emotions, learning about Ruby and the others in the process. Pietro is devastated by the loss and incredibly frustrated with her, not really considering her alive in the same way Penny was which given her personality isn’t that unreasonable to think. Pelia does care about her creator and tries to assist him in what ways she can, but his attitude towards her is not positive and as such she mostly stays out of his way.

Atlas

Pelia’s first proper appearance would be in the Atlas Arc when the group visits Doctor Polendina for weapons repairs after their meeting with Ironwood doesn’t go well and the good doctor isn’t the on the best terms with the General at present. The man is not pleased or in the mood to humor them, though he does defrost a little when Ruby shows her geeky know how on weapons. (He may have also said some rather terrible things about Pyrrha which made the group somewhat grateful JNR wasn’t there.) As the group leaves the building and goes on their way, Ruby looks up to the upstairs window as she feels she’s being watched. She doesn’t see anything, but as she turns and walks away Pelia comes into view from the window. Having recognized who the people who just visited were, Pelly sneaks out and follows the group in the secret for a while.

She finally gets revealed while the group is watching Weiss dance ballet at a Mantle Community Theater. The Atlas Arc is primarily Weiss centric and part of her Arc in proving herself as worthy of the Schnee name will have her prove herself to people of Mantle. One such instance will have her helping out at the community theatre in learning and teaching dance. It’s in which she is showing off her skills Pelia accidentally reveals herself to the group having been incredibly entranced in ballet (little show to her inspiration). Ruby at first mistakes her for Penny so she gets very emotional, only to temper down when she realizes Pelia’s not her. The situation is cleared up and the group gets more insight into the situation of Atlas as well as the strain between the General and Pietro.

Pelia has three distinct dynamics of interactions with the group: Ruby on Penny, Weiss and Winter on siblings, and Oscar on succession. With Ruby, Pelia gets to know more about Penny as a person and Ruby gets a chance to fully process her loss. Pelia’s not Penny, but she comes to appreciate her all the same. Ruby also comes up with Yang in regards to sibling interactions, but Pelia’s focus in this case is more on the Schnee siblings. She’s basically wondering what sisters act like and whether Penny would have seen her as a sister. This lets her get some ballet lessons from Weiss as well as close to Winter. Then there’s her relationship with Oscar with the two of them having to deal with their predecessors and the problems they’ve let them to deal with. The both of them come to realize through talking with each other is that they shouldn’t compare themselves to those who came before. They have their own views and ways of doing things different from their predecessors and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. The only thing they can do is do things the best THEY can.

The big turning point in the Atlas Arc for Pelia is when Pietro finds out abut the Winter Maiden and what Ironwood’s original plans were. While I am majorly rewriting the Atlas Arc, I do actually like the idea of an old Winter Maiden who is on her last legs. Pietro doesn’t get all the details of course, but it gives him the idea that the magic could bring Penny back to life. Aside from the whole ‘Dead means dead’ world I’m working with, it’s also a way to show that magic that cannot bring back the dead. I know that’s very much true in the show though not directly stated, but here I want to lay the ground rules down on what magic is and is not capable of.

After being called back by Pietro and assisting him in breaking into the facility where the transfer is soon to take place, the two enter the room that was originally prepped for Winter (who is distracted with everyone else on things going wrong due to Pietro’s interference) with the old woman in the pod. Pietro has explained things and orders Pelia to get in the other pod. Pelia doesn’t move, having been conflicted during this entre plan which shows all over her face. The doctor orders again, much firmer this time. A few moments pass as she thinks it over; fear, doubt, determination all playout in her expressions. Finally, she speaks. “No.”

While Pelia may have been built to be a weapon, she still has free will. Unlike Penny who accepted her role without many doubts, Pelia rejects that her only purpose is to be someone’s tool of war. She wants to help others, but she doesn’t want to fight. I think that if you bring choice into a story as a main theme, you also have to give the characters the choice not to fight, to walk away even if they don’t actually do it. Above all, Pelia doesn’t think that sacrificing others for herself is what Penny would have wanted after having met Ruby and gotten to know what she was like.

She would tell this to Pietro, who would get furious and argue with her. this would continue until they were interrupted by Watts. Watts, with revenge on the brain, would focus on Doctor Polendina and tell Pelia to run along. I know this seems a little hypocritical for Watts to do this considering his advice to Cinder in Volume 5, but this a different situation. Spoilers for the future Atlas Arc Rewrite and future James Ironwood post, go to the next paragraph if you don’t want spoilers. You see, the villains don’t need the Winter Maiden to open the Vault for them because Ironwood already took the Relic of Creation out of the Vault years ago (and is NOT holding up Atlas). In fact, a bit of the power from the staff was used to create Penny which was the the crystalized substance. Watts knows this due to his hacking Ironwood’s system and has already retrieved the Relic and sent it on the way to Salem. This will make the results in Atlas a lot more bittersweet: our heroes will win on the people’s side of things, but lose the Relic. Back to Watts, the man is all about efficiency. While the Winter Maiden’s powers would be nice, they don’t have a vessel for it at the moment and it’s not necessary for their primary goal. Once the business side of things is taken care of, then he’ll indulge in revenge.

Pelia, while conflicted, would run and get to the group to tell them everything. She would then spend the rest of the conflicting helping to escort and treat the wounded, giving her a presence to the people of Atlas. Pietro will be arrested and will be convicted for his crimes, Watts dead but having gotten the last laugh in the end with his technological abilities exposing his teacher and those who left him out to dry.

Once everything is settled, Pelly will stay behind in Atlas as the new right hand of new Headmistress Winter Schnee. Basically, she becomes the Glynda to Winter’s Ozpin (though Winter is a much more hands on no nonsense person). She bids the group goodbye, hoping to Ruby that they will meet again.

After Atlas

I don’t have much in mind for Pelia after the Atlas Arc except for two things. Firstly, that she and Pietro do eventually reconcile and develop something of a relationship when she visits him in prison on her off days. (Jacques is not so lucky in regards to his children.)

The second is when she and Winter will meet everyone at the lowest point of the story. Ruby will have learned some pretty dark truths, including some choices her mother made that’s really made her think. Pelia will actually have a similar conversation with Ruby that she had with Oscar. In how she’s no more Penny than Ruby is Summer. She’ll remark that perhaps Ruby put her mother on a bit too much of a pedestal thanks to the way her family viewed her. When in reality Summer was just a person and people make mistakes. Right now, what choices Summer made in the past aren’t what matters. What matters is what Ruby wants to do now.

Okay, I think I started before the coronavirus stuff went crazy. I am so sorry. Not sure when I’ll get beck to this.

However, I know the next subject is going to quite the doozy...

#rwde #rwby rewrite #penny polendina #dr polendina #ruby rose #weiss schnee #Oscar Pine #winter schnee

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catsafarithewriter · 5 years ago

Note

“That’s the creepiest statue I’ve ever seen and it’s just casually sitting in your living room.”

A/N: Hello folks, yes I am still working on these; just trying to find the best angle (ie: funniest, fluffiest, or angstiest) to write these from, and this one definitely falls in the funniest category. I doubt this was what you had in mind, chez, but I think you’ll enjoy it regardless :)

Also apologies for the weird “keep reading” placement; tumblr decided to place it in the ask, and now I can’t remove it. :/

“That’s the creepiest statue I’ve ever seen and it’s just casually sitting in your living room.” Hiromi prodded the figurine resting along the bookcase and made a face. “His head’s too big for his body and he has the teeth of a chipmunk.”

Haru leant over and slapped Hiromi’s prying hand away. “That’s because he’s a nutcracker, Hiromi. He’s meant to look like that.”

Hiromi wrinkled her nose. “Even with those teeth, I don’t think it’ll do a very good job of cracking nuts.”

“It’s decorative.”

“You mean useless.”

“So is your lounge window, but you don’t see me judging you.”

“You did judge me.”

Haru rolled her eyes. “Okay, but you used the latch key as a screwdriver and broke it. How could I not judge you?” She shook her head and moved the nutcracker pointedly out of Hiromi’s reach. “Anyway, a friend brought him back from their travels as a gift, so he’s staying.”

“Which friend? The hot English guy or...?”

Haru regretted introducing Hiromi to Baron, even if he had been conveniently human at the time, because Hiromi had immediately latched onto the truth both her and Baron had been politely ignoring in that they were both head over heels in love with one another. Hiromi didn’t know about complications such as immortal lifespans or Creations and had shamelessly made it her personal project to get them together.

Haru didn’t meet Hiromi’s knowing gaze, and tried to remember if Hiromi had ever met Louise. “No, his, um, sister.”

“Oh. The hot English lady then.”

“Yes.”

“Is she taken or...?”

“She’s married, Hiromi.”

“Drat. She’s cute.”

“Yeah. And married.” Haru shooed Hiromi out of the lounge. “Now if you’ve quite finished judging my interior fashion design, we have a movie to get to, remember?” She grabbed her coat and passed Hiromi’s jacket across. Honestly, if that was how Hiromi reacted to a nutcracker, Haru couldn’t pretend to imagine how she’d respond to seeing Baron’s figurine form.

Perhaps it was just as well she’d met his “hot English guy” form instead.

It was midnight when Haru awoke to the sound of scuffling.

She turned over in her bed and watched her clock mark the passing of one day to the next, and mentally berated the Bureau. Seriously, was it that difficult to let her sleep? Or at least give her a warning before they crashed her place with news of a fresh case?

She admitted defeat and rolled out of her room, pulling her dressing gown tight around her and rubbing the sleepdust from her eyes.

“This better be urgent, Baron, or I’m going to tie all your bows into Gordian knots--” She froze.

She hadn’t stepped into a sheepish Bureau, as she’d been expecting.

Instead, she seemed to have stepped right into a tiny battle that was ensuing between an army of rats and the tin soldiers that Haru had bought for Hiromi’s next DnD session. She could see the remains of their packaging torn and ripped as if burst open from the inside.

“I’m still sleeping,” Haru muttered. “That’s it. This is a dream. This has to be a dream, because this is too weird, even for me, and I’ve almost been eaten by plants at least twice. I’m clocking out at rat wars in my lounge.”

A rat sank its teeth into her foot and she yelped and kicked the creature into the wall. Bloody bite marks decorated her skin. “Okay, maybe not a dream,” she grumbled. She inspected her foot. “You lot better not have rabies...”

There was a roar of triumph as several of the tin soldiers discovered the tactical merit of dropping heavy books on the rats below. Haru yelped as she spotted her signed book of urban legends get merrily tossed over the side. She snatched up the next upcoming causality before it could join the rest. “Stop that!”

There was a tearing sound, and Haru turned just in time to see a rat slide down the curtains, its claws leaving long slashes in the material. She slammed the book into the rat. “I have fought pirates and kings and slime monsters,” she roared, “and I am not going to let you be the ones to ruin the deposit on my flat!”

She gave the rat another hit and punted it across the room.

Just in time to spot the tin soldiers setting up the miniature catapult.

Haru took a moment to appreciate how they had managed to cobble together a working catapult from elastic bands, lollypop sticks, and a spoon, and then another horrified moment to register the eggs they were using as ammunition.

“Oh my god, don’t you dare--”

An egg hit her sofa.

Another the TV.

A third painted a very yolky picture across her window.

In fact, very few seemed to be actually hitting the rats they were aiming for. Trust them to have stormtrooper aim.

“Charge, men!” cried the de facto leader, armed with a fork and a head too big for his body. The nutcracker. Naturally. “Let’s show these rodents what we’re made of!”

“If Louise had any idea about this...” Haru muttered mutinously. She admitted defeat and grabbed the communication gem Baron had given her to contact the Bureau. She was going to need some back-up. As it began to glow, there was a decidedly rodent cheer, and Haru looked up just as the nutcracker was captured by who Haru could only guess was the Rat King, given the crown seated atop his head.

“At last,” the Rat King gloated in a voice that made Haru wonder if he had been born with that voice, or had carefully cultivated it to fulfil his evil role, “I have you in my clutches! Now, should I turn you into matchsticks or firewood...?”

“Not on my watch,” Haru said and she grabbed the nearest thing to hand - her slipper - and pitched it across the living room. It slammed into the Rat King with about as much force as... well, a slipper.

Maybe she should have grabbed a book instead.

Regardless, she suddenly found everyone’s attention on her - a hundred beady little rat eyes and a dozen soldiers’ gazes - and raised her other slipper. “I’m warning you, I’ve got friends in the Cat Kingdom and I’m not afraid to call them!” She tilted her palm so they could see the communication gem, which was still glowing with no reply.

She didn’t have to call her bluff, though, for the mere mention of cats sent a rattle of nerves flooding through the rats.

“Cats?” she heard hissed. “The Cat Kingdom?”

“My aunt was eaten by a cat.”

“One caught my great great grandfather and they say it took an hour for it to finish him off.”

“A whole kingdom of cats?”

“I’m not sticking around for them to arrive.”

“Me neither.”

Haru watched with surprised relief as the rats scurried away.

“Wait!” the Rat King cried. “It’s a trick! She’s...” He trailed off as he abruptly found himself very alone and very outnumbered.

Haru grinned and leant in to the Rat King. “This is the bit,” she whispered conspiringly, “where you run away.”

The Rat King gulped and nodded. “Okay.” He fell back onto all four paws and scampered after his minions. “Hey, wait up! Wait for me!”

With a fair bit of earned smugness, Haru straightened and smoothed out her dressing gown. “Not bad, even if I do say so myself... aww, I’ve got egg on this--″

“Lady! You have saved us!”

“--and I thought I was doing so well until then...”

“Our lives are in your debt!”

Haru blinked and registered the figurine that was currently hugging her leg. “Oh, right. Sure. All in a day’s work with the Bureau, now if you’ve got any solution for how to get egg out of cotton...”

“We must reward you!”

“Sure, sure, just buy me a new dressing gown and we’ll call it quits.”

“Such a trivial gift is not enough to show our appreciation!” the nutcracker cried. “I am the prince of the Doll Kingdom, trapped in this world until I defeat the Rat King who overthrew me, but now I can return home--”

Haru blinked again. Rapidly. “Oh no.”

“--and I shall do so with you by my side!”

The gem in her hand chimed, and Baron’s voice rose up. “Haru? Haru, are you okay? What’s happened?! Why are you calling in the middle of the night?!”

Haru wet her lips and raised the communication gem to her mouth.

“Baron, you’ll never believe this,” she said, “but I’ve just rescued another prince...”

#chez-pezeater #replies #cat writes #the cat queues #also hiromi is definitely not straight #just saying #also there's a shrek reference in there i think #I don't think I'll continue thi #I just entertained myself with the idea of haru rescuing another prince #and being pronounced rewarded with a kingdom #also haru getting angry over the mess that a rat battle causes #adulthood is discovering that all the adventure gets suddenly less exciting when you have to tidy up afterwards

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jiminthestreets-bonesinthesheets · 5 years ago

Text

The Masterlist of Masterlists

Just a collection of all my works :D

Supernatural:

Destiel:

All For A Buck - Dean and Cas must work together to raise the newest addition to the Winchester family, and it might just end up brining them together in the end.

A Magic Kingdom Love - “An AU where Dean and Cas are both working for Disney and have been cast as the very first gay princes. And at first they hate each other but it’s hard to pretend you’re in love all day for sweet, shy kids, and then not make out under the bridge of the magic kingdom castle.”

Mountain High - Suddenly taken from his own home and flown god knows where in the dark, Dean Winchester finds himself thrown into something he could never have imagined in his wildest dreams.

Pas De Deux - Dean is a closeted ballet dancer, and Cas is playing the Nutcracker Prince in the Kansas State Ballet. When the ballet loses their Clara and Cas confronts Dean about taking the part along side him, will he be able to put aside his fears and let everyone know who he really is? All to help the man of his dreams?

Screw It, I Love You - This is based of this post I saw the other day, find it HERE. It’s about Cas being newly human and Dean leaving him reminder notes all over the bunker.

Slash Fiction (part 1 of series) - Following the boys as they continue their journey, saving people, hunting things, the family business. This trip finds them in Kalamazoo, Michigan, at the famous Henderson Castle. With the help of on old friend and the return of a beloved character, the boys find themselves facing something they have never faced before, and have to find a way to stop it once and for all, with a little improvisation.

So Much for Movie Night - The boys finally get a night off from hunting, and Sam's planned solo movie night unfortunately does not go at all how he had hoped it would.

Sounds of Someday (part 1 of series) - Sam was dead, Cas was lost forever, and Dean’s entire world had been turned upside down in less than an instant. He was alone, again, a typical Winchester ending, but god damn if that was how he was going to leave it. He was going to get Sam back, he was going to get Cas back, and he was going to fix everything that had fallen apart, and now he was going to do it all with twin babies and the king of hell back on his side. Season sixteen… here we go.

That We Do - Dean and Cas meet at a civil war reenactment when Dean is forced to go for his father's birthday. Despite Dean's original sour attitude about the idea, he finds something there that was definitely worth going for.

The Ever Handsome and Always Charming Dean Winchester - A perfectly simple Dean and Cas wedding!

The Nual’ Family Onion - Dean had lived in Lawrence, Kansas his entire life. Born and raised. In his twenty-six years in the beautiful city, he lived a wonderful life surrounded by the amazing people who lived there, many of them becoming family over the years. After high school, he started working for his uncle Bobby at his mechanics shop and fell into a comfortable routine. He still lived at home with his parents, John and Mary Winchester, and for the foreseeable future, Dean had no intentions of changing that. Until he saw him.

The Thing About Blind Dates - Dean Winchester was perfectly happy with his life. He lived alone, though most days his house was filled with the accompaniment of his little brother and his brother’s new boyfriend, and that suited Dean just fine.But even now, as Dean sat back against the couch, watching the newest season of Animal Kingdom, cold beer in hand while Sam and Gabe cuddled next to him, he couldn’t really say he was anything but satisfied. That is… until Sam and Gabe decided he wasn’t.

Wish You Were Here - Sam’s got a date, Cas is fixing Heaven, and Dean Winchester is sitting miserably in his motel room, alone. So he decides to see if Cas wants to have a little fun over the phone.

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

Lost

Jawyer:

Lost in a Dream - Jack Shephard was never one to believe in psychics, or fortune telling, or visions of the future. But when he starts dreaming of flight 815 crash landing on an unknown island, and all the events that follow, he cant help but start to wonder if maybe he should start believing. Especially when his flight home turns into just the nightmare he had worried it would. Though, this time around, a few things are very different, or rather a few people.

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

Star Trek:

Mckirk:

Clans - Jim goes on his usual hunt and everything's going fine, or so he thinks. Until things take an unexpected turn and he finds himself the house guest of a group of people he thought to be extinct. Now, Jim has to decide what his next move will be, doing what he knows is right by his family, or only thinking of himself and possibly putting his entire family in danger.

Lost in Translation - “Attention citizens. This is the crew of the Enterprise asking for your aid. On Stardate 2264.78 a shuttle manned by our captain and fourteen cadets was ambushed by an unknown source and chased out of sight of our ship and into open space. Those cadets as well as our captain, James Tiberius Kirk, are still missing. We are asking anyone with any information on their whereabouts, or regarding the attack, to please contact the Enterprise immediately. Our family would appreciate any assistance you can give.”

Spirk:

Maiden Voyage (part 1 of series) - "Jim's past was just that, his past, or so he thought. He had made it through to graduation and only had six months of placement standing between him and his captains chair, but he never thought he would see her again. He thought he was past this, past her, now what was he supposed to do? Could they really just go back to the way things were, will placement with her even be bearable, will the crew be able to stand together and face their newest foe and live to tell the tale? Jim could only hope, because right now that's about all he’s got."

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

Avengers:

Stucky:

Second Chances - This is sort of an endgame fix, with a dash of Stucky. The story takes place after Thanos has been defeated, the war won, and the world returned back to its natural order. Standing on the battlefield, relieved and thankful that it was all finally over and they could rest. But in their moment of peace, Steve and Bucky suddenly find themselves in a very tricky situation, one they definitely have not been trained to handle.

The Way We Were Suppose To Be - Two years after defeating Thanos, Steve finds himself faced with a harsh reality. Because of his decision to stay in the past with Peggy and finally give himself the life he thought he had always wanted, Nick Fury returns to face him with a daunting truth. With the world’s timeline in disarray, it’s up to Steve to return to the past and restore the world to its natural order. Unfortunately it means that the all American hero has to sacrifice his heart and soul to save the world once again. And although Steve thinks that his one chance at a happy life had passed, who knows what the new future holds, perhaps… everything he had been searching for was right there all along.

Steve Rogers X OFC

Storm (part 1 of series) - The avengers have just defeated Ultron, a much needed victory for the weary team, but another storm is coming their way. A new member joins the team and has some very unexpected effects on everyone, especially the Captain himself, Steve Rogers.Secrets are revealed, scars revisited, and new wounds formed as they battle one of their toughest and most personal battles yet. All they can do is hope this wont be their breaking point…

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

Final Fantasy:

Noctis x OFC:

At Lucis End (part 1 of series) - A treaty. A light at the end of the tunnel that King Regis had been staring down for years. A proposal. A wedding that stands to save the lands. A betrayal. That could tear it all down. And a love. So strong yet so torn.The war between Lucis and Niflheim could come to an end, but much will have to be sacrificed along the way. And in the end, would it even be enough? Would the loss of life, love, and family be enough to save the people of Lucis? Or will it all come crumbling down in the end?

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

CSI:

Greg x Nick:

Love Undercover - In part one of this series, Nick and Greg get sent on a special undercover mission by Grissom and Brass, an undercover mission as a couple at an all exclusive couples resort. Their mission is to find their targets and keep them safe while maintaining the illusion that they are a happily married couple, but they may end up finding more then they bargained for while at Lovers Lane Resort.

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

Criminal Minds:

Spencer Reid x Aaron Hotchner:

I Loved Him... Once - A series following the team as they solve crimes and take down the bad guys. In Part one of this series, we follow the team as they take down a serial killer that has taken a piece of one of their own. And through it all, Spencer and Hotch come to a few conclusions and realizations of their own.

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razorblade180 · 5 years ago

Text

Lasting Embers pt22: For the ones we love

[Tai’s house, night]

The night came faster than anyone expected. Every adult sat quietly in the living room except for Ruby and Jaune who were noticeably absent. Yujin and Tenzen remained asleep upstairs not once stirred awake by the sound of an airship currently landing in the front yard where the prisoner still sits there unconscious. However, his body is in far better condition than earlier; brand new even.

Mercury:Looks like the guests of honor are finally here. Record time all things considered.

Weiss:*knocking* Hey, is anyone ho-

Yang:*opens the door and immediately hugs her* I can’t tell you how good this feels right now. Today has been pretty rough.

Weiss:I came as soon as I heard. *looks at Nora and Ren* this isn’t how I thought we’d reunite.

Nora:Believe us *sniff* neither did we.

Weiss:Well don’t just stand there *arms opened* you’ve had me worried sick.

*the two get up and receive a much needed embrace from their good friend*

Neo:*walking up to her old partners in mayhem* You two have seen better days; they did a number on you. *looking at his bruises*

Mercury:Come to rub it in?

Neo:Not in the slightest. * lifts Emerald’s neck to see dark bruises*........ are these from your weapon?

Emerald:They tribes hanging both of us with them. I’m......actually surprised we’re alive right now. *hand trembling* things got bad real fast Neo....

Mercury:*holds her hand* Somehow though, we’re alive. Battered but alive nonetheless.

Neo:........*looks outside at Jericho* Was my request fulfilled?

Raven:He’s been healed completely. Ready for whatever punishment you’re about to dish out.

Neo:*eyes turn pink* That’s good to hear. Make sure the kids stay inside; I’d feel guilty if they heard something unpleasant.

Tai:They should be our for the rest of the night.

Neo:Perfect, I’m doing this in the airship Weiss. Sorry in advance for the mess. *leaving*

Weiss:Give him hell....

Neo:That’s too good for him. *closes door*

In no time at all Neo drags him into the hangar of the ship and tying him to a chair. He soon wakes up to see her putting on a doctors mask and gloves. This doesn’t look like a normal hangar bay. Three buckets of water are carefully lined up beside him as various knives lay on a table. Screwdrivers, pliers, and metal nutcrackers can also be see on the table with a hammer and nails. Then there’s a bag; who knows what surprises it holds.

Jericho:Well, isn’t this a wonderful way to wake up? *notices his body* I guess the heroes needed a little extra help getting information.

Neo:Give the man a prize; it’ll probably be the only good thing you feel for awhile. *putting her hair in a bun*

Jericho:Perhaps, but I don’t mind. At the end this gonna be a huge time waster for yo- *finger put over his mouth*

Neo:You’re gonna wanna save your voice for screaming and answers. *pulls down a hanging map of Remnant with tons of blue X’s on it* I got this information curtesy of Blake. As you can probably tell, all the blue you see are bases that have been taking out; you are going to reveal the rest of them in red for me.

Jericho:So that’s the name of the game huh? Sorry, lips are sealed; might as well be mute like how you used to be sweetheart.

Neo:......Do me a favor and notice the buckets on the floor? Each one has it’s own purpose; the first one is for me to clean myself up with because frankly, I don’t like torture. It’s messy and the only reason I do it is so other people don’t have to. That second bucket is for your feet for when I pull the car battery out of the back on the table. It has jumper cables too so I assume you know what I’m doing those.

Jericho:What makes the third bucket special?

Neo:I feel like I’m going to be doing a lot of clean up. Maybe when I’m done I’ll put the bag over your head and dump you in it. *grabs a simple kitchen knife* Let’s start simple though; I’ll cut a tendon in your arms to loosen your grip. Once your hands are opened I’m going to nail them to your chair; bare with me though because I have terrible aim. After that your knuckles are going one by one until you start saying things I want to hear. I’ll keep one or two safe so you can fill in that map for me sweetheart. *twirling knife* Or you can fill it in now for me?

Jericho:........

Neo:Thought so, I’m glad you’re playing hard to get. For the record, I try not to make things personal and be efficient. However, Emerald and Mercury look like they’ve been dragged through the mud. So I’m going to take my sweet time with this......

Weiss:Where are-

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

The sound was a bit muffled but was heard all to well by everyone. A chill shoots up everyone’s spine as if their souls were trying to escape. They could tell it was gonna be a long night.

Mercury:I guess she’s started.

Weiss:......

Yang:Uh Weiss?

Weiss:*jumps slightly* Sorry, I was going to say where are Jaune and Ruby?

Yang:Oh....she needed to go somewhere to think and asked him to drive her. She didn’t say where but I got a pretty good feeling where....

[The Car]

The air is awfully stagnant in it; much like during Yang and Yujin’s drive. Ruby looks out the passenger side quietly as they pass by countless trees on the dirt road. It’s been like this for two hours now.

Jaune:How much further?

Ruby:Not to far now. Couple more miles maybe? The spot was hard to find for me even ten years ago.

Jaune:........Are you sure you really to be here?

Ruby:*hand shaking* Last time I saw my home it was still on fire. I....was to broken to see it after they told me what happened to Oscar and Qrow. Sigh....honestly I still feel too broken.

Jaune:*holds her hand* I’m here if you need anything Ruby.

Ruby:*gripping his hand tightly* You can stop the car; it’s right pass the trees on my right.

Jaune:*notices slight marks on the trees that were surrounded by rose bushes* Those seem a bit out of place.

Ruby:Pine trees and rose bushes;it was Yang’s idea. *hoping out the car* won’t take long now...

Jaune:.....*grabs her hand again* Let’s go then.

With a slow nod the two of them make the hike that was way too short for Ruby’s liking. In no time at all they stood in a peaceful forest clearing with grass lusher than the rest. In the center was the remains of a foundation for a giant cabin like house. The burnt wood now covered in moss lays silent on the ground. Almost like nothing was ever there in the first place.

Ruby:*picks up a piece of wood and hands it to Jaune* Here....

Jaune:What’s this? *brushing it off*

“Mr. and Mrs. Rose-Pine”

Jaune:........

Ruby:Do you know what the greatest lie I ever told was? *looking at the sign* I told myself I was stopping the cult because it was the right thing to do. All I wanted was for them to feel even a sliver of the pain they caused me; revenge and booze was all I felt for ten years. Not very huntsman like am I right?

Jaune:You were in a pain you’ve never had to deal with before. Anybody would’ve had a struggle bouncing back from-

Ruby:I never bounced back....*holding her flask* don’t tell Yang or Yujin but....I never really gave up drinking. I’ve slowed down but even now I can’t shake it completely; I just spike my tea.

Jaune:You lied about being sober?

Ruby:Awful right? I chastised Qrow for years and I ended worse somehow. I told myself I would quit when this was all over. *shaking* but even when I thought it was I felt so empty without it to the point I didn’t even recognize myself. *crying* Now it looks like this fight isn’t over and it’s taking everything I have not to down this thing in one shot.

Jaune:*slowly taking the flask out her hand*........ *starts chugging it*

Ruby:Wha....!? Jaune!!!!!

Jaune:*cough* Damn, you really did spike it. What was that, half and half?

Ruby:Are you crazy! I thought you were about to pour it out!?

Jaune:Nope! *tosses it back* there’s still some in it if you really want a taste. Just know we’ll end up staying out here for a bit because neither of us will be driving that car intoxicated.

Ruby:......*pours it out* Why would you do something so drastic?

Jaune:To prove a point; despite the temptation you choose getting us home over caving in. Because at your core you’ll always pick the tougher option to benefit everyone else. Now you have to do that for yourself.

Ruby:......

Jaune:I can’t begin to imagine how much pain you’ve been dealing with on a daily basis. This... this is far worse than what happened with me and Pyrrha, no debate about it. However, just like with that, I spent time wanting nothing but revenge and feeling empty. Eventually, everyone helped me get through it; you helped me get through it. So let me help you, but first you gotta have to want to move on.

Ruby:....... *walks closer to her old house* You know something Jaune? I remember when I was the one who gave the supportive speeches. *drops the flask* I guess times have changed.

Jaune:Believe me, not as much as you think. *smiles* as far as I’m concerned you’re still much stronger than me.

Ruby:Maybe I should start acting like it. *reaches in her pocket and pulling out a gold ring with a ruby in it * the flask isn’t the only thing that should rest here.

Jaune:Woah, hey you don’t gotta go that far. I mean-

Ruby:I don’t know what tomorrow is going to bring. I can’t tell you if this fight against the cult is truly over but I feel like it’s not even close. *places the ring on the ground* If I have to go back into the fray then the goal shouldn’t be vengeance. Fighting for the ones that are still here, that’s gonna be goal. Like it should’ve always been. *wiping her face* What do you think?

Jaune:I think....you’ve finally come home. *smiles*

The two of just stood there for a moment before heading back to the car. The silence this time wasn’t something stagnant at all; it was something else. New but familiar as well; very familiar.....

Jaune:Alright looks like I get to witness your driving ski- *intereupted by a unexpected kiss. It was soft but also inviting and wanting for something. Wanting for him...* ...........

Ruby*flushed* S...sorry, I just.....thank you. For always being there when I ask or need help. It means more to me than you know. *trying not to fidget*

Jaune:No...no problem at all. Can I tell you a secret? That offer Yang made to you, she didn’t just come up with it because she knows I’m important to you. *red* She also knows just how important you are to m-

Yet again he was interrupted by the Reapers kiss; he said all she needed to hear in that moment. They haven’t done anything like this since before Salem was taken down, yet it felt so natural. Like they never stopped doing it in the first place; they never forget how to love each other in a way that was special to only them.

Ruby:You...*huff* taste like rum. Guess that’s my fault a little.

Jaune:I guess you got to taste alcohol after all. *kissing her again*

Ruby:I’ll admit, this still feels a bit....taboo for lack of a better word.

Jaune:Do you wanna stop?

Ruby:*hands sliding under his shirt* I’ll get over it. If this is possibly my last night of peace for awhile then this....this is something I want. To feel loved again after years without it. *tearing up* I felt so lonely and-

It his her turn to be cut off. He picked her up and sat her on the hood of the car. Muscle memory kicking in as he unlaced her corset with ease and she did away with his belt as they continued to french kiss until they annoyingly had to breath.

Jaune:You’re not alone anymore....

Ruby:*wrapping her legs around his waist* Love me like you used to....

Jaune:I never stopped....*wiping her tears*

Some would call this moment too quick, or inappropriate with the circumstances given if. Frankly, they wouldn’t give a damn about those people. This was their moment and they were gonna have it for as long as they could.

[Menagerie]

The festival is in full swing. Lanterns are lit on every house as people enjoy roaming the streets and being at a variety of vendors. Blake watches comfortably from her parents terrace. Thinking about tomorrow.

Blake:*in a black and purple Japanese style kimono*.......

“You look festive.”

Adam:*walking out in a black kimono with a red sash.* You never seem to break color scheme.

Blake:I could say the same for you. That suits you surprisingly well. Where’s Jacquelyn and the kids?

Adam:Jacquelyn is bonding with your parents. My kids are somewhere in the madness of people. In matter of fact...*points out in the distance*

Jael is holding Sun’s hand as they walk around. Her kimono is red with a black sash. Sienna dawned one with a white tiger pattern that matches her ears wonderfully. The three of them smiling like kids in a candy shop.

Blake:I’d say you should join them but that would raise a lot of eye brows.

Adam:I don’t mind; Jael apparently doesn’t get to socialize much so this is a good thing for her. She told me your roof would be the best spot to enjoy the fireworks so she’ll come rushing back soon.

Blake:I swear that kid has you on the brain 24/7 it’s actually pretty cute.

Adam:I deserve none of it, but I’m thankful for it every day. So, any reason the guest of honor isn’t reveling in her return? I thought you and Ilia would- actually, where is she?

Blake:Oh, well.....I had her run an errand for me. It’s nothing serious but it was sort of important. So she left to-

Adam:It’s been a decade and you’ve gotten no better at lying or keeping a composed look.

Blake:......Sigh, I hate that you know me.

Adam:Any reason you’re keeping your highest ranking shadow out of the loop? I’m sure you have your reasons but it must be something pretty complicated.

Blake:I....I don’t want to get you involved if I don’t have to. I wanted your mind focused on your family for at least a night. You just got home after all.

Adam: So did you. Not to treat you as my pupil or anything again but, I’d like to be kept in the loop. Especially if whatever is happening could affect life here; sort of finally have a good thing going.

Blake:...I’ll explain tomorrow morning. Just know I have to go to Vale tomorrow.

Adam:What time are we leaving?

Blake:“We?” I don’t need-

Adam:If the returning High leader is going on a trip she should always have a shadow accompany her just in case. In case you forgot but you made that rule. Also I’m pretty sure Vale actually means Patch. So that means your team and cult members most likely.

Blake:....*puts head down in defeat* I don’t understand why even thought talking to you alone was a good idea. You can accompany me but please enjoy tonight with family instead of probing for information okay?

Adam:You....really want to emphasize that huh? *jumps and grabs the roof ledge* I hope you do the same; sounds like you need it. *leaves*

Blake:(Unfortunately...I might have the most time here.)

A crowd of people swarming a merchant with fox masks. His business is really booming .

Merchant:Settle down haha I’ll make sure you all get one.

Jael:*waits patiently for her turn* Excuse me! May I have- *completely ignored and walked passed*....... one? Sigh....

Sienna:*eyes narrow* Hey! Did you not hear the girl you piece of-

Jael:Forget it sis. I guess even on a day like this I still can’t catch a break. I’m sure I can find another mask some- *Sun puts a fox mask on her head*

Sun:Got you one...

Jael:When did you-

Sun:*swaying his tail with two more masks on it* Old habits die hard; I would’ve payed but serves him right for judging you.

Jael:*smiles* Thanks Uncle Wukong. *puts it on*

Sun:Why are these so popular in the first place.

Sienna:This internet teen heartthrob wears one when he dances and does parkour. Almost everyone is obsessed with him her age.

Jael:I’m not obsessed, I just think TZ is cool. He’s also really quick; I’d love to meet him.

Sun:Awww does someone have a crush?

Jael:As if! My taste are you know.....feminine?

Sun:What if he’s just a muscular woman? That mask could be hiding anything.

Jael:His voice duh! If it’s all an elaborate setup then I would know since I keep track of-

Sienna:Aren’t you supposed to be meeting dad right now?

Jael:Shoot! We’ll talk more about this later! *hugs both of them then floats off*

Sienna:I know you know that TZ is not a muscular woman. What was that about.

Sun:Having a bit of fun. Honestly he’s such a pretty boy I thought he was a girl when he was little. (Hopefully he’s okay)

Jael:*floating down next Adam* Sorry I’m late, I got a bit distracted.

Adam:You’re right on time actually; having fun?

Jael:As much as I’m physically allowed. I wanted to try a few of the rides they decided to set up but honestly, wasn’t sure how my heart would handle it. Even the fried food has it beating a bit faster. It’s actually a bit nice; I feel... normal. *smiling*

Adam:You are normal Jael. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Especially when you go to Beacon....

Jael:Wait, I don’t remember telling you that’s where I wanted to-

Adam:It’s a no brainer. Why do you think I was so tough on you with training? That school is bound to draw in countless types of people.

Jael:*hands shaking* I know right? I want to see them all. Speak to them all!

Adam:You don’t look worried in the slightest.

Jael:Well, it’s because I think I’m ready to see more of the world. The exam is soon so it’s nice to finally spend some time with you before I go and take it. Maybe we can wake up early and do some fishing?

Adam:Actually....I’m assisting Blake with a situation in Vale tomorrow.

Jael:Oh....*shoulders slump* okay..... I thought you were staying longer this time.

Adam:I don’t exactly know the details but I should be coming back. *he reaches for her but she turns away*.....

Jael:It has something to deal with that girl Yujin, doesn’t it? *gripping her clothes*

Adam:*wide eyed* You know of her? Who-

Jael:You’re gone a lot and don’t tell me much. So I just start snooping to get my own answers. I don’t understand why you would go out of your way to do as much as you do for a girl like her.

Adam:Like her?

Jael:I’ve been thorough with my snooping. She seems hot headed and now respect for her heritage.

Adam:She’s had rough life when it comes to family.

Jael:And I haven’t!? Last time I checked, I cannot even say your name without setting off some kind of alarm. Yet this girl denies a half of her legacy so I’ve read. What’s worse is she’s seen you more this year than even I have; you even missed my birthday this year.

Adam:Missed but not forgetten. *holds a pendant with a gem carved as a star* to fifteen years of being you.

Jael:Father....*putting it on* thank you.

Adam:Like I would just forget. You shouldn’t judge Yujin prematurely though.

Jael:Everything about me is sort of premature don’t you think? I’m just saying, she doesn’t look like much. Which is ashame since her parents are talked about like superheroes. I wonder what the world would think about knowing the things you do.

Adam:Jael you know how I feel about that.

Jael:I’m just saying! *stands up* Do you know you’re already in history books? The problem is none of them are accurate since the world believes you died at Argus.

Adam:It’s better this way.

Jael: For who? People don’t give you a fair shake down and every word about you is soaked in hate.

Adam:I’d still be hated easily; I was bad news back then.

Jael:People should at least be allowed to make that decision after knowing the whole story. That not everything in a stupid textbook is true. I could show them; just please let me use my real last name when I go to Beacon!

Adam:Not a chance...

Jael:But-

Adam:You’d be judged and outcasted on the spot. It’s-

Jael: I AM NOW!!! *starts coughing a bit before calming down*

Adam:.....

Jael:I keep the secret here but rumors still creep around; people think I’m some fan girl and trying to be like the image they believe you to be. That’s why I can’t wait to leave. A fresh start is what I need.

Adam:That’s the last thing you’ll get with my name.

Jael:.....I’m not ashamed of you. I hope you know that. I’ve never been ashamed of knowing your past.

Adam:....Why is this so important to you? Isn’t it enough that the people who matter to me know my full story? I’m not looking for the worlds forgiveness.

Jael:It’s not about that! It’s about....sigh *sits back down. It’s about inspiring others....

Adam:I...don’t follow.

Jael:Everyone is contempt with writing you off making you an example of what not to be. No one gets to know about how you rescued Sienna from being tortured and killed when she was six. Or the story about how you wanted to turn yourself in and face actual justice. Do you remember what happened one night when I was 14? We sat down sort of like this talking?

Adam:....You wanted to tell me something important but were afraid for some reason. You ended up sobbing uncontrollably.

Jael:I was too scared to know how you’d see me if I came out. All I could think about was how bad my friend got treated when she did the same; almost completely shunned from the family. Nothing could be worse for me then seeing you hate me; to lose your love. Do you remember what you did when I finally told you?

Adam:*smirking* I hugged you tight and told you good, boys are overrated anyways. I never seen tears of fear turn into joy so fast.

Jael:I just want the world to know that our name can be more than spite; I just want to be able to show the world how much I love you. *tearing up* what’s so wrong about that? If I become a fantastic huntsman that helps mankind then I could do both, but I want to do it the right way. With my real name.

Adam:.....

Fireworks finally go off in a dazzling display. The two goat faunus though are too busy sinking in each other’s looks though. One of pure determination while the other of pure shock.

Adam:Jael... *pulls her into an unexpected hug* What did I do to get a wonderful daughter like you? My beautiful desert rose? If I can’t stop you then....please be safe?

Jael:*face turns red as she welcomes the embrace* Yes sir, I promise I’ll make you proud. Come home as soon as you can.

Just like that, tomorrow finally comes. It’s still pretty early but sleep is the last thing anyone needs right now; only answers.

Ruby:We’re back every-*weiss hugs her*

Weiss:Hey you dunce, I’ve been waiting for you.

Ruby:Hehe, sorry about that. Our trip was longer than expected.

Yang:You look different, sober...*smiles* I’m glad.

Ruby:Wait, what do you mean by-

Yang:I knew the whole time about what was in the flask. Good to see my sister back; frankly I’m surprised you’re walking. If you know what I mean. *winking*

Ruby:*red* Geez, it’s that obvious? Well thanks, for everything.

Yang:It’s why I’m here.

Jaune:Is Neo done?

Blake:*walking in with Adam* from the sound of it she’s wrapping up. I thought I’d miss-*Yang hugs her*

Yang:Bout time you showed up; the gangs all here now.

Blake:You make it sound like we didn’t just spend ten years together.

Mercury:Sup goat boy. Didn’t expect to see you here.

Adam:You two okay? I’ve heard you’ve been through the ringer.

Emerald:Nothing a raise won’t fix. *laying on Mercury* or vacation time.

Adam:Hmph, I’ll see what I can do....

Neo:*walking in with tired eyes and mostly clean attire* I better be included in that. Especially after everything I just did. *pulls out the map.

Jaune:Is that.....?

Neo:It took awhile but, they always talk. Unfortunately he talked longer than I expected.

Ren:Meaning?

Neo:This map started out with 60 blue X’s that took a decade to find and bring down. Now we have what’s left in red. *opens the map*

The room goes quiet for a few minutes. The color in everyone’s face washes away instantly.

*Upstairs*

Yujin:*slowly waking up* Man, that was some nap.

Tenzen:*on her bed* You slept all night; that’s not a nap.

Yujin:Really Tenzen? You’re gonna badger me this early in the- * gasp!* You’re awake! *hugging him*

Tenzen:Ow! Ribs...my ribs still hurt!

Yujin:Deal with it; I...I was so worried about you. Thank god you are okay.

Tenzen:.....*hugs her back* Thanks to you; I owe you one.

Yujin:Make me breakfast and we’ll call it even.

Tenzen:Hate to break it to you but it hurts to even breathe right now. I was actually hoping...

Yujin:Sigh, I’ll get you some breakfast. *leaving*

Tenzen:You’re beautiful Jin.

Yujin:*red* Shut up a lay back down dummy. Flirting will get you no-

Yang:YOU’RE JOKING!!! Right!!!?

Yujin:Mom? *walking down stairs*

Tai:Yang calm down!

Yang:HOW!? There’s 87 more these bases that we missed!!? We spent an entire extra year just double checking and realized we didn’t even do half!!!!! *eyes crimson*

Ruby:......

Weiss:This....isn’t something we can ignore at all. Plus they know where we live now. More importantly...

Nora:Our kids....

Neo:Loved ones too.... they followed everyone home. That’s how they know so much, combined with whatever info they had before.

Jaune:....What happens now?

Ruby:....Sigh, we address the elephant in the room. Who’s willing to go again? Even with this list, this could take time.

Blake:My hands are tied this time around. If Sun or I leave now it’ll raise questions that shouldn’t be asked. Sorry but...I’m definitely out this time.

Weiss:.....Screw it, what’s another journey? After all I can’t exactly leave my partner since you’re obviously going.

Ruby:Guess that’s two so far. *looking at Yang* I assume you’re staying back this time?

Yang:.......

Jaune:Yang? *frowning*

Yang:I...I don’t know. You don’t expect me to just let you go off on your own with this? I just can’t ignore a problem this big. Leaving the fight now.....doesn’t right.

Yujin:But leaving me does...?

Everyone turns to see her standing on the stairs; any rest she might’ve gotten isn’t visible on her face anymore. She looks more tired than she’s ever been her life; eyes showing everyone just how identical she could she look to Yang. Right now it’s her mother that looks like she’s a startled kid. Erasing any trace of red from her eyes.

Yang:.......

Yujin:I should’ve known this, you were too good to be true.

Jaune:We....this is all still discussion. Nothing is final ye- *walks pass them and to the door*

Yujin:Whatever......I don’t care anymore. Shouldn’t have in the first place.*leaves*

Anyone around for Jericho’s speech feels the full weight of what just happened. No one wanted to say it but the man was right about the dangers of fighting the way they do against such psychological tactics. Because no one wanted to tell Yang her greatest fear might’ve just come true; she might’ve just lost the reason for her fighting in the first place. The love of her daughter is slipping right through her finger tips.

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army-author · 6 years ago

Text

hoseok scenario | a story book ending

❝ The night before Christmas, you find yourself drawn into the pages of your favourite story book, summoned into a wondrous world that needs your help. But why does Jung Hoseok, the one man you hate, have to show up as well? ❞

➸ prompt: you and I have to save Christmas?!?!

➸ pairing: hoseok x reader

➸ requested by @sibbyyuki | 12.2k words | fluff, fairy tale au, enemies to lovers au

➸ warnings: mentions of blood, lots of petty bickering and oodles of cheese

➸ author’s note: this is based on the story of The Nutcracker, but with a lot of liberties taken! I always associate The Nutcracker with Christmas, which is why I had the inspiration to write this. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope you have a very merry Christmas (or any other kind of holiday celebrations)!

It’s been a long time since you’ve cried this much on Christmas Eve.

In fact, you can barely remember the last time you’ve been this unhappy in the last hours leading up to the twenty-fifth of December. You must have only been three or four last time, with tears and snot running down your face, hearing that your dad was stuck on the motorway in a snowstorm and might not make it back in time for Christmas morning.

But this time you’re crying for a very different reason – with the same irritated red eyes and runny nose that have plagued you since childhood any time your emotions flare up. With an already grotty tissue crumpled in your hand, sprawled across your sofa, you’re crying, not because you want your dad home quicker, not because you haven’t got the presents you want, not because the magic of Christmas has been ruined by sneaking downstairs to discover that Santa is in fact your mum, laying out presents under the tree, but instead, you’re crying because you already know for a fact that this is going to be the worst Christmas of your life.

All because of a Mr. Jung Hoseok.

When his name springs to your mind, it stops the tears from flowing for a few seconds, long enough for you to grit your teeth, and grind the tissue in your hand down to mush, so that you have to reach over to your coffee table and get another one.

Damn him for making you cry this much. He’d have to pay for this excessive use of tissues; call it a business expense. If he wants you to work for him on Christmas day then he should at least be paying you extra. Damn him.

You had thought (naively) that Christmas Eve would mark the end of your dreaded time in your office, at least until the New Year, but, just as you had been packing up earlier this evening, tired, and ready to go home for a much needed cup of hot chocolate and a long sleep to see you into Christmas, Hoseok had rapped at your office door, and then barged in anyway, despite no indication from you that he was welcome - he’s never welcome in your office.

“What do you want, Hoseok?” you had asked him over the stack of papers you were trying to stuff into your already-full filing cabinet, crouched by the drawer.

He frowned down at you, dark brows reaching past the frames of his glasses – fake, you knew he only wore them as a fashion statement, and perhaps to make him look older. “Is that any way to speak to your higher up?” he asked.

“Sorry, Mr. Jung,” you stretched a fake smile, which you hoped he would see through. Your distaste for him was a badly kept secret. The whole office knew of it, and enjoyed gossiping about it. Hearing his name next to you, on the tip of your co-workers’ tongues thrilled you. Ever since your promotion, with your own personal office included, you were getting closer to overtaking Hoseok, rising up through the company. You knew he hated you for it, and you were all too happy to reciprocate the feelings. So what if he had been working here longer than you had? You’re well qualified, better than him, and you loved to rub that in his face - his annoyingly handsome face. It’s a shame. Before this petty feud had started up, you almost thought you had a crush on him.

Hoseok grimaced at you, as you sneered up at him, and with an inhale of breath, you already knew he had a bad proposition coming your way. “Listen,” he sucked on his bottom lip, before continuing, “I have a favour to ask.”

You turned your attention back to the filing cabinet, to hide your stiff jaw, as your teeth grated together. Of course, he had a ‘favour’ to ask. More like, he had an inconvenience to ask.

His voice continued on behind you, despite your best efforts to pretend he wasn’t there: “I need you to work tomorrow.”

And there it was. That was when you flared up.

“Tomorrow?” You jumped up, banging your head on one of the filing drawers you had left open. There was barely time to register the pain, as you fumed, “But tomorrow’s Christmas?” Standing, staring at his blank face, the pain finally kicked in. You had whacked that filing cabinet with some force. “Does Christmas mean nothing to your Grinch-y heart?”

Hoseok pressed his lips together again, but you saw him suppressing a smile. “Um.. are you okay?” he asked.

“Huh? Yeah?” Your hand flew self-consciously to your forehead, where you knew a bruise would be forming. Fighting past the throbbing in your skull, you continued, refusing to be distracted by his attempts to feign concern. “I can’t work tomorrow!”

“Please?” Hoseok asked. It was more of a demand than a plea. “I need someone else in the office with me tomorrow. And all your colleagues have family to be with. But you’re single, right? And far from your parents? You won’t have anyone to spend Christmas with anyway, so what’s the problem?”

“That’s not true!” You blustered, although it’s completely true. Your Christmas plans had consisted of an underwhelming home cooked dinner for one, opening the presents your friends had dropped off, and then Skyping your family, all while your tried not to tear up over the fact that you couldn’t afford plane tickets to visit them this year.

“So… you do have Christmas plans?” Hoseok’s lips pulled down in a pout that you’ve grown used to seeing when he can’t get his way. “Can’t you cancel them? It’s important that we get this work finished as soon as possible. The company needs this all clear before the New Year, and we won’t make it if nobody makes sacrifices over the holidays.” His eyes bore into your own. “Or are you going to prove that you didn’t actually deserve that promotion?”

He had struck a nerve. “I did deserve it,” you snapped back, “You just can’t accept that I’m going to surpass you soon. Then I’ll be the one demanding you come into work whenever’s inconvenient for you.”

“Yeah?” Hoseok raised his eyebrows, provoking, “Well, I’m staying in to work tomorrow, and you’re not, so who’s more committed to the company now?”

You wanted to bang your head against the filing cabinet a lot more forcefully, maybe knock yourself out if you’re lucky, so you don’t have to look at his stupid pout, with his lips pushing dimples into his cheeks. Instead, like the mature adult you are, you swallowed down you anger, and past gritted teeth, said, “Well maybe I’ll cancel those Christmas plans I have. Show you how committed I am.”

“Fantastic,” Hoseok grinned, “See you tomorrow then. Bright eyed and bushy tailed.” You’d fallen completely for his trap. Before you could dispute anything, he was already leaving your office, with a disinterested “Merry Christmas,” thrown over his shoulder.

“Yeah, Merry Christmas, you prick!” you called after him.

He simply raised a hand in acknowledgement as he turned the corner of the corridor, out of your sight.

And just like that, in a few minutes, Hoseok had ruined your Christmas.

Which leads to now – with you flung down on your sofa, tears streaming down your face, as you try to swallow the disappointment, and the idea that, for the first time in your life, you aren’t going to be celebrating Christmas. Even a Christmas alone would be better than spending it in the harsh lights of the office, with only Hoseok for company, appearing every so often, to check up on you, just so he could sneer over your shoulder, and remind you that, despite your promotion, he’s still higher up in the company than you.

You’ve already phoned your family to tell them that you won’t be home until late the next day, and the planned Skype call may have to be postponed. Of course, your dad had blustered over how unfair it was, and your mother had ordered that you have a good meal anyway, because “It’s Christmas for goodness sake! You need to eat well!”

With that over, all that’s left is to sit, trying to calm yourself down, and rub away the remaining tears with your fisted hand.

There’s only one thing you can think of doing to cheer yourself up this evening. Heaving yourself up from your sofa, you pad over to the bookshelf beside your TV and run your finger along the many coloured spines, searching for one book in particular. There it is: The Nutcracker.

Heavy, and hard-backed, with a red cover and a golden title, the book spills bright illustrations in patches of bright colour on every page. It’s the book your mum would always read to you on Christmas, and now that you’re older, you’ve taken it upon yourself to read it every Christmas, as your own personal tradition to celebrate the holiday. So, even though you can’t enjoy tomorrow, you can still relive all of the nostalgia this book holds, unfolding the love between Clara and her Nutcracker.

Taking the book back to the sofa, you curl up, and open to the first page. With your eyes skimming over the story you know so well, you barely need to look to remember the exact phrasing of each sentence. Reading this book is as comforting as a hug from your mother, a hot chocolate on a cold evening, the warmth of a downy duvet. As you flick through the pages, you feel your eyes growing heavy. You need to stay awake a little longer… just so you can enjoy these final few minutes to yourself, before you get up tomorrow and go in to work with Hoseok… You can stay up a little later… Maybe you should set an alarm just in case… But your phone is on the other side of the room… so far away… and you’re so comfy…

…comfy….

…comfy…

Your head snaps up!

Did you fall asleep? What time is it?

The room is pitch black, apart from the small circle of light thrown by the lamp you were reading with. You wince as you sit up. Your head is throbbing. That’s what you get for falling asleep immediately after a long cry.

You rise to your feet, blinking groggily as the world swirls around you. With a wobble, you wait for your body to balance and the blood to stop pounding in your head. You need to know what time it is. With a blind hand reaching out, you fumble forward, looking for your phone.

But you pause when your ears pick up a faint noise – a small scuffling. Your breath catches in your throat.

“Hello?” you call into the darkness, and after waiting a few beats, smile at yourself. There’s nothing. Maybe just a cushion from your sofa having been disturbed when you sat up.

Then the noise comes again – a scuffling of feet. Tiny feet. A mouse’s feet.

You nearly scream, choking on the sound, as a small shape darts into the pool of light cast by your lamp.

The mouse scampers across the floor, just were you’d dropped your copy of The Nutcracker. You’re filled with s strange flash of courage. “Hey!” you shout at the mouse, as if it can understand human speech, “Don’t you dare think of touching that book! Or nibbling it!”

The mouse, of course, not computing your demands, sniffs at the book anyway.

“Get your grubby, disease infested paws away from that!” you warn, bending down to grab a slipper off your foot, serving as your only weapon against the tiny intruder.

The mouse starts, and stares up at you, with blank, black eyes. Then, before you can lunge at it with your slipper, it leaps onto the book, paws scratching across the page you left open – at a beautiful illustration of Clara and her Nutcracker walking arm in arm through a snowy forest, surrounded by crystalline snowflakes.

Fuelled by rage, that this mouse would dare touch your precious possessions, you raise your slipper, and throw it with all your force at its head.

Before the hard sole can hit, the mouse leaps, and disappears into the book. You blink, not quite believing your eyes, as the pages swimming in colour seem to swallow up the creature, like a pool of water would.

Maybe you aren’t as awake as you thought.

Taking a step closer to the book, you peer down into the picture of the snow coated forest. Before your unbelieving eyes, the illustration seems to expand. The snowflakes seem to be moving, flurrying out of the pages, getting bigger – or are you getting smaller? – as they kick up a snowstorm in your living room.

A frozen wind tugs at your hair and pyjamas, and your close your eyes against the cold bite, raising your hands to protect your exposed face from the stinging flakes of snow.

When you open your eyes again, you’re standing in the middle of the snowy forest, and your living room has melted away.

There’s no doubt now – you must be dreaming.

But your bare foot, where you’d taken off your slipper, is painfully cold, exposed to the frozen forest floor. The stinging ice feels real. You clap your arms around yourself, trying to secure some heat, as you shiver in your thin pyjamas.

Where are you? Your head snaps around, taking in the tall fir trees that stretch their dark green branches above you, cloaked with a thick layer of snow. The snowflakes that swirl down around you, catching on your eyelashes, are sparkling in the low light of the sun that’s dipping beyond the treetops.

“Hello?” Your breath mists the air, as you call out weakly. You don’t know who you’re expecting. You just want to find someone, figure out where you are. But the trees only return your empty voice.

The forest is quiet, with the calm of the snow quilting everything. There isn’t even a sign of the mouse from before. You’re suddenly desperate for companionship, even if it is just from a mouse.

“Hello?” you call out again, stepping forward as you ignore the cold on your bare foot. You push through the lower branches of the fir trees. “Is anyone there?” The fir needles insulate any sound from travelling, and your voice gets swallowed up. Still you keep trying: “Hello?”

Suddenly, there’s a rustling behind you, and a firm hand is clamping around your waist, another around your mouth, before you can take a breath to cry out.

“Shut up! Are you crazy?”

That voice is familiar.

There’s no way.

As the grip around you loosens, you turn to see the face of your accoster, and yes, there’s no denying it now. It’s Jung Hoseok. But something about him seems off.

Why did he, of all people, have to appear in your dream?

“You?” The syllable shudders under the weight of your disgust.

“Me,” Hoseok responds, “What? Where you expecting someone else?”

You shake yourself fully free of his grip. “Why you?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” he retorts, “Just my luck to get stuck with an idiot who doesn’t even know how to keep quiet.”

You almost screech, “Excuse me?” but then, realising you shouldn’t give him the satisfaction of proving him right, you soften your voice: “Excuse me?”

“Can’t you stay silent?” he whispers back, “I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but this forest is crawling with mice.”

“It is?” You give a jump, glancing down at the ground, expecting to see it overflowing with hundreds of small, furry bodies. In doing so, you stumble towards Hoseok, and almost fall into him. Just in time, he catches you by the arms, before you slam your face into his chest.

“Yeah, look,” his voice is hushed, as he nods past you, and you twist your head to see.

Beyond the trees, a group of soldiers is moving past, dressed in dark blue uniforms. Looking closer, you realise they have the heads of mice, with long noses, stubbly whiskers and rounded ears, looking vaguely disturbing attached to human bodies. You shudder, not from the cold.

“What – what’s going on?” You feel yourself slipping, as your knees begin to buckle. Hoseok’s grip on your arms becomes firmer, as your sink down in shock, and find yourself resting against him.

“Hey, are you okay?” he gives your shoulders a gentle shake.

You blink up at him, properly taking him in for the first time, up close. Something about him is definitely off. His skin seems… firmer… not human at all. His body against yours seems… harder… like it’s not flesh and blood. His face seems… stiffer… like his expression has been painted on.

You jump back from him, with a barely contained scream. “Hoseok! You’re – you’re made of wood!”

He pouts, but not the usual pout you remember. This is more stiff, his muscles struggling to show his expression. “I know that.” He rolls his eyes to the sky. “Don’t you realise what’s going on yet?”

You shake your head, mouth hanging open.

“It’s a dream,” Hoseok explains, “You’re just a part of my dream. I feel asleep watching The Nutcracker ballet on TV, and now I’m dreaming I’m in it.” He looks down at his wooden body, at his military coat, his epaulettes, and the slim sword that hangs by his side. “I’m the Nutcracker.”

“No, hang on,” you shake your head, struggling to keep your voice hushed, “This can’t be your dream, because this is my dream. I fell asleep reading The Nutcracker.”

Hoseok’s painted brows pull down in a frown. “No. It’s my dream. This is all just from my imagination.

“Really?” you ask, your own eyebrows raising, “You must have been thinking about me lots if I’m taking the place of Clara in your dream. You know what happens between Clara and the Nutcracker, don’t you?”

His cheeks turn dark below his paintwork. “Shut up! You’re just a figment of my imagination. You’re not allowed to tease me like this.”

“Sorry,” you smirk, “But I can tease all I want. Because this is my dream, not yours.”

He rolls his eyes. “Believe whatever you need to keep yourself happy. I’m just going to wait to wake up.”

“Why? So you can get up and go and see the real me at work? Fun!” You can’t help the bite of sarcasm, and Hoseok’s eyes flash in irritation.

“I swear, you’re more annoying in my dreams,” he says.

Your anger is flaring now. “Tell me how you really feel.” You don’t care how much noise you’re making.

“Well, if you’re asking for it, then fine!” Hoseok shoots back, “It’s not as if it matters anyway. You’re not real, so you won’t remember any of this!” His voice is rising to match yours, forgetting his own advice to ‘Shut up!’

“Go on,” you prod.

“I hate you,” he says, hastily, proud of those three words, glad to get them out.

“Yeah? Well, I hate you too!”

“I hate how smug you’ve been ever since you got that damned promotion,” he says.

“And I hate how jealous you are, now that I’m catching up with you.”

“I hate that you refuse to respect me, even though I’m higher up in the company.”

“And I hate that you demand my respect without having done anything to earn it from me!” You’re fuming now, teeth grated, cheeks turning red. You’ve forgotten the cold with your hot anger. That is, until you hear a rustle beside you, and turn to see some mice soldiers crashing through the fir trees, roused by your arguing. Glancing to your other side, you’re greeted by the same scene. With a swivel around, you confirm the worst: you’re surrounded.

“Great,” your eyes are sharp on Hoseok, “This is your fault.”

He opens his mouth to argue back, but the mice are moving forward, claws to their belts, where they carry sharp looking swords.

Your stomach fills with dread. Even if this is just a dream, those blades look unpleasant. And if the cold in this particular dream can sting, then a sword can hurt too. You don’t even have anything to defend yourself with, either. Apart from –

You bend down, and take off your other slipper. It won’t do much damage against a human-sized mouse, but you’ve got nothing else. Behind you, Hoseok is drawing his sword, made of wood, just like him. At least it’s better than a slipper.

With one swing, he bats off a hoard of mice approaching from your left, then parries the mouse to your right, keeping you unharmed. It annoys you that, even in your dream, he seems to be one step ahead of you.

“I can handle this myself,” you say.

He rakes his eyes over you, a strange sight, barefoot, with a slipper clutched in your hand. “Sure you can.” With his eyes still stuck on you, smirking, he doesn’t see the large mouse moving up behind him, sword raised.

Shoving Hoseok out of the way, you whack the mouse on the head with the sole of your slipper, as hard as you can. The mouse falls back, stunned.

“See, I told you,” you smile, before narrowly avoiding another swinging blade.

“We need to get out of here,” Hoseok decides, and although you love contradicting him, this particular proposition is very attractive, so you nod, letting him grab your hand without complaint, as he drags you away from the mice. Darting through the trees, he’s surprisingly nimble for a man made of wood. You skid behind him, pulled along, with your shoulder screaming, as he tugs your arm. His hand in yours is cold and wooden, sore where his knuckles rub.

As you run on, the mice fall behind you, their worm-like tails getting tangled in the fir branches. A few more minutes of sprinting, with your breath gasping out in puffs of fog, and you’ve lost them far behind. Still, Hoseok keeps on running, and you let him drag you on, moving on nothing but adrenaline.

You crash through the trees together. You’re unsure how far you can keep going – your lungs are bursting, breath burning in your throat. Hoseok’s body seems unaffected, able to push on, without drawing short on breath. After all, a wooden man doesn’t need to fill his lungs with air.

“Stop,” you manage to gasp out, your breath so short, there’s no volume to your plea. Hoseok doesn’t hear. You call out again, raggedly, “Stop!”

You wrench your hand free from his grip, and slide to a stop in the snow, crouching to recover your breath.

Hoseok turns back to you. “You okay?” His face is twisted with concern. It’s an expression you’ve never seen on him before.

“No,” you manage to huff out, “I can’t run as fast. Unlike you, I’m actually human.”

Hoseok’s face falls, painted lips pulling down. “Oh. Right. Sorry… I’m not used to being… like this.” He seems genuinely upset, as he moves back to your side, bending down to stare into your face, which is probably flushed red and damp with sweat.

You force a smile, “It’s fine. I’m fine.” But when you stand up, your legs are wobbling.

“You don’t seem fine,” Hoseok frowns, straightening up as well “You should have told me we were going too fast.” He keeps his eyes on your own, searching your face, unconvinced by your performance of being okay. “Geez,” he goes on, “If you weren’t so stubborn this wouldn’t have happened.”

And there it is. The reason you hate him. Just when he seemed almost concerned for you.

“Thanks for your sympathy,” you sneer, taking a step away, just so you don’t have to look at those painted eyes of his, duller than the real version. As if it wasn’t cruel enough that you have to put up with him invading your dream, his handsome face, that might have made the experience stomachable, has been destroyed, replaced by artificial features. Then again, maybe his stiff wooden jaw and cheeks are more fitting for his unmoving, wooden heart.

“No, sorry, I didn’t mean it,” Hoseok winces against your anger, as you finally reclaim air back to your lungs, ready for an assault on him.

“Then what did you mean by it?”

“Just- you should have said we were going too fast.”

“And what? Have you ridicule me for not keeping up?” You raise unbelieving eyebrows. “Yeah. No way that was happening.”

Hoseok raises his hands in surrender. “Listen, this is all strange and new for me. You think I wanted this? You think I wanted to be wood and paint?” His hands fall to his side again, useless.

Your lips firm into a thin line. He won’t make you feel sympathy for him. You won’t allow that. If only you could wake up and escape all this… weirdness.

The stinging cold isn’t doing enough to rouse you out of this nightmare. Maybe you need something more painful. A pinch might work. Your hand sneaks to your arm, and with an intake of breath, you dig your nails deep into your flesh. “Ow!” You draw your hand back.

“What? What’s wrong?” Hoseok’s eyes are wide and panicked.

You hold up your forearm, with nail marks showing on your skin. “I thought that would wake me up.” You try again, nails going deeper. It brings tears to your eyes.

“Hey. Hey!” Hoseok is shaking you, trying to pull your hand away from your arm.

Still, you push deeper against the skin. Surely enough pain will wake you up, and get you away from here.

“Stop!” With all the force of his wooden muscles, Hoseok drags your hand away from your arm, where the skin is raw and red as blood flows back to the irritated area. It hurts. And you still aren’t awake. You blink watery eyes. “Why can’t I wake up?” You don’t even care if Hoseok can see the tears threatening. If it’s just a dream, what does it matter if you make a fool of yourself in front of him?

Hoseok takes your hand in his own, perhaps to keep it away from damaging your skin again. “I don’t know,” he says, “I can’t wake up either. So I guess, whether it’s your dream or mine, we’re stuck here for now.”

You would pull your hand away from his, but the feel of him is comforting.

“Well, what do we do now?” you ask quietly.

“Getting out of this forest would be a good start,” Hoseok says, and you follow on as he leads through the brushing fir branches, going at a more reasonable speed this time. Walking before you, hand still in your own, Hoseok feels firm and solid, and safer than the rest of this dream forest, with its frozen ground, and closely packed trees that could hide more mice.

Continuing on, you find yourself shivering, your teeth chattering together. Now that your speed has slowed down, your body is registering how cold it is.

Hoseok turns back to you. “Okay?”

You shake your head past the shivering.

“Oh, right,” Hoseok says, “I guess I don’t feel the cold so much now. Being made of wood and all.” His eyes fix on your own, and you watch his brain working, before he sighs, and removes his coat, leaving the white undershirt beneath. It exposes his wooden neck, and the movement of his wooden joints below the thin fabric. Throwing the heavy red coat over you, Hoseok nods tersely. “That should help for now. We’ll find somewhere warm to stay soon, don’t worry.”

Wrapping the coat around yourself, you ask, “Why do you care?” It comes out more defensive than you meant.

“A simple ‘thank you’ would be nice.”

You pause, then follow on behind him as he continues walking. “Thank you.”

You go on in silence, with nothing to disturb your journey, until, finally, the trees begin to thin out, and you reach the end of the forest.

Ahead of you, you see a palace, so massive, it looks ready to swallow you up. You wonder how you missed it while you were in the forest. It’s dazzling in the low winter light, with white walls, and golden rooves crowning the turrets. You stop, gaping up at it in awe. Hoseok pauses by your side.

“Wow,” he breathes, “I had no idea we were close to any kind of civilization... let alone a palace!” He says exactly what you’ve been thinking. But you won’t let him know how synchronised your thoughts are.

A voice interrupts. “Oh! There you are! I’ve been expecting you!” You turn your eyes to see a woman running towards you from the direction of the palace. She’s dressed in pink lace, with a floaty dress that flows out behind her as she hurries towards her. A golden circlet is tangled up in her curly hair, plaited so that it sits off her face.

“Dear me, I’m so sorry you got stuck in the forest,” she says, giving a bow of her head as she reaches you, “That wasn’t part of the plan at all. Did you get attacked by mice, by any chance?”

You’re about to answer, when she gives a wave of her hand, “Oh never worry about that for now. You must be freezing!”

You are.

“Come on,” she gives a smile, “Let’s get inside, and get you some more suitable clothes. I’ll explain everything later.”

There’s certainly a lot to explain. You don’t resist her petite hand, as it takes your own, leading you towards the palace. Glancing behind, you see that Hoseok’s following after you. He gives a shrug, and you can only mirror his action. Whoever this woman is, she promises warmth, and an explanation: two things you’re in desperate need of, so you let her lead you. Anything is better than standing outside, cold in your pyjamas.

- ✻ ✻ ✻ -

After a long soak in the palace bath, and a new set of clothes lined with fur to warm you up, you find yourself lying in the bedroom the mysterious woman had allocated you, savouring the heat sapping back into your bones from the log fire.

There’s a knock at your door, and your sit up quickly, pushing your hair off your face, still drying off from the bath.

Hoseok stands at the door, looking awkwardly out of place in the gilt palace doorway. His dull wood doesn’t match. “Hi,” he says.

“Hi.” You voice sounds off, echoing in the large bedroom.

Hoseok leans against the doorframe, resting his head against it, so that his hair slips across his forehead. Like this, an imperfect reconstruction of the reality, he doesn’t look so bad after all, you decide. Even if he is made from wood. Maybe it’s just the warm lighting in this room, with the fire burning in the fireplace, flickering on his face, but it almost makes him look human again.

“How are you feeling?” he asks.

You give a shrug. “I’m alright. Warmer.”

“Good.” He gives a small smile. “You had me worried for a while.”

You make a noise somewhere between a laugh and a snort, not sure where it came from. Hoseok gives a short laugh as well, although he looks like he doesn’t understand what you’re laughing at. Neither do you.

“Um… you can come in if you want,” you suggest, moving up the bed to make space for him on the edge.

He hesitates, but then nods, and comes into the room, sitting down beside you. You’re surprised to find him warm, adding to the heat in the room. A man made of wood shouldn’t be that warm. It feels like there’s real blood pumping in his veins.

You sit, head tilted to the side, looking him, unsure of what you should say.

He stares down at his hands, folded in his lap. “Well,” he says at last, “If this does end up being your dream and not mine… don’t tell the real me that I was worried about you. I don’t think he could live that down.”

You laugh, genuinely this time, and Hoseok glance up with a smile. The expression looks natural on him, his dimples digging deeper into soft cheeks, as if he were human again.

You can’t help but reach out, and catch his face in your hands. You frame his face with your fingers. Against your fingertips, his skin is hot and soft.

“Hoseok,” your voice is barely more than a whisper, “You feel… real..”

His brows furrow. “Real? Of course I’m real. You’re the one who’s just a figment of my imagination.”

“No,” you shift closer to him on the bed, “I mean, it’s not like before. You were made of wood before. Now- well- now, you’re not.”

His face falls serious, and his hand goes up to your own, his fingers slotting between your own, so that he can feel his cheek as well. “Well, what do you know…” his voice soft, “Dreams are weird like that.”

“They are.” If you’d been told earlier today that you’d be sat, cradling Hoseok’s face in your hands, tender like a lover would be, you would have brushed off the idea as crazy. But dreams are weird like that.

Although, the more you experience this, the more you begin to wonder…

“Well,” Hoseok says, his hand falling from your own, “I suppose I’m feeling a bit softer now.”

You stifle a laugh. “Yes, I suppose it was worrying about me that made you that way.”

“Soft in the head, you mean,” he jokes back. Something about this feels different from your normal back and forth. Your whole body feels warm and tingly. Maybe it’s from the bath. Or maybe you’re going soft in the head as well. Your hands are still cupping Hoseok’s face, with your eyes transfixed on his, watching how his irises dance and sparkle, no longer merely painted on. Below you, he’s soft like the bed you sit on. You worry he might break against your touch, unlike the sturdy wood from before.

And, you’re not sure why – maybe, because it’s just a dream, and nothing you do here matters – but you wonder what would happen if you leant in a little further, and kissed him.

His eyes are lingering on your lips. Maybe the same thought had crossed his mind. Or maybe not. After all, he’s just a part of this dream, invented by your brain. He can’t think for himself. He can’t do anything you don’t imagine.

But why are you imagining kissing him?

Before you can close the distance, try out his newly soft lips against your own, you lean back, drop your hands from his face, and give an awkward laugh.

And then, as if to save you, there comes a knock at the door. “I do hope I’m not disturbing anything,” comes a sweet voice, and the woman who found you outside the palace peeks her head around the door.

“No, no, not at all,” you shake your head frantically, and then quickly stop, hoping you’re not protesting too much.

“Good,” she steps inside the room, clasping her hands together. Her cheeks, speckled with glitter, glow in the light of the fire, “Then why don’t I tell you exactly what’s going on.”

She takes a seat on one of the armchairs by the fire, and crosses her ankles. “First of all, let me introduce myself properly. I’m the Sugar Plum Fairy.” She gives a bob of her head. “And you’ve been brought here because my land is in danger. In fact, many lands are in danger right now. You see, a dark force has been moving through worlds like my own, worlds that exist within the pages of books. And this dark force has been changing the endings of these books.”

“Wait,” you stumble over your words. This is not what you were expecting. Your brain is being particularly active this evening, if it’s able to come up with all of this in a dream. Maybe when you wake up you should write it down. “What do you mean?”

The Fairy gives a smile, her plump lips puckering. “I know it’s confusing, don’t worry. But I’m well aware that I only exist in a book. And I’m sure you realised too. After all, you were pulled inside the pages, so you must have realised yourself – we’re in a book right now.”

“No,” you shake your head, “We’re not in a book. We’re in a dream. My dream.”

She smiles again. “We can be in both. If that helps you understand it better.” She folds her hands neatly in her lap, “What’s important is that you’re here. And that means you’ve come to help. As I said, the ending of my book – and many books like my own, Christmas books – are being destroyed by a dark presence. The endings are being changed from happy to sad. You must have been sent here for a special reason. You’re going to help me, aren’t you? You’re going to get back the happy ending, and save Christmas.”

You don’t remember standing up, but you’re on your feet. Hoseok is by your side, as tense as you feel. His hand is hard on your shoulder, as he murmurs, “Calm,” in your ear. You focus on the feel of his fingers pressing on you. Firm. He’s turned back to wood.

“That’s impossible,” you sputter, “We – well, I certainly – can’t save you. I mean, I’m- I’m just me. I’m not special. I haven’t been sent to save you.”

The Fairy smiles, the same collected smile she always seems to give. “Let me show you something.”

She stands up, with her skirts rustling around her. With an order of “Follow me,” she exits the room, and you have nothing to do, but go after her, with Hoseok by your side. You stick close to him; he’s your one final grip on reality in this weird dream world, that’s only becoming weirder.

The Fairy leads you down winding stairways, deeper into the palace. You barely register the elaborate chandeliers, the marble statues, and the hanging portraits.

At last, she stops at a wide set of doors, and with eyes sparkling, pushes them open. In front of you, a library spills out. Mahogany bookshelves stretch out, as far as your eye can see, stacked high with books in every colour you can imagine. The smell of old paper engulfs you, filling your lungs as your step into the room.

“Wow,” you breathe, turning back to the Fairy and Hoseok, mouth gaping open, “This- this is amazing.” Hoseok is grinning at you, and you quickly shut your mouth again, embarrassed by your own awe. But his smile doesn’t seem to be teasing, so maybe it’s not so bad.

“This library is more than amazing,” the Fairy says, as she walks past you, with a wink, to pick up a book from the shelf: A Christmas Carol. The Fairy opens up to a page, and with a breath of smoke, exhaled from the pages, a scene appears, ghostly, floating just above the inky words. In front of you, suspended in a cloudy haze, a scene from the Christmas story plays out. You see Scrooge and the Ghost of Christmas Present walking through a festive looking market, which throbs with life. The Fairy smiles at you, with your mouth hanging open again, regardless of what Hoseok might think.

“Are all the books like this?” you ask,

Without answering, the Fairy picks up another book, this time, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, and opens a page, from which another scene materialises, showing Santa Clause sneaking down the chimney with a sack of gifts. You watch with curiosity, as he walks just above the words of the page, over to the Christmas tree where he begins laying out gifts.

Casting your eyes around you, you skim the titles of the books, until a familiar one catches your eye. It’s bright red spine and golden title are unmistakable. You pull it off the shelf: The Nutcracker. Opening it up in front of you, smoky and faint, a scene shimmers into existence, born from the words. There, standing above the page, you see the Sugar Plum Fairy, with you and Hoseok standing in a miniature version of the library. You start, and almost drop the book. There you are, right in front of yourself. In the book.

“So, we really are in a story book right now,” Hoseok says. It sounds like a question.

The Fairy nods. “That’s correct.” Her pretty face is serious, as she flicks through the pages, further into the book. Scene after scene flashes by, barely given time to materialise before another one takes its place, until she comes to the final page. No scene materialises for this page.

Looking down at the words, you see that the black ink has begun to bleed together into a sticky-looking mass. You can just about make out the final words of the story: “And they did not live happily ever after.”

“The endings are being ruined, you see,” the Fairy explains, “And I don’t know what to do. But you showed up, and I’m hoping you’ll be able to help.”

“But what can we do?” you ask, closing the book. You don’t want to have to see those black stains anymore.

“I- I’m not sure,” for the first time since you’ve met her, the Fairy seems uncertain, “But you must have been brought here for a reason. Please,” she clasps her hands together, “Will you help me?”

Before you can voice your concern, Hoseok announces behind you: “Yes! Of course we’ll help.”

You turn your wide eyes on him. “We will?”

“Yes,” he looks at you with an expression that says this should be obvious, “What other choice do we have? Neither of us seem to be waking up from this dream, so going along with it makes the most sense.”

You hate when he’s right, so you only give a vague hum of agreement. “Where would we even start with helping?”

“Well,” the Fairy gives a reassuring smile, “I’m not sure myself, but I suppose we should go along with how the story goes, at least for now. If we can live out the book, and fight for a happy ending, then surely the story ending won’t stay bad.”

It doesn’t make much sense to you. But nothing since you’ve entered this dream makes much sense.

“So… what happens next in the story?” Hoseok asks.

“Well,” the Fairy’s smile is growing unsettling, as if she’s trying to stay positive despite her next words, “The Mouse King and his soldiers are going to invade the castle.”

“What?” your response is the same as Hoseok’s.

“That’s how the story goes,” the Fairy explains, opening the book again, to show a scene of the mice soldiers swarming the castle walls. You shudder as you watch them spilling into the palace, swords brandished, and quickly shut the book again, dispersing the images into small wisps of mist that melt on the air.

“And what? You expect us to fight them?”

The Fairy nods, smiling as always.

“Well, sorry to disappoint you,” you tell her, “But I’ve never fought in my life.”

“Well, you did give that one mouse a good slap with your slipper,” Hoseok buts in, “That was quite impressive.”

“Apart from that.”

“Then I suggest you start getting more accustomed to fighting,” the Fairy says, “Come. There isn’t a moment to lose. I suggest you get to training immediately.”

- ✻ ✻ ✻ -

Training involves taking you to a room deep in the depths of the palace, filled with training dummies, and ornate weapons hanging on the walls. There, the Fairy gives you a sword and a smile and some basic instructions on defending yourself.

Now, you’re lying on the training floor, already exhausted after a solid hour of practice, breathing heavily as you stare up at the patterning on the ceiling.

“Get up,” Hoseok says, standing over you, blocking out the light, “We need to go through this again.”

“Leave me alone,” you groan. All the muscles in your body are groaning with you. The Fairy has left you for a break, but Hoseok still wants to practice. “I’m tired,” you complain.

“And being tired won’t be a good enough excuse for falling in the middle of battle,” Hoseok says.

“Obviously,” you mutter, “But this is just training.”

“And?” Hoseok quirks an eyebrow. “We don’t know how soon the Mouse King and his army are going to show up. You need to improve your stamina.”

You want to scream that it’s not fair. He’s made of wood, with no lungs to drag air around his fragile body. Naturally, or unnaturally in his case, his stamina’s better than yours.

“Come on, get up,” he probes, drawing his training sword, and pointing it down to you.

You grimace up at him, over the dull blade.

“You need to be able to defend yourself,” he insists.

“Why do you care?” you ask, “If you really hate me, you can just leave me to die when the palace is attacked. Just let me rest now.”

“That’s not true…” Hoseok stumbles to a halt, his words trailing off.

“No?” you go on pushing, seeing you’ve bothered him, “Because I clearly remember you telling me how much you hated me.”

Hoseok blows air through his lips, his eyes raising to the ceiling. “Well… maybe…” He lowers his sword, and sets it down.

You smile, thinking you’ve won – hit the nerve you wanted – and that he’ll leave you alone now.

Wrong.

He steps over you, his legs on either side of your thighs, where you lie. Crouching down, he straddles you, with his legs pinning you down. His hands find your own, trapping them by your sides.

“What do you think you’re doing?” you ask, anger flaring, along with your survival instincts. You struggle against him, rattling his wooden frame. Knowing he won’t actually hurt you doesn’t stop the tightness in your chest.

“Training,” he says, “You need to defend yourself. So, try to get me off.”

You push back against him, harder, hating that you’re doing exactly what he wants. But you hate the feeling of being trapped more. “Hoseok, stop it,” you order, muscles straining under his weight. With your already-fatigued body, it’s impossible. “Get off!”

“See,” Hoseok’s voice is gentle above you, “You need to be ready. And right now you’re still weak. What would you have done if I was a soldier, bent on killing you?”

“I don’t know.” You give up on fighting against him, relaxing your body, so that your limbs flop uselessly to the floor, “I don’t care right now. I’m too tired to fight any more. Please, get off.” You close your eyes, exhaling, and hoping he’ll finally listen. His weight is getting uncomfortable.

You feel him shift against you. “Wait,” his voice is soft, “Are you actually okay?”

“No!” It takes all the strength you have left to shout this.

Opening your eyes again, you see him blinking down at you, surprised.

“I can’t train anymore,” you tell him, “I’m too tired. And you’re too heavy. It hurts.”

“Oh…” Suddenly, his weight rolls off you, and he lies beside you on the training room floor. “Sorry. I…” His eyes connect with yours, “I’m… not used to this body. Being wooden I mean. I don’t know what strength I have now. I’m sorry.”

You take a shaky breath. “That’s okay.”

His face twists in discomfort, “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

“No, I’m okay.”

“Good,” his expression eases, “I’m really sorry. I didn’t realise you were as tired as you are. I just thought you were being stubborn again.”

“I always mean what I say,” you tell him, “Maybe if you respected that, I wouldn’t need to be so stubborn with you.”

His eyes shine. For one moment, they look human again, giving more emotion that any painter could capture, “I really am sorry. We… really are terrible with each other, aren’t we?”

You shrug. “You’re terrible, you mean.”

“Thanks for making me feel better.”

“Sorry,” you give a small smile, “You’re forgiven.”

“I suppose we’re going to have to get over our fighting for a while,” he says, “I mean, if we’re going to be working together to save this world, or whatever it is that Fairy wants us to do.”

“What?” you open your eyes wide in mock shock, “Are you saying we should actually try working as a team?”

“I know. I can’t believe it either.” He grins, sitting up.

You sit up as well, “Well, I suppose I could agree to get along with you. But only because it’s a dream.”

“Okay, deal.” He sticks out his hand to you. You take it in your own. For one second, he feels human against your touch, until his fingers stiffen to wood again. Maybe you imagined it.

“It’s a deal,” you repeat, “But I still hate you.”

He smiles, “I hope that’s the one thing you don’t actually mean.”

“Well, I only mean it because you mean it too.”

“Maybe I don’t mean it as much as you think I do.” He looks down, and then back at you again, eyes flickering.

You can’t properly process this, before he’s standing up, and grabbing his sword, going back to one of the training dummies. You’re left on the floor, still recovering.

His body is now obviously back to wood. But when he was smiling at you, sat on the ground, his hand in your own, he had softened up, looked human again. A soft heart, to match your own.

After all, in the story, didn’t the Nutcracker end up turning back into a human to get his happy ending? You need to do more than defeat the Mouse King. You also need to figure out how to get Hoseok back to his real self. That’s the proper happy ending – the ending you need to fight for.

- ✻ ✻ ✻ -

You’ve spent a few days at the palace now. Every day, you wake up, eat breakfast in the large palace dining room, and then get to training. And yet, the longer the time drags out, the more frustrated you are with yourself. Your body still feels weak, especially compared with what you’ve watched Hoseok accomplish over the past few days, quickly surpassing you. Normally, you would be annoyed at the way he’s able to pick things up so quickly, while you struggle behind, straining to be better. But now, you’re just thankful he’s on your side. Maybe – as you’ve been discovering – you don’t hate him as much as you thought. A few days training beside him is all you need to learn more about him, and figure out that he’s not worth hating.

You had this particular realisation while you were watching from the side one evening, recovering from a particularly rigorous training session, as Hoseok continued training with the practice dummy.

“How did you get so good at this?” you had asked him.

He looked over at you, with a quirk of his lip. “Good at what?”

You made a vague gesture, sweeping over his whole body. “You know. So skilled at fighting and stuff. You’re so fast. Or agile? I don’t know. You’re just unfairly good.”

“Well,” Hoseok blew out, puffing his cheeks, “I don’t know. I guess being good at dancing helps. Sword fighting is just like a kind of dance. Only, when you make a mistake, it’s a lot more fatal.”

“I didn’t know you danced.”

“There’s a lot about me you don’t know, then,” Hoseok said, with a bright grin. Then his eyes lit up. “Hey, why don’t I teach you to dance? You know, since you’re so tired of training with swords.”

You frowned, as he set down his own sword, and walked over, offering you a hand.

“What?” You looked at his outstretched fingers, “I can’t dance.”

“Sure you can,” he said. You wanted to laugh at how ridiculous the situation was. Here you were, with a war brimming over, about to descend on the palace, and Hoseok wanted to waltz with you. But his face was serious. And after everything else that had happened in this dream, you thought, maybe dancing with Hoseok wouldn’t be so odd. You took his hand, as he pulled you closer.

“Put your feet on mine,” he said.

“Huh?” You looked up at him in confusion.

“Your feet. Put them on mine. It’s easier than having to actually tell you the steps.”

And so, too surprised and too embarrassed to argue, you placed your feet on his own wide wooden ones, as he supported you against him. One hand was in your own, his other was around your waist, keeping you tight against him.

“I have to apologise first,” he said, “I’m probably a bit stiffer now that I’m made of wood.”

But as soon as he started moving, you felt the opposite was true. His smooth movements were otherworldly, with his feet whirling you around the training room, as if it were a ballroom. There was no music, but you soon forgot that, caught up in the sound of your own laughter harmonising with his. With him smiling down at you, as the ceiling tumbled into a kaleidoscope of swirling lights behind him, you realised that you really didn’t hate him at all. How could you hate him when you barely know him? All you’ve ever seen is what he showed you in the office. There’s more to him.

But this is just a dream. When you wake up, maybe you’ll still hate him, just as before. You’ve almost forgotten your waking world, caught up in a blur of training.

After all these days spent in the training room, learning to survive, and learning about Hoseok as a bonus, you’ve almost forgotten what you’re training for.

That is until, early one morning, the Sugar Plum Fairy bursts into your bedroom in a fluster, saying: “They’re here!”

With the commotion of the palace servants running past outside, the reality snaps to greet you, with a cold smack to the face. You freeze up.

Your sword sits uselessly beside your bed, sheathed. You could easily reach out and take it up, go and defend yourself – this is all you’ve been preparing for these past few days. But your body refuses to move. You can’t do this. You’re not ready. You haven’t’ had enough time to prepare.

The Fairy is looking at you expectantly – pleadingly – and you know you need to get up. After all, it’s only a dream. If you mess up – if you die – then what will happen? You’ll wake up? That’s not so bad. So, why are you afraid?

Some part of your instinct – your sense of self-preservation – is howling out that you need to stay alive, that you need to fend off these soldiers, and keep the castle. You need to restore a happy ending to this story.

A shout at the door rouses you, as Hoseok appears in the doorway, behind the Fairy. He’s already ready, with his sword by his side. “Good, you’re safe,” he pushes into the room, and catches you by the shoulders, hands gentle. “I was worried they’d already reached this part of the palace.”

Your muscles melt back to life, as you manage to say, “I’m fine.”

He smiles, a small smile, only for you to see, “I’m glad. I need you by my side in this. So let’s go.”

And that’s all you need to get to your feet, picking up your weapon, which still feels foreign in your hands. Your brain barely registering what you’re doing, you rush down the winding stairs with Hoseok, towards the main hall of the palace, where the stairs spill down in the foyer below a grand chandelier – just in time to see the mice soldiers breaking down the door, and swarming in. They move like liquid, seeping through the destroyed doorframe in a flood of fur and military uniforms. Swallowing at the fear that clogs your throat like bile, you feel a reassuring hand on your shoulder, and nod to Hoseok.

Then he’s charging into the fray, swinging his sword. Before him, the mice begin to fall back, screeching when his blade makes contact.

You see they’re surprised. This army wasn’t expecting the Sugar Plum Fairy to have help. Their fur bristles, suddenly not so sure as they face the onslaught of Hoseok’s well-aimed stabs.

Seeing their uncertainty rouses a courage within you, and with a cry you didn’t know your lungs were capable of making, you charge after Hoseok, just in time to fend off a mouse coming at him from behind.

“Thanks,” Hoseok shoots over to you, seeing the mouse fall.

“Don’t get distracted,” you warn, before you come up against another group of mice, parrying their attacks as best you can.

“Distracted by you?” Hoseok’s voice comes out ragged from the exertion, as he kicks at a mouse, sneaking at him from the side, “Don’t flatter yourself.”

“That sounds like something a distracted person would say,” you tease back. It almost feels like you’re back in the training room, easily joking back and forth with him. You feel loose, more at ease, with Hoseok behind you, fending off the enemies you can’t reach. All fear slides off you.

As you continue fighting, the swarms of mice seem to be diminishing. They’re dying off, retreating. “We might actually do this!” you call over your shoulder to Hoseok.

But he’s gone oddly silent, not sharing in your triumph, and as you turn your eyes to the decimated door, you realise why.

A large mouse steps over the splintered door frame, drawing himself up to his full height. Towering over you, his body looks bulky, like he’s built from brick. He gives a sneer, and his cracked lips raise, lifting the whiskers on his snout to show yellowing teeth.

“The Mouse King!” Around you, the mice stop in their tracks, falling to their faces to show their respect.

“Well, what do we have here?” the Mouse King grins down at you and Hoseok, “I was wondering what the hold-up was. It turns out the Sugar Plum Fairy has two worms helping. Surely -” here he turns his attention to his mice subjects “- you weren’t having trouble fighting these two creatures?”

His soldiers remain silent.

“Well then,” the Mouse King’s paw falls to his side, where a long, curved sword rests, “I suppose I’ll have to do this myself.” Without warning he swings viciously at Hoseok.

Hoseok cries out, choking on the sound, as he stumbles back. Made of wood, there’s no blood to spill, but you see a long gouge in his woodwork, running across his upper arm. It would be painful if he were flesh and bones. It must be painful, even now. Without thinking, you run forward to help him, but spotting you coming, he pushes you back, almost violently:

“No! Get out of here. I won’t let yourself get hurt doing something stupid.”

“Is wanting to help you stupid?” you demand, resisting him as he tries to push you away.

“It is if it means getting yourself killed.” Hoseok pushes you again, “Please. Run!”

You want to argue, want to pull him with you, away from the cruel sword of the Mouse King, but your legs are dragging you away from him. All the while, your brain is whirling.

Behind you, you catch Hoseok’s grunts of effort, as he fights off the Mouse King, with the clang of blade against blade grating in your ears. You run back up the stairs, shoving off the mice soldiers that come running to stop you. With your brain clearing, you know exactly where to go - where you’ll be the most help to Hoseok. Ahead of you, at the end of the landing, you can see the balcony that looks out over the main foyer, where Hoseok and the Mouse King are circling each other. Reaching the banister that blocks a fall down one story to the foyer floor, you look over to see Hoseok with his blade raised. He’s trying to maintain a straight back, but you see his arms are shaking, his shoulders are slumping, and his spine is curling, as if it’s trying to tuck up and protect his body.

Above them, that’s what you’re after: the chandelier hangs just above them, suspending sharp crystals and unlit candles. Leaning over the banister, you call out: “Hey, Mouse King!”

He squints up at you, snarling.

You jump onto the banister, balancing. “Hey, do you ever wash than mangy fur of yours? Or are you planning on bringing fleas into the palace?”

From the corner of your eye, you see that Hoseok has caught onto your plan, and is moving out of the way. Now, just the Mouse King stands in the centre of the foyer, hurling insults up at you. Right where you want him. With a smirk, you reach forward with your sword. “With all those fleas, we might need pest control.” And you cut the cord holding the chandelier.

It falls with a horrible crash. The Mouse King lies trapped underneath it’s weight, with the crystals now shattered on the floor around him. His tail whips around, as he struggles to get up from underneath, but Hoseok is already striding forward, sword raised. As you close your eyes, you hear the final slice, as Hoseok finishes what you started, and you open your eyes again to find the Mouse King dead.

Seeing their leader fallen, the mice soldiers lower their weapons. They realise the battle has already been won. As they flood towards their king, howling out in grief, you rush down the stairs to Hoseok.

“Are you alright?” you ask.

He merely replies, “Pest control? Really?”

“What?” you say, “I just saved your life and you’re making fun of my choice of taunt?”

The mice soldiers pour past you, carrying the salvaged body of their king with them. Hoseok only shrugs.

You move closer to him, reaching out a hand to run your finger along the gouge left in his wooden arm.

“Don’t worry about that,” he says.

“Does it hurt?”

He wrinkles his nose. “A little. It’s nothing.” But as you remove your hand, you find blood on your fingers, and looking back to Hoseok you see him slowly shift back to a human, wood melting to skin. The cut on his arm begins oozing blood, a dark red stain spreading across the material of his shirt.

Quickly, you rip off a part of your own shirt, and moving to his side, you tie it securely around the damage, applying pressure to stop the bleeding. As you focus on stanching he blood, Hoseok murmurs, “I’ll be fine in a minute. Stop fussing.”

“Shut up,” you reply, “Just accept my help.”

This silences him. Taking off one of the ribbons that adorn your own clothing, you tie a bow around the make-shift bandage, holding it in place. “There.”

But just as you step away, your hands slipping off him, he begins to seize up again, his skin turning to stiff wood once more. You bite your lip, looking to the blood-stained bandage on his arm, tied by a red ribbon, that serves as proof he had been human for a few short seconds. You had hoped that he would transform for good. After all, that’s what you need for this story to end as it should. If Hoseok stays wooden, then you still haven’t reached the happy ending.

A sudden thundering erupts outside.

Eyes wide, Hoseok turns to you, “What was that?”

Your mind races with worst case scenarios: the mice are back, the Mouse King isn’t really dead. With Hoseok at your heels, you run past the remnants of the palace door to look outside and find it’s worse than that.

The sky above the palace have turned murky and black. Around you, the whole world rumbles with a deep groaning. This isn’t a natural storm. The black above you is the same sticky, inky black that seeped into the final pages of the books in the library, ruining the endings. This is the loss of your happy ending. You’ve already failed.

You watch on, as the wind picks up around you, tugging painfully at your hair. Above you, the black cloud grows bigger, consuming the sky and swallowing up the sun.

Behind you, you hear, “Oh no,” and turn back to see the Fairy at the doorframe. Her face isn’t smiling anymore. “I thought for sure we’d restored a happy ending.”

“What do we do now?” Hoseok asks, turning to you, his dark eyes looking strained as they struggle to show his fear past the artificial paintwork. The emotions look unnatural on his wooden face.

You want him to be human again. Suddenly, that’s all you want. You miss Hoseok, the Hoseok that could frown, could smile so his dimples creased his cheeks, could tease you with a spark in his eyes. You miss that version of him – the version you were sure you hated. But now you realise: he needs to become human again to reach a happy ending.

And you already know how this story ends. You’ve known for a long time, ever since your mum first read you this story as a child.

Clara and the Nutcracker fall in love.

In this dream, you’re Clara. And Hoseok is your Nutcracker.

But Hoseok hates you, and you claimed to reciprocate the feeling.

Around you, the sky roars, opening up a black, cloudy maw. It rushes down towards the ground, slithering into the forest, and breaking down the trees in its path. You watch the firs crumble down in front of you, as if they were made of ash. Still, the darkness rushes closer, a consuming wave that promises nothingness.

You glance across at Hoseok, to find he’s looking at you, with the wind pulling at his hair, tugging it off his wooden face, showing the fear in his painted eyes. So nearly human. Yet, not quite.

You wonder, if he lies about hating you, the same way you lie about hating him.

Maybe.

An idea comes to you.

The darkness is licking at your edges, burning like fire. It threatens to swallow you.

It doesn’t matter if you’re wrong. It’s only a dream. With this thought, desperate to escape the darkness, you reach up and press your lips to Hoseok’s: a last-ditch attempt to save yourselves.

The kiss says it all, everything you can’t bring yourself to say out loud.

Against your touch, Hoseok softens again, skin replacing wood. Suddenly, his hard lips are warm again, his mouth is opening to let you in, tongue pressing against yours. Eyes closed, you feel yourself melt into him, knees weak.

The burning darkness lifts off you. Moving away from Hoseok, with a smile pressed on your lips, you open your eyes to see the sky returning to its normal blue, with the destroyed forest restoring itself with sparkling tendrils folding into solid branches again.

Hoseok grins back at you. He gave you the happy ending you needed. You pause, face inches from his own, before you fall back into each other, and you feel his lips on yours again. It’s a lot messier this time, because you’re both smiling, with teeth clashing against each other, but you don’t mind. The rush that trills through you makes it perfect. Hoseok’s hand moves up to cradle your neck, while your hands tangle up in his hair, now real, and soft to touch.

And as you break free from his mouth, to clear your head for one moment –

- bang!

You wake up on the floor beside your sofa. The Nutcracker lies open by your side, at the page where Clara stands by her Nutcracker, now turned human, a smile on her face.

So it really was a dream. Some strange part of you had been hoping all along, that it was real. The feeling of being with Hoseok had been nice. His lips on yours had been nice. It was nice.

And a realisation dawns on you as you lie staring at your ceiling: you like Hoseok. You don’t hate him at all. You just hate that he seems to hate you.

You’ve always admired him for his hard work, and his determination, and the way he raises morale in the office. It’s been a long developing crush, but you can only put a name to those feelings now.

Did it really take a dream to make you understand?

Hoseok. Of all people. You like Hoseok.

And suddenly you jump up. Right! Hoseok! Work! You have work today!

You grab for your phone and check the time. It’s already half eight. You need to be in the office by nine. Suddenly, you’re tearing out of the room, to take a record-breaking quick shower, and throw on some clothes.

It’s not until you’re on the bus to work that you properly process that you’ll be seeing Hoseok today. You have to figure out how you’re to act around him, and how to hide the fact that you’re still thinking about the end of your dream, with his lips on your own, leaving your mouth numb when you parted.

The bus ride is over before you can figure out a plan, and you’re stuck in front of the office building, hesitating at the door. It’s already one minute past nine. But you can’t bring yourself to step inside. You’re too embarrassed to see the face of the man you’d spend all night with, fight off mice soldiers and meeting sugar plum fairies. You laugh at yourself. Mice soldiers? Sugar plum fairies? Really? You need to get over the dream, and get into work. Taking a deep breath, you open the door.

The lift ride up to your office seems to take forever. When you finally reach your door, your heart rattles, when you find Hoseok, already there. You aren’t ready to see him. You thought you were. But you aren’t.

You want to run. But your body has suddenly been rendered useless, unable to do anything except stand silent at the door, watching him perched on your desk, as he fiddles with one of your paperweights. He hasn’t noticed you yet. With the bright winter sunlight streaming in through the window, it catches his edges, casting a halo of silver around his skin, and the frame of his fake glasses. You can only stare. Memories of your dream come rushing back as you watch his lips break into an absent smile, leaving your head light.

Before you can escape, he looks up, and catches you gazing at him. He drops the paperweight to the floor, and jumps to his feet. “Oh! You’re here!” He fumbles to pick up the paperweight, and set it back on your desk, “Um, I was just waiting for you.”

“Sorry,” you gasp, finally finding your voice, “I’m sorry I’m late.”

Hoseok waves off your apology. “No worries. I came over early.”

“Do you have work for me then?” you ask, trying to regain your composure.

Hoseok runs a hand through his hair, pushing it off his forehead. “No… it’s not that. I just-” He cuts himself off, “Actually, it’s stupid.”

“What’s stupid?”

He fixes you with a hard stare, his dark eyes dragging you deep in. “I… I just wanted to see you.”

“That’s it?”

He bites his bottom lip, worrying it with his teeth. “It’s just... you were in my dream last night.”

Your cheeks heat up. For one moment, your racing brain wonders…

“And,” he continues, “This dream had me thinking some… crazy… things when I woke up. But I can’t get it out of my head.”

“That’s strange,” you say, “Because you were in my dream last night as well.”

Hoseok’s eyes glitter behind the fake lenses of his glasses. A spark of understanding ignites between you, and he says, “It’s no fun working on Christmas day. How would you feel about going out for coffee instead?”

“What about those deadlines?” you ask him.

He shrugs. “There are more important things.”

“Like me?” you tease.

He’s serious, “Like you.”

Suddenly, your dream doesn’t seem so crazy. The waking world is just as mad. You swallow. “Well, in that case, I’d love some coffee.”

You exit the office block, stepping outside into the biting cold. As you walk down the street towards the nearest coffee shop, your fingers find themselves threading through Hoseok’s. His hand is soft in your own, even better than your dream. Looking over to him, you notice a red ribbon poking out of the top of his pocket, the same shade as the one you had used to tie up his wound in the dream. Perhaps it’s a strange coincidence. Or something more.

All you know is that having Hoseok by your side is better than any dream.

- END -

➸ author’s note: thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! Please let me know what you thought.

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strongheartmaid · 5 years ago

Text

St Seiya/Nutcracker [2]

AN: because your plan is so going to work, Misty..

@oopsbirdficced

Misty quietly made his way through Sanctuary, his blue eyes searching the hiding places that Apollo could have placed the little Bronzes in. Even as nutcrackers, they were still a pain in his ass. He huffed softly before shaking his head. Well, he'll find them sooner or later. Ah, there - the glint of something.. Perhaps.. He bent down and carefully picked up the first of the five. He ran a finger over the facial features of the green-tressed nutcracker, an amused smile crossing his lips. "Well, that has to be a first - a nutcracker clad in colors similar to their sacred cloths," he murmured before placing him carefully into the crossbody bag he was wearing. So, Apollo wanted each of the five in a different shop to be found by someone they were destined for. He snorted softly, wishing that Apollo would leave the matchmaking business to Venus. Well, not his problem after he did his part of the mission. He quickly found the others and placed them carefully in the bag before heading out of Sanctuary. Now, where to first.. He mulled over his options - and how best to do this without the Golds or the other Silvers spying him and getting involved.

He made his way to town to pick up an atlas and settled at one of the tables at a café. Okay, so, Apollo wanted them separated, so that's what he was going to do. He huffed softly before pulling out his phone. He swiped a finger across the screen - unlocking it before he went to his contacts, slowly scrolling down the list before alighting on a name. Ah, just the person he needed. He sent a quick text to the person and waited.

"So, Apollo dragged you into another one of his plots?" a male voice asked as he approached Misty from behind.

"And a hello to you as well, Eros," Misty drawled, smirking a little. "And yes, he dragged me not quite kicking and screaming into this one. I'm to leave these five so their bonded ones can find them, but of course, Apollo didn't tell me who they are or where they are so.."

"You want me to use my powers to narrow it down a little, am I correct?" Eros asked, glancing at Misty and then at the map.

"Please, it'll save on the headache of trying to find them," Misty said, waving over a waiter to order drinks while they worked - a hot chocolate for him (done in the French style, so there was some sliced bread with jam coming with it - he hadn't had a proper breakfast hot chocolate in an age) and a blackberry demitasse for Eros (and there he had a shudder coming - why would you put jelly in with your cognac..)

Eros smiled and took a long sip of the drink before he returned his attention back to the map, his eyes gleaming gold as he used his gifts to track the bonded ones. He tapped an area in Southern England, "Shun's bonded is here." His fingers danced across the map before resting back in Russia, "Hyoga's bonded is here. Well, currently on a pleasure trip there so best hurry." Again his fingers danced across the map, silently reading, studying. He nodded to himself. "Seiya's bonded is here in Greece, but I'm not getting a read on the who," he confessed. "Too many choices, but whoever it is, will be the one that finds him." He looked at the map and danced his fingers across the map, getting back down to work. He stared in disbelief before lightly banging his head against the table. "Why are you being so difficult, Ikki?" he huffed. "Go to the States, his bonded is there. Southern part of the states, you'll know when you get there." He sighed. "Last one of these pains in the ass," he muttered before allowing his gaze to drift across the map and he tapped a small section in China. "Shiryu's bonded is here."

Misty nodded and jotted all that he was told down. "Well, that makes life easier for me," he said. "Thank you, Eros," he said. He'd have to leave a proper offering in Eros' temple later as thanks for his aid. "Say hello to the missus for me."

"Will do," Eros said, before vanishing from sight.

Well, time to get to work, Misty thought before finishing his hot chocolate and leaving payment and a healthy tip for the waitstaff before heading off. First stop, a toy shop in Greece to leave the Pegasus, then hopping a plane to leave the others and then get back before anyone was the wiser...

#Lizard Misty (Saint Seiya)#mentions of Shun and Shiryu and Hyoga and Ikki and Seiya #Eros (Saint Seiya)#because why not have Eros help you in your attempt to play matchmaker #mentions of Apollo (Saint Seiya)#mentions of Venus (Saint Seiya)#nutcracker au #saint seiya AU

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amplesalty · 5 years ago

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Christmas 2019: Day 7 - A Christmas Carol: The Musical (2004)

On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...

Seven dancing bankers!

This has always stood out as something of a sore thumb amongst the prospective Christmas Carol choices I could watch and, given some of other films on this year’s list, this is as good a time as any to look at it.

Directly comparing it to those, it doesn’t get close to that same feeling of a total tonal shift. But, it’s perhaps not massively out of place anyway given that there are moments of song and dance in a traditional Christmas Carol, be it Fezziwigg’s Christmas Ball or the fun and games at Fred’s house.

For a story all about instilling the Christmas spirit in one person in particular, it’s not just Scrooge lacking in it as the film begins; street urchins are pickpocketing the wealthy, kids are stealing from the cart of the rag and bone man and blind beggars are wilfully ignored.

Well, the joys of Christmas might be lost on the filthy but at least the filthy rich at the exchange are celebrating and enjoying the season. That is until that miserly old Scrooge turns up.

Whilst the casting of Kelsey Grammer as Scrooge is a good one, especially when it comes to the singing parts, it almost feels like his performance early on is bordering on parody. He just has this permanent sneer and eyes that seem to be welded nearly completely shut like this is Mr Magoo’s Christmas Carol. Yeah, that’s still on the list somewhere...

Still, that sneer lends an extra layer to his interaction with the charity collectors who catch up with him much earlier in this version. Rather than just talk to him normally, they sing their intentions to collect for the needy and it makes me interpret his contemptuous look less as him not wanting to be philanthropic and more that he’s confused as to why these weirdoes are singing to him. No one in musicals ever seems aware that all their conversations seem to take place melodically.

It does take a bit of the sting out of some of Scrooge’s wicked remarks to hear him speak in rhyme. “I abhor how they whine, how they want whatever’s mine. Why should I give a thing for free? Let them beg til they’re blue, it has nothing to do with me. I say, let them die and decrease the surplus population.”

On the reverse though, the Marley scene is really strange and takes what is usually dramatic and adds some humour, mostly from the casting of Jason Alexander who brings comedic tone to the whole thing through his delivery and physical performance. There’s a degree of comic mischief going on as he summons these other spirits to scare Scrooge and the odd lyric that seem to poke fun at his fettered situation:

Stacking up my silver and my bits of gold, filling up my vault when day was done! Well, vaults are made of lead and cash is very cold! And around your neck they weigh a bloody ton!

Still, there’s some sense of humanity to it I’ve not seen in other versions. For instance, I think it’s the first time I think I’ve seen Marley actually hug Scrooge even if Scrooge isn’t receptive to it. It speaks to the friendship they had before and the relief that Marley must feel now that he’s been able to finally appear to Scrooge after his many attempts before.

It’s a fun song and perhaps one of the few standouts throughout the whole film. Maybe that’s just my tastes or maybe it’s that most of the other songs feel really generic talking about your standard happiness and festive cheer type of stuff.

Or, in the case of the Cratchit’s, a number about how Bob doesn’t need a fortune, all he needs is his family. Looking at Tiny Tim makes him feel as rich as a king and he means more to him than anything. And he sings this in front of his whole family! It’s like Bob Cratchit is just destined to say well intentioned things but ultimately demean the rest of his family.

I didn’t think it was possible to make Tiny Tim any more sympathetic but adding a leg brace manages to do the job.

They show him and his father head out to buy the bird for Christmas dinner, not the prize turkey in the poulterer’s window and not the traditional goose. Just a chicken, a small one. There’s something amusing about the fact that they actually took the time to foreshadow the turkey as if it’s not surprising enough just that Scrooge buys it for the Cratchit family come the end of the movie. They have to be teased by it first, shown what they could have had if only things were different before having to settle.

Jane Krakowski shows up as the Ghost of Christmas Past, I didn’t touch on this but she played the teacher in the Christmas Story musical so that’s just another link.

She’s really good and looks very glamorous here but is it weird that I find her more attractive in the newsie look she has when she shows up earlier in the movie, filling in for her sick husband in his job lighting all the street lamps in town? Maybe it’s the sense of coyness with her slightly obscured behind the brim of the cap or that whole women in men’s shirts sorta thing.

The gimmick here is that Scrooge runs into the spirits at the start of the movie in the everyday world, Present is advertising a show and Yet to Come is a blind beggar woman. To me, this throws in this shade of grey element to proceedings. It’s a very fantastical idea for some other worldly power to send these three spirits to help Scrooge redeem himself but having the three spirits be entirely different actors locks them into being that. But, Scrooge has always talked about how his run in with Marley might just be a trick of the mind; a crumb of mouldy cheese or an underdone turnip. Maybe the negative run ins Scrooge had with these three earlier in the day triggered something in his mind and it’s projecting their images in order to help him process these feelings of wanting to better himself.

For all the sweetness and light on the exterior of Past, she really goes in on showing Scrooge the trauma of his earlier life. It’s like an origin story of his miserly ways as we go all the way back to his childhood and a day in court as his father is sentenced to prison for failing to pay his debts. As he’s ushered away, he urges Scrooge to learn from his mistakes, to earn his fortune and to keep it.

Plus we actually get to see the death of Marley who complains of feeling faint and needing to retire early for the day but not even managing to make it to the front door of their offices before collapsing. Again, even in this morbid way, it brings some tenderness to see Scrooge’s sadness at having to relive the passing of who he describes as his only friend. Plus we can’t forget the one constant of these flashbacks, his fiancé calls off their impeding nuptuals due to him becoming obsessed only with money, a fiancé played by Jennifer Love Hewitt no less. Combine all these together and maybe Scrooge isn’t the way he is because he thinks only of himself and his own wealth, maybe he’s just scared to let anyone is because everyone he ever loves seems to leave him. Father in prison, Mother dies shortly after, separated from his sister and she dies too, fiancé ditches him and his only friend dies as well.

I always saw Present as the more uncharacteristically mean spirited one but Past is pretty cold here to show him all these things. But, as she points out as Scrooge extinguishes her light, these are only the shadows of things that once were, they are what they are, don’t blame her. Aside from his usual rant at the end, Present is a little more mischevious here, his links with the Christmas show coming into play as she shoves a hapless Scrooge on stage amongst a bunch of dancing nutcrackers.

Casting a black actor in this role is a bit of a departure from the norm though. Part of me kept thought it was someone in blackface at first.

Yet to Come is a strange one as well, seemingly playing against the usual shadowy, cloaked figure you normally see. If anything, that’s what she looks like normally before she transforms into some sort of white, raggedy affair. It’s like if you were dressing someone as a snowflake or something.

We go into a graveyard scene where a number of grave diggers are singing a warning of Scrooge’s future; the sounds of hammers on his coffin, the voices of the people he never tried to save and the footsteps of them dancing on his grave. Quite chilling lyrics combined with an almost ritualistic scene of all these gravediggers working in rhythm and hooded figures leading the coffin procession. Along with Marley’s song, it’s a highlight of the soundtrack but they’re both well staged as well with lots of interesting imagery.

That whole shared misery thing at the start comes back with a vengeance when Old Joe shows up to buy Scrooge’s bed curtains. Scrooge’s house keeper promptly has her earnings wrenched from her hand, truly there is no honour amongst thieves.

Not quite as miserable as seeing the whole Cratchit family around Tiny Tim’s freshly made grave. The Muppets version with Piggy and Kermit mourning their dead son is pretty grim but this might potentially top it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this portrayed in any of the other versions, you normally get Bob returning from visiting the grave himself.

Poor family can’t even afford the T on the cross marking his grave. Or is that just the name of the impeding Christmas Carol shared universe origin story of Bob Cratchit; I’m Cratchit.

And whilst it lacks the out of body experiences what Patrick Stewart and Alistair Sim went through upon awaking back in the real world, the lack of dancing can perhaps be forgiven in the face of what has been an hour and a half of singing and dancing. Instead, we reflect back on the start of the movie as Scrooge has now learned to keep Christmas in his heart and that ‘it all has to do with me!’. Having experienced similar in the Christmas Story musical, I guess this is traditional to reprise certain songs throughout the show but at times it gets a little tedious to me. That might just be some bad examples here though because in Christmas Story it was just adding to the feeling of it dragging and here it’s using songs that aren’t the best. This specific example I liked though, it wraps up the arc that Scrooge has gone through and underlines the change in his character.

With the musical aspect being it’s selling point and most of its musical numbers not being very entertaining, this probably ranks amongst the weaker of the Christmas Carol adaptations I’ve seen but as these things often do, it’s added its own little elements to the story that have made me look at Scrooge in a different way.

#Christmas 2019 #A Christmas Carol #A Christmas Carol: The Musical

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lgbtqiahistoricalromance · 6 years ago

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LGBTQIA Historical Romance Novels for Winter, Hanukkah, Solstice, and Christmas! - Updated December 19th, 2018

Christmas Angel by Eli Easton (*Book One of The Christmas Angel series) (I thoroughly enjoyed this Georgian era romance. There is a great group of supporting characters, and this manages to delve into period-typical homophobia, without weighing down the hopeful message of the story.)

- When John Trent, a dedicated member of the new Bow Street Runners, finds an exquisite carved angel floating in the Thames, he can’t stop thinking about it. He tracks down its creator, a sad and quiet young sculptor. But neither the angel nor the sculptor is done with John just yet. The blasted angel refuses to leave him be, behaving not at all like an inanimate object should. Alec Allston is resigned to the fact that his love will ever be a river that flows out and never flows in. All he wanted to do was create a special gift so that a small part of himself could be with his unattainable and noble beloved, always. But when the gift keeps showing back up at his shop in the hands of a windblown and rugged thief-taker, Alec will need to reconsider his conviction that love is destined to remain an ethereal ideal. This book is one of seven stories which can all be read and enjoyed in any order.

On Wing of Song by Anne Barwell

- Six years after meeting British soldier Aiden Foster during the Christmas Truce of 1914, Jochen Weber still finds himself thinking about Aiden, their shared conversation about literature, and Aiden’s beautiful singing voice. A visit to London gives Jochen the opportunity to search for Aiden, but he’s shocked at what he finds. The uniform button Jochen gave him is the only thing Aiden has left of the past he’s lost. The war and its aftermath ripped everything away from him, including his family and his music. When Jochen reappears in his life, Aiden enjoys their growing friendship but knows he has nothing to offer. Not anymore.

The Prince and Her Dreamer by Kayla Bashe (Coming December 12th! A f/f retelling of The Nutcracker!!)

- Clara feels stifled by the life that's been planned out for her, and clings to her only hope that something more might be possible: a mysterious book given to her by her Uncle Drosselmeyer, that recounts the tales of the magnificent warrior woman known as the Red Prince. Decades ago, Drosselmeyer trapped the Red Prince in the form of a doll to save her from the Rats. When the magic of Clara's selfless admiration restores her to human form, she and Clara must find a way to stand against the Rats once and for all if they hope to enjoy the life they've always longed for...

Mr. Winterborne’s Christmas by Joanna Chambers (Yes, a new story for those clamoring for more Adam and Lysander.)

- Lysander Winterbourne has been living happily at Edgeley Park for the last eighteen months. By day he is Adam Freeman's estate manager, by night, his lover...but Adam never speaks of his feelings and Lysander has no idea whether their relationship is any more than a convenient arrangement for Adam. When the two men are invited to Winterbourne Abbey for a family Christmas, matters quickly come to a head. Snowed in at the Abbey with a house full of guests, Lysander has to face up to shocking revelations, long-held secrets and a choice he never expected to have to make...

Careened: Winter Solstice in Madierus by Bey Deckard (Book 3.5 of the Baal’s Heart series--pirates!)

-A Baal's Heart short, following the events in Fated: Blood and Redemption Plagued by terrible dreams, Jon begins to distance himself from Baltsaros and Tom. Perhaps a little holiday cheer is just the thing to help the three of them find common ground again.

Phin’s Christmas by Bonnie Dee

- Doubt invades a fairy-tale holiday. Excited to celebrate his first Christmas with his true love, Phin Abernathy searches for the perfect gift for Teddy, the artist who saved him from solitude (The Artist). But his happy holiday dreams are soon threatened. After a year of living on his own, then with his beloved partner, Phin has mostly banished his negative view of himself. He and Teddy are happily saving toward a house they can share, when a chance encounter with a stranger raises Phin’s old ghosts of doubt, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Struggling to quell such negative spirits, Phin focuses on volunteering at a children’s shelter. But when he sees his Teddy and handsome Justin Crump (The Medium) in a suspicious situation, it is difficult to control his racing thoughts. Belief in Teddy’s love for him wars with Phin’s fear his lover wants something more. Phin must decide how far he is willing to go to keep Teddy in his life, and truly embrace his own worth before he can ever celebrate the season.

Simon and the Christmas Spirit (Part of Victorian Holiday Hearts Boxed Set) by Summer Devon and Bonnie Dee (A fun romp of a romance, with heart, and lots of laughs.)

- Simon and the Christmas Spirit: The holiday spirit has forsaken Simon Harris. A recent reminder of the man who used then left him sends lonely Simon on a glum visit to his club where a breath of fresh air in the form of Christopher Andrews enters his stale life. Simon and Christopher enjoy a few hours of pleasure, never expecting to see each other again, but Simon’s new resolution to change may transform both men's lives.

The Holly Groweth Green by Amy Rae Durreson

- When wounded doctor Laurence Payne is stranded in the snowy English countryside on Christmas Eve, 1946, he is surprised to stumble upon Mistle Cottage and its mysterious inhabitant. Avery claims to be an Elizabethan wizard, and Laurence struggles to explain away the atmosphere of the cottage as mere coincidence and trickery. He spends a magical twelve days of Christmas celebrating with Avery, but then wakes to find his lover has vanished and the cottage has fallen to ruin overnight. Laurence’s investigations lead him to the story of an ancient fairy curse—Avery is doomed to spend only Christmas Eve to Twelfth Night in human form until he finds true love. Laurence sets out to give Avery the greatest gift of all—his heart and with it the chance to live for more than the fleeting winter weeks he’s been sentenced to.

A Christmas in Kent by Paul Alan Fahey (Part of the Lovers and Liars set, which entails espionage in WWII.)

- It's December 1941. Caroline, Cyril, Edward, and Leslie are home from their recent exploits on the Isle of Man and are now happily ensconced in their cottage in Kent. Feeling safe from the ongoing horrors of war, if only temporarily, Caroline finds herself surrounded by people she loves and who love her, so she counts her blessings and immerses herself in the spirit of the season. She trims the holiday tree with her newly wedded spouse and makes a last minute shopping trip into London. Other family members are busy, as well. Samson and Delilah -- the group’s adopted pair of shelties -- are running amok in The Peasant’s Revenge and causing the pub’s patrons no end of displeasure. Leslie and Edward have a chance encounter with a child who is separated from her parents in Germany and lives nearby with a foster family. Then there’s that something bothering Caroline that simply can’t be ignored much longer. Christmas in Kent will indeed be full of surprises.

The Christmas Wager by Jamie Fessenden

- Lord Thomas Pendleton, second son of the Duke of Branmoor, needs to discharge a debt to his friend Andrew Nash. In doing so, he must return to the family estate he fled six years earlier after refusing to marry the woman his father had chosen. To Thomas’s dismay, Branmoor Hall is no longer the joyful home he remembers from his childhood, and his four-year-old niece has no idea what Christmas is. Determined to bring some seasonal cheer back to the gloomy estate, Thomas must confront his tyrannical father, salvage a brother lost in his own misery, and attempt to fight off his father’s machinations. As Christmas Day draws near, Thomas and his friend Andrew begin to realize they are more than merely close friends… and those feelings are not only a threat to their social positions, but, in Victorian England, to their lives as well.

Summerfield’s Angel by Kim Fielding (*Book Two of The Christmas Angel series) (This one takes place between a cowboy and the son of a retail magnate, with some nice details about 1880′s NYC, and the sort of class differences we usually only see in romances that are based in London.)

- After the hard winter of 1888 ended Alby Boyle’s work as a Nebraska ranch hand, he returned to New York City in search of his long-lost family. His mother and brothers are nowhere to be found, however, and after Alby’s years of absence, Five Corners no longer feels like home. His prospects seem as dim as the nighttime alleys. When Alby pauses to admire an angel ornament in a department store window’s Christmas display, he meets Xeno Varnham-Summerfield. Wealthy, handsome, and enthusiastic, Xeno brings Alby some temporary cheer. But for Alby to achieve his dreams of love and a real home, well, that may take a bit of holiday magic.

Cursed Miracles by Meg Harding

- Two hundred years ago on Christmas Eve, William Mashinter was frozen in time, cursed by his wife to roam the world on his own, waiting for the love of his life to find him. The love of his life, whom she killed. Time hasn’t healed this wound, and William is tired of the happy holiday and the constant reminders of a love that’s been taken from him. But then the impossible happens, and maybe… maybe he can get a new Christmas perspective.Brady Gallagher has lived three different lives, always aware of the first and most important, yet unable to find the man who will fill in the missing pieces and let him know he’s not crazy. He encounters him at a work event, of all places, but is he willing to throw everything else to the wind and embrace the miracle laid out before him?A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2016 Advent Calendar "Bah Humbug."

Christopher’s Christmas by Adella J Harris

- Valet Chris MacCullan knows better than to fall in love with someone at a Christmas house party, but there’s nothing wrong with a bit of fun. Even with the shy, sweet son of the housekeeper, as long as he’s careful not to do anything that will hurt the fellow later. But as he gets to know his new friend, can he protect his own heart?

A Christmas Hex by Jordan L Hawk (A Hexworld short story)

- Roland knows he will never find love. Everyone views wolf familiars like himself as dangerous beasts, unable to rein in their savage impulses. He’s resigned himself to his fate—or so he thinks, until he meets the dashing Augustus Cao. His witch.Gus is on the trail of a gang of thieves, and Roland holds an important clue. Even though they can never bond, Roland can’t pass up the opportunity to spend a night with his witch.Can Roland conceal his secret, while helping Gus catch the thieves? Or will the handsome detective be the one to steal his heart?

Harmony by Jordan L Hawk (A Whyborne & Griffin short story set after Bloodline)

The Magician’s Angel by Jordan L Hawk (*Book Three of The Christmas Angel series)(Currently reading...)

- Vaudeville stage magician Christopher Fiend lives for the spotlight. His chance at big time stardom awaits him in Chicago, the next stop on the circuit after the little town of Twelfth Junction. Edward Smith wants nothing to do with his family's theater. Until Christopher catches his eye on opening night, then treats him to a very special performance during intermission. When a dead body turns up in the middle of Christopher’s act, suspicion immediately falls on him. If Christopher and Edward can’t work together to clear his name, Christopher won’t make it to Chicago in time. Edward knows he shouldn’t get attached to a man who will be gone in two days, but his heart—and a very special angel—have other ideas. The Christmas Angel series of holiday romances follow the travels of an angel ornament through the decades as she inspires (and sometimes nudges) lonely men to find their Happily Ever After. The Magician’s Angel is the third in series, which can be read in any order.

A Gay Fairy Tale by Christina Lee and Riley Hart (This one is set in an alternate world, where it’s always winter. Has a nice bit of hope at the end, when Merrick challenges his kingdom’s preconceptions.)

- As next in line for the Evergreen crown, Prince Merrick Davendall’s future involves ruling, marriage, and producing an heir of his own. But he’s long been tormented by desires that are far from princely. Especially when the beautiful Cassius is promoted to be his new valet, and Merrick is struck by a longing like never before—a longing to know him far beyond royal and servant. After his father’s passing, Cassius Havendale’s sole duty is to provide for his family. A promotion to serve a pampered prince is something he endures only for their sake. Surely Prince Merrick has no understanding of the true suffering of the common people, nor could he possibly understand what it’s like to desperately desire something he cannot have. Except the prince is not at all what Cassius imagined. Kind, humorous, and caring to those in need, he also shares Cassius’s affinity for the arts. In fact, Merrick understands his deepest vulnerabilities in a most remarkable way. As their affection deepens, the underlying tension between them becomes unbearable and they’re unable to ignore it any longer. But when the queen prepares a lavish ball with all the eligible ladies in the land in attendance, Merrick must fulfill his obligations to his country, and Cassius has the needs of his family to consider. They’ve long known their stolen moments would have to come to an end, but are they ready to give up one another and the idea of a happily-ever-after?

His Regelence Rake by JL Langley (Book Three of the Sci-Regency series)(I love this whole series, but this one was given a holiday theme at the end, and it makes for a lovely HEA background to the story that develops throughout re: the stables.)

- Sebastian Hastings, Viscount Wentworth, is captain of the Royal Guard by day and scandalous rake by night. To protect the royal family of Regelence from the plots of the Intergalactic Navy, Sebastian makes it his priority to personally oversee their safety. Prince Colton Townsend is done pining after the roguish viscount and focuses his attention on his second love—horses. Following his dream of owning a racehorse breeding farm distracts Colton from his heartache… until Sebastian begins shadowing him. When a good deed at a horse auction sparks public rumors, Colton just might get the man and the marriage he’s longed for. But Sebastian’s duties and secrets keep him walled off from those who would get close. To reach Sebastian, Colton takes one last risk that might break his heart….

The Forgotten Man by Ryan Loveless

- In 1932, after Captain Joshua Pascal’s family loses its fortune, the Great War veteran’s sense of duty compels him to help his mother convert his childhood home into a Jewish boarding house. He’s lived openly as a homosexual among his friends, but now Joshua must pretend to be a “normal,” and hiding his nature is a lonely way of life. But in the middle of Chanukah, Joshua meets Will, a street musician with a ready smile, and wonders if he might deserve a chance at love. During the cold December nights they find comfort in each other. But the specter of the workhouse and the possibility of family and personal ruin hang over them, making their every move dangerous. Which would they rather lose: their lives as they know them... or the promise of a future together?

Last Leap of the First-Foot by Ari McKay

- Iain Donaldson and Bran MacRae have been best friends since childhood, despite Iain being part of the gentry and Bran a mere crofter's son. Iain's feelings of friendship have deepened over time, and he suspects Bran might share his inclinations—and Hogmanay may be the time to confess feelings. As the old year becomes the new, Iain keeps his promise to first-foot at the MacRae cottage, and Bran takes the opportunity to bare his heart—will it be enough to overcome the challenges to their budding relationship? A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2013 Advent Calendar package "Heartwarming".

My True Love Gave To Me by Ava March

- Alexander Norton loathes the festive season. The revelry of the ton is a reminder of Christmas four years ago, when his first love, Thomas Bennett, broke his heart and fled to New York without a word. So when he encounters Thomas at a holiday ball, Alexander is determined not to let on how much he still hurts. Thomas has returned for one reason only: Alexander. Having finally come to terms with his forbidden desires, he will do whatever he must to convince Alexander to give their love another chance. But instead of the happy, carefree man Thomas once knew, Alexander is now hard and cynical. Saddened to know he's to blame for the man's bitterness, Thomas resolves to reignite the passion he knows lies hidden behind the wall of disdain...

The Mistletoe Kiss by Ruby Moone (My favorite LGBT historical Christmas romance. An MC with a disability, and a beautiful May/December romance that evolves from friends to lovers.)

- By 1816, widowed bookseller Lawrence Fenton has spent a lonely lifetime hiding who he is. He has convinced himself his feelings for his far too young, gorgeous, but troubled assistant Christy Shaw are nothing more than pride in his protégé and concern for his plight. Christy’s life involves walking fine lines: one between his mother and his abusive stepfather, one where he must keep his needs hidden, and hardest of all, one where he must keep his feelings for his serious employer to himself. Lame since birth, Lawrence cannot imagine anyone wanting him, least of all Christy. But when Christy’s life threatens to spiral out of control, Lawrence steps in. Then Christy’s emotions spill over into a kiss under the mistletoe at Christmas. Will Lawrence be able to face the long-buried truth about himself and keep Christy by his side?

The Wrong Kind of Angel by Ruby Moone (prequel to Trapped) (Charles is a sweet bon bon. Just saying.)

- A reluctant angel, three not terribly wise men, two gorgeous men on a starlit chase to find a child … It can only be Christmas. It’s Christmas 1817 and Captain Charles Farrington has accepted that he is destined to live alone. That is, until Christmas Eve, when a startlingly handsome man crashes into his home and his life. Harry Valentine is a man on the run. A man with secrets. He hasn’t time to fall for the angel who rescued him and, in any case, he knows that once Charlie realises the truth about him, there will be no future for them. Harry’s warmth makes Charles face up to the demons in his past and shows him that he can have a family. All he has to do is persuade Harry to stay. But Charlie knows that, despite whatever Harry says, he’s the wrong kind of angel for happy endings.

The Christmas Curse by Ruby Moone (A dose of cheer and magic for a lonely man at Christmas.)

- It’s almost Christmas 1806, and government agent Jared Templeton finds himself adopted by a beautiful stray dog as he walks his customary route each night to his Mayfair home. Having never owned a dog before, Jared is surprised to find himself talking to the beast. It’s wonderfully easy and lifts some of the heavy burdens he carries. Eventually Jared confides in the dog, not only secrets about his work as an agent, but also the biggest secret about himself. About his innermost desires and needs, safe in the knowledge his companion will never betray him. But at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve, Jared discovers things are not quite what they seem …

The Lion Lies Waiting by Glenn Quigley (Sequel to The Moth and Moon)

- Winter, 1780, and the solstice is fast approaching. Four months after the events of The Moth and Moon, burly fisherman Robin Shipp is preparing for his first Midwinter festival with his lover, the handsome baker Edwin Farriner. But when a letter arrives begging for help, they must travel with their friend, Duncan, to Port Knot on sinister Blackrabbit Island for a final confrontation with Edwin’s mother. Also visiting the island are Lady Eva and her wife Iris, with a stunning proposition that could change Robin and Edwin’s lives forever.The snow-covered harbour town of Port Knot is a dangerous place. While there, Robin, Edwin, and Duncan explore the menacing rooftop settlement known as the Roost, mingle with high society in the magnificent splendour of Chase Manor, and uncover a violent conspiracy threatening the island’s entire way of life.Old rivalries will flare, shocking secrets will be revealed, and as Duncan’s scandalous past finally catches up with him, will it ultimately destroy them all?The men will be tested to their limits as they discover that on Blackrabbit Island, the lion lies waiting.

A Gentleman’s Agreement by J Roman (This had one of the best endings I’ve read, very sweet, and the whole story is one of low-dose period-typical homophobia.)

- Thomas Derrik is about to have the worst Christmas of his life. Three days before the holiday, he finds out the father he doesn’t get along with is arriving on Christmas Eve, his ex-lover and new brother-in-law will be staying at his estate until the New Year, and his beloved brother, Edmund, has died. Luckily, Edmund’s last holiday scheme may well save Thomas’s Christmas: Henry Appleby, a young lord fresh from the Continent, has arranged to court Thomas. But the family tragedy and jealous exes may put an end to the romance before it begins. A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2012 Advent Calendar package "Evergreen"

Yuletide Truce by Sandra Schwab

- London, 1845 It's December, Alan "Aigee" Garmond's favorite time of the year, when the window display of the small bookshop where he works fills up with crimson Christmas books and sprays of holly. Everything could be perfect — if it weren't for handsome Christopher Foreman, the brilliant writer for the fashionable magazine About Town, who has taken an inexplicable and public dislike to Aigee's book reviews. But why would a man such as Foreman choose to target reviews published in a small bookshop's magazine? Aigee is determined to find out. And not, he tells himself, just because he finds Foreman so intriguing. Aigee’s quest leads him from smoke-filled ale-houses into the dark, dingy alleys of one of London's most notorious rookeries. And then, finally, to Foreman. Will Aigee be able to wrangle a Yuletide truce from his nemesis?

The Return of the Earl by Sandra Schwab

- On the Continent they call him the Ice Prince, icy of manner, icy of heart. Now, after thirteen years of exile, Con returns home to England and to Harrowcot Hall, a place haunted by memories of a long-lost friendship and past betrayals, a place where all of his dreams shattered and died. But the past is over and done with, and can no longer touch him -- or so Con thinks. He certainly does not expect to come face to face with Bryn Ellison again, the man whom he once loved beyond everything and who repudiated their bond in the cruelest way imaginable. As snow and frost close in on Harrowcot Hall, Con's icy demeanour starts to melt while he grapples with old hurts and newly awakened passions. Will he give in to the lure of the past against his better judgement?

Ansel of Pryor House by Hayden Thorne (Magical romance in a YA format, with a twist of gothic, and a warming message.)

- Fifteen-year-old Ansel Tunnicliffe has lived a harsh life. Abandoned by his mother and his siblings to a drunk and abusive father, Ansel knows nothing more than hunger, fear, pain, and loneliness in his short life. One evening, a wealthy stranger appears, challenges Mr. Tunnicliffe to a game of cards, and easily wins. The prize? Ansel. The terrified boy is whisked away to a remote and mysterious house, whose stern and aristocratic mistress takes Ansel in for a purpose that remains elusive to him. Little by little, however, Ansel discovers additional secrets in every magical room of Pryor House -- secrets that are somehow linked to him and Miss Peveler’s strange interest in his welfare. One of those secrets also turns out to be a young boy who haunts Ansel’s lonely hours and who may very well hold the key to Ansel’s future and the shadowy history of Pryor House.

Christmas Homecoming by LA Witt (*Book Three of The Christmas Angel series)

- August 1939. Roger Miller and Jack O’Brien have been close since childhood. By the time they realize there’s more between them than friendship, Jack is leaving their sleepy Iowa town for college. But they console themselves knowing he’ll be home for Christmas. Right? It is Christmas before they see each other again, but that Christmas comes six years and a world war later. Aged, beaten, and shaken by combat, they’re not the boys they were back then, but their feelings for each other are stronger than ever. Neither know the words to say everything they’ve carried since that peacetime summer kiss, though. Even as they stand in the same room, there’s a thousand miles between them. But maybe that’s some distance the little angel in Roger’s rucksack can cross.

A Christmas Carol by Em Woods (Dickens’ classic retelling)

-The Classics Exposed…Love at first sight is a beautiful thing, but sometimes, true love waits a lifetime to shine…and then needs a little help from the Three Ghosts of Christmas.As a young man, Ebenezer Scrooge felt the sharp pain of loss and resolved to protect his heart from all others, taking solace in his gold and silver. Years of discarding his own emotions, and those of anyone around him, has turned Scrooge cold.When deceased lover and partner Jacob Marley pays miserly Scrooge a late night visit, pride and disbelief buoy Scrooge's courage. As the fabled Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet-to-Come arrive to show Scrooge the error of his ways, they also give him brief glimpses of a love so strong it has stood the test of time.In an inspiring tale of change, a deep-seated need flares to life, leaving Scrooge without a doubt that love and family are what really matter at Christmas.Reader Advisory: This book contains gay erotic content with a leaning toward domination/submission and one scene of dubious consent.

A Calm Before The Storm (Dark Is The Night series 2.8) by Kelley York and Rowan Altwood

- James and William’s first Christmas together in their own home ought to be a cause for celebration. But when money is tight, and William is going through withdrawals in an attempt to get off of his laudanum completely, the level of holiday cheer is dismally low. James won’t give up so easily. Especially when he finds the perfect Christmas gift for William, and he’ll do whatever he must in order to get it. A Calm Before the Storm is a sweet, short story companion to the Dark is the Night series.

A Land So Wild by Alyssa Warkentin

- In 1845, the HMS Vanguard, under the command of Captain William Caulderson, departed England on a voyage of discovery to find a Northwest Passage through the perilous arctic waters separating the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It was never heard from again.

Five years later, Captain David Maxwell of the Serapis sets sail to attempt to recover the Vanguard and determine the fate of his former commander.

Naturalist Embleton Hall is running from demons of his own. He doesn’t expect to find himself drawn to Captain Maxwell--but the two men form a bond that will become essential to their survival.

Together, they'll brave the elements on a long and harrowing voyage to discover the fate of the lost ship Vanguard. But they'll also learn that some secrets are best left frozen in ice.

*The Christmas Angel Series (info below the cut)

In 1750, a master woodcarver poured all his unrequited love, passion, and longing into his masterpiece—a gorgeous Christmas angel for his beloved’s tree. When the man he loved tossed the angel away without a second thought, a miracle happened. The angel was found by another who brought the woodcarver True Love. Since then, the angel has been passed down, sold, lost and found, but its magic remains. Read the romances inspired by (and perhaps nudged along by) the Christmas angel through the years. Whether it’s the 1880’s New York (Kim Fielding’s Summerfield’s Angel), the turn-of-the-century (Jordan L. Hawk’s Magician’s Angel), World War II (L.A. Witt’s Christmas Homecoming), Vietnam-era (N.R. Walker’s Soldier’s Wish), the 1990’s (Anyta Sunday’s Shrewd Angel), or 2018 (RJ Scott’s Christmas Prince), the Christmas angel has a way of landing on the trees of lonely men who need its blessing for a very Merry Christmas and forever HEA.

#lgbt romance #historical romance #mm romance #f/f romance #m/m romance #two men in love #two women in love #wlw #christmas romance #jordan l hawk #ruby moone #lj langley #bonnie dee #summer devon #hayden thorne #ya romance

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